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Exploring the High Country

GORP Expert Hiker Karen Berger and husband Dan Smith atop Chaco Mesa in New MexicoBeen above tree line lately? See as far as eyesight allows. Smell the cool, fresh air of high elevation. Taste the salt of sweating out a steep incline. Feel the thunder of mountain weather. Listen to the silence that overcrowded lowlands lack. What are you waiting for, an invitation? Hit the trail with Karen Berger's six spectacular high-country hikes.




Take it from a thru-hiking pro: Karen Berger helps you get the most out of two-legged travel.
Skill Builder — Karen's high-country how-to
Expert Answers — Karen's tips for backpacking eats.



High-Country Hiking Chat

You're on the top of the world, looking down on creation. Does the love of hiking high really need an explanation? To climb above the treetops — a mountain range underfoot and only wind and clouds swirling around you — is an unforgettable experience.
What's your favorite high-country hike?

Hiking High around the Globe

Annapurna Himal, NepalTrekking in Nepal
A primer for hikers preparing to tackle the splendor of Himalayan adventure.

Hiking High in the Pyrinies
Take the high road, euro-style, on this Pyrinies trek across France and Spain.

Exploring South Africa's Highlands
Take a hike in the mystical and rugged Drakensberg Mountains.

HIGH-FLYING ACTIVITIES

Wildflowers in the Cascades high countryCatching the Wildflower Bloom
GORP's top ten parks to view summer wildflowers — and nearly half take you to the high country.

Heli-Skiing in Whistler
A taste of alpine nirvana: pristine powder, sunny skies, surreal calm — and 30,000 vertical feet in a day!

Fly fishing Alpine Lakes
Big-mountain fly fishing calls for a different bag of tricks.

Staying Healthy and Safe

Hiking above treelineSafe Hiking above Tree Line
Smart-going where it's too tough for trees to survive — but not for you.

How to Stay Alive up High
Avoiding altitude sickness on your next highland fling.

Thirteen Lessons for
Winter Camping
A tale of tragedy narrowly averted — and a story worth retelling for the lessons it teaches about winter camping and climbing.

Gearing Up

*Backpack*Camp Stove
*Hiking Boots*Sleeping Bag
*Ten Outdoor Essentials*Tent

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