Classic Hikes of the World

Almost three decades have passed since I first succumbed to the irresistible appeal of wilderness. An early hike took me to a windswept ridge in Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Range. From camp, I looked south across September slopes golden with autumn aspen and ridge tops painted blood red by a setting sun. It was a transforming vision. At that moment I made a promise to myself to see more of these pristine places, to experience as many of the highlights of the natural world as possible--while they remain wild and beautiful.

So far, I've managed to keep that promise, but it's been a long road with a steep learning curve. In the beginning I trudged in too-heavy hiking boots under the backbreaking load of my bulging Co-Op Cruiser. I loved the backcountry from the beginning, despite the self-inflicted agonies resulting from my rookie decisions on what to carry and how to go. But the more you do something, the better you get. After an adult lifetime spent loving wilderness travel, I'm pretty good at it by now. I can move through the backcountry with lighter loads but greater comfort. If there is a surprise, it's this: I enjoy backcountry travel now more than ever.

And, more importantly, I’ve gotten better at figuring out where to go. That's the critical skill. When I realized early on that there were more great wilderness places than one could see in a lifetime, I understood the need to prioritize. The urgency I felt was to find the places and the routes that bring the greatest return on time and effort and expense.

Classic Hikes of the World reflects 30 years of searching for the best routes to the most enchanting places on the planet. To follow are some hikes that are among my favorites—at least so far. I'm still looking, and hope I always will be.