Read through the Backpacker Life List: The 50 Ultimate Hiking Adventures (by the editors of Backpacker Magazine, Rodale Inc., 2003) the other day and I was happy to see that a few of my life list hikes were listed. There’s Africa’s classic trek up Kilamanjaro, keeping pace on Peru’s Inca Trail, wandering around the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, passing muster in the States by finishing the Appalachian Trail – they’re are all on my list, but as for the rest listed in this book, well they weren’t really trails, just areas renowned for their natural appeal – like Jasper and Banff National Parks. And, like most lists, the Backpacker Life List is subjective, based on the editor's personal perspective, interests, and locale (45 of the 50 “Ultimate Hiking Adventures” occur in the U.S.).

What’s on your life list for hiking adventures? Write them down. How many have you completed? How many are in the works and will be checked off shortly? Which one would you do first if money, time, and trail conditioning were no object? What’s holding you back from getting out there?

I sat down and wrote out a life list of my own; places that I dream about hiking one day. You’ll note that I haven’t gone for 50 or even 25 ultimate hiking adventures, I’m trying to be realistic in which major hikes I plan to explore before I toss out the hiking boots. In no particular order (but then again, I’m Canadian, eh!) here are my top 10:

1. Great Divide Trail (Canada, 1200 km)
2. West Coast Trail (Canada, 75 km)
3. East Coast Trail (Canada, 540 km)
4. Kilamanjaro (Africa, 64 km)
5. Inca Trail (Peru, 45 km)
6. Annapurna Curcuit (Nepal, 300 km)
7. Appalachian Trail (U.S., 2175 km)
8. Rob Roy Way (Scotland, 127-148 km)
9. Hadrian’s Wall (England, 135 km)
10. Cathar Trail (France, 190 km)

Lists are great, but they’re only paper unless you put the ideas into action. If money and time are holding you back, consider starting with the shorter, local hikes on your list. Break long trips into bite-size walks. Many people slackpack (day hike sections with light packs rather than full backpacks) the Appalachian Trail. I’ve already started chunking up the Great Divide Trail and have dayhiked and backpacked several sections. I’ll keep you posted as to my progress this summer.

Go ahead, make a list and start checking off your hiking dreams.