Here and There

When people think about Hong Kong, they often picture a megalopolis with endless skyscrapers. When I think of Hong Kong, I picture something totally different—nature!  On a recent trip to the island, I learned that the Hong Kong is a true hiker’s paradise, with four major hiking trails and many other ones, too. The four major trails are The Hong Kong Trail (31 mi/50 km, 8 sections), the Maclehose Trail (62 mi/100 km, 10 sections), the Lantau Trail (43 mi/70 km, 12 sections), and the Wilson Trail (48 mi/78 km, 10 sections). After hiking over 70 miles/110 km on these trails, my favorite hike of all was section 3 of the Lantau Trail. On this hike, you climb Hong Kong’s second highest peak, Lantau Peak (3,065 feet/934 meters). You then descend into the village of Ngong Ping, where you can see the Tian Tian giant Buddha (34 meters or 111 feet tall) and visit the Po Lin Monastery. For people wanting to hike a little closer to the city center, Victoria Peak is another great optio...

Yosemite is one of America’s great national parks. And one of the park’s best features is its waterfalls. On my last trip to Yosemite, I hiked up the Mist Trail to see Vernal and Nevada Falls. On this trip, I decided to do the Four-Mile Trail for views of Yosemite Falls. The Four-Mile Trail’s name is a little deceptive, as it’s about 4.8 miles one-way. After soaking in vistas of Yosemite Falls and El Capitan, you end up at Glacier Point, where you can finally see Half Dome. Glacier Point can be crowded, as many visitors drive here instead of hiking.  If you have energy after your ascent, you can return to your starting point for a 9.6-mile hike. Or, if you’re tired, you can take the free park shuttle back to the Valley (open seasonally). I loved this hike and seeing the waterfall from this vantage point. Next time, I’ll try the Yosemite Falls Trail for even closer waterfall views.