Welcome back to our global hiking adventure! In Part I, we bundled up in cozy Patagonia jackets and trekked to Antarctica’s Mt. Erebus, grabbed our Osprey day packs for a challenging yet breathtaking hike to Norway’s “Troll’s Tongue”, and spent 20 days backpacking through Nepal’s famous Annapurna Circuit under the protection of our heavy duty Terra Nova Voyager tent and Gregory packs (all Gregory is 20-30% off at MP Gear right now as well!)
This week we’ll take a trip to four different continents: Africa, Australia, South America, and North America.
Africa
We begin Part II of our adventure in southwest Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains to their highest peak, Jbel Toubkal. This hike will last around two days, taking one full day to trek up to the refuge of Isougouane, a half day day to the summit, and another half day back to Imlil. 
Beginning in the town of Imlil which is a two hour drive from Marrakech, trekkers will journey to the village of Aroumd. From there, the route continues southwards through the mountain’s Happy Valley and ends up in the settlement of Sidi Chamharouch, which is also the residence of a historic Muslim shrine. Trekkers will then continue to Isougouane valley where food can be purchased and campsites can be rented. This is an excellent resting place to prepare for day two’s hike to the summit.
During the hike to the summit, our trail climbs multiple steep scree slopes to finally reach to the 4,167m summit ridge of Jbel Toubkal where breathtaking views take in the majority of the Atlas Mountains.
What to bring? Even after the snow has melted, trekking poles like these Black Diamond Trail Backs are helpful while climbing the multiple scree slopes you will encounter on this hike. You will also want to bring wind resistant clothing.
South America
Next, we will journey to Columbia’s Lost City in the mysterious Sierra Nevadas.
The Lost City or “La Ciudad Perdida”, which is made up of 169 terraces etched out of a mountainside, can only be reached by climbing a 1,200 step stone staircase nestled within the dense jungles of the Sierra Nevadas. To get there, trekkers will begin at the town of Santa Marta, which is about a four hour drive from Cartagena.
After an approximately three day trek through the lush green jungle, you finally come across the first of the stone steps leading into the city. Once you reach the top, you are free to explore the 80 acres of abandoned city that you might even have completely to yourself. 
What to bring? Instead of bringing a tent, we recommend one of our high tech hammocks like this Hennessy Explorer Deluxe Asym that will not only completely enclose you with a bug net, it will keep you off the ground for added safely and breeze in the harsh jungle conditions.
Australia
Our next adventure, the Great Ocean Walk, takes us along the southeast coast of Australia in the state of Victoria. 
This 64 mile hike can be done in approximately two to seven days depending on how leisurely you’d like to experience this breathtaking part of the world. Along the way, you’ll cross paths with shipwreck sites, secluded beaches, and the coast’s famous limestone stacks, “The Twelve Apostles”. There are plenty of on-path campsites along the way as well as luxury lodging, so it’s up to you how rugged you’d like to be on this trek.
What to bring? You’ll want to capture every memory along this bucketlist-worthy hike, so grab a GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition and use it on land or sea. Right now we’re offering a $50 MP Gear giftcard with every purchase, so it’s the perfect time to grab yours for the summer!
North America
Our final stop takes us to Utah’s famous Zion National Park. 
Zion is locatednear Springdale and plays host to mountains, rivers, canyons, buttes, and much, much more. It is known for its diversity in plant and animal life as it boasts multiple different life zones for creatures to flourish in. One of the most well-known features of the park is Zion Canyon which is 15 miles long and up to a half mile wide. Some of the best views are along the La Verkin Creek where the Kolob arch resides, so be sure to spend some time there! You also can’t miss out on the Beartrap Canyon Falls which are only about an extra five miles hike roundtrip. Well worth it. 
What to bring? Zion is a popular camping and hiking site for families, so bring the whole gang and a 4+ person tent like the Big Agnes Flying Diamond. Be sure to keep everyone hydrated and sunscreened! 🙂
With that, we conclude our travels. Thanks for adventuring with the MP Crew & happy trails!
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