Every month Bairdstravels contacts a fellow traveller and reports back to this website . This month we have chosen John Henderson. Better known as Bash . Bash is one of Scotland`s unsung Hero`s . Raising thousands of pounds for Scottish childrens charities . Please take time to watch
the slideshow below. It`s Bairdstravels tribute to Bash.
Thanks to Bill Cook for the photo`s.
KILIMANJARO
Bash has twice reached the sumit of Kilmanjaro 2004 and 2008 raising
much needed funds for Aberlour Child Care Trust .
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa at 19,344 ft and on a clear day it can be seen from the Tsavo plains more than 100 miles away. It is an extinct volcano and its summit is distinguished by a prominent crater. Although it is located just three degrees south of the Equator, its summit is currently permanently covered with snow and ice. Of the various routes which ascend the mountain's flanks, the Rongai route offers the best combination of gradual ascent, beautiful scenery and quiet paths.
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, the highest 'walkable' mountain in the world, a magnificent and spectacular undertaking.
Patagonia
The wild, almost unhabited region at the southern cone of South America is called -on both sides of the Andean chain- Patagonia. In Argentina, this term embraces everything south of Río Colorado. However in Chile, Patagonia is understood to mean “only” the region south of the city of Puerto Montt.
The “Carretera Austral” road leads from Puerto Montt 1200 km long through the most wonderful wilderness to lake General Carrera and further south to the edge of the Patagonian Icefields. Along this main road there are numerous national parks and first-class trekking areas. Unfortunately, public transport hardly ever reaches them. Furthermore, these areas have only a short hiking season (December to February) because of the harsh climate.
Bash sporting his beloved Aberlour T shirt
Further south, you will find a top trekking destination: Torres del Paine is the most visited Chilean national park –you’ll notice why. If you want to avoid the thousands of other hikers who frequent the park in summer, come down here in autumn (March to May) and enjoy not only the stunning colours of foliage, but also less crowded trails.
PERU
Machu Picchu is Inca site located 2,400 meters (7,875 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. The river is a partially navigable headwater of the Amazon River. Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu probably is the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
It was built around the year 1460, but was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Although known locally, it was said to have been forgotten for centuries when the site was brought to worldwide attention in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American historian. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction. archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century. Currently, there are concerns about the effect of tourism on the site as it reached 400,000 visitors in 2003.
Below Bash with some of the locals
Bairdstravel had the pleasure of meeting up with Bash on Aberlour`s charity walk along the Great Wall For more info please visit the China section
