Cerro Tronador (Refugio Otto Meiling)

This two-day Patagonia hike leads to Refugio Otto Meiling on the slopes of Cerro Tronador, one of the most prominent peaks in the Bariloche region. The route climbs through coihue and lenga forests before emerging onto a high rocky ridge that culminates at the refuge (1,905m). Positioned between the Castaño Overa and Alerce glaciers, the stay offers a unique opportunity to witness active glacial calving. The trail follows a well-defined path of forest floor and alpine rock, with a final sustained push to reach the rocky spine where the hut perches.

A lesser-known long-distance pilgrimage route in Kyushu. The Kunisaki Peninsula Minemichi Long Trail traverses the dramatic, volcanic ridges of northern Kyushu between the cities of Bungotakada and Kunisaki. It follows the thousand-year-old mountain ascetic paths (Mine-iri) used by monks of the Rokugo Manzan culture. The trail connects historical temples and sheer cliff-side Buddha carvings (Magaibutsu). While the max altitude is only 721m (Mt. Futago), the route involves repetitive steep gains on uneven, root-choked terrain. Some sections are poorly marked, requiring careful navigation.