After a lengthy delay of several months, I am finally publishing my new Death Valley hiking report which documents Cottonwood Slot.  Cottonwood Slot is an impressive slot canyon with white marble walls that very few hiking groups have seen due to the isolated location and challenging obstacles presented within.  Our group was able to fully see the entire canyon back in February of this year.  I’m sure you will enjoy the new report which features 109 photographs.  To read the new report on Cottonwood Slot, visit report #63 (currently) on the Main Page or click on the link below.

Cottonwood Slot new DV report

We recently returned from a 2-week trip to American Samoa.  As part of this, we visited the main island of Tutuila and a smaller island called Ofu (or Ofu-Olosega).  I must say that Ofu was perhaps the most beautiful place I have visited in the world.  At the very least, I found it equally as beautiful as Maupiti and Bora Bora in French Polynesia, which I visited one year ago.  Along with six days of snorkeling in the Ofu Lagoon, we also carried out several hikes.  Thus, I have five planned brand new reports that I am hoping to put together in the near future.  They will include:

• Mount Alava Trail (Tutuila)
• Tumu Mountain Trail (Ofu)
• Oge Beach Trail (Ofu)
• Mount Alava Adventure Trail (Tutuila)
• Ofu Beach and Lagoon (National Park of American Samoa)

As for the standard teaser images, I will share two pictures from each of the upcoming reports below.

Fruit bat spotted on the way up to the summit of Mount Alava

View of Pago Pago harbor from the summit of Mount Alava

Stefan hiking up the beginning of the Tumu Mountain Trail on Ofu

One of the most spectacular views in the world comes at the end of the Tumu Mountain Trail

At the starting point of the Oge Beach Trail with island transportation

A Brown Booby flying overhead at the midpoint of the trail

Passing by a massive Banyan tree on the Mount Alava Adventure Trail

The early part of the hike features views of Pola Island and Vaiava Strait

Stefan playing in the incredibly beautiful Ofu Beach lagoon