Couchsurfing cities

Fairbanks 19.06 1 night
Anchorage 26.06 3 nights
Seattle 7.07 2 nights
Portland 10.07 1 night
San Francisco 16.07 1 night
Mexico City 3.08 3 nights
San Cristóbal 6.08 3 nights (excursion to Palenque!)
Antigua or Quetzaltenago around 12.08 2 nights
Cópan (?) 23.08 1 night
Grenada (around) 11.09 2 nights
Panama City (beginning October) 1 night

Inca trail

I had to write this again, as I deleted in accidentaly. It seems like one has to book beforehand to on the trail as permits are restricted, which means I will probably book it before I leave in June. In other words anyone aho wants to come along has to tell me soonish. There are two options: hiking the classical trail (4 days, 600$) and hiking from (7 days, 800$). The second option is much more difficult and not for untrained hikers. I have not decided, which option to take and anyone who wants to come along obviosly has a say.

Honduras misc

As expected, this sounds even better than Guatemala, at least activity wise, the national park and diving sounds especially like fun. A lot of places in Honduras have high incidences of Malaria, which means I have to look into medication. I guess it is possible to buy there? I cannot imagine that it is a good idea to carry medication in the backpack for two months in summertime unless unavoidable.

California and Arizona

Redwoods, redwoods, redwoods! (101 to San Francisco, 2-3 days, 600km)
Just like there is State Park after State Park in Oregon on the 101 the same is true in northern California, just that this time the focus is on Redwood forests instead of beaches. There are two places where it makes sense to leave the 101, at Prairie Creeks State Park and the small walk down Fern Canyon (the name is self-explanatory, I think) which takes about an hour. After Eureka it makes sense to leave the 101 and take the Mattole Road through Ferndale (town with old houses, I sense a coffee and cake break) as it is supposed to be prettier.

San Francisco to Joshua Tree Park (6 days 1500km approx.)
leaving San Francisco on the I280 gives me the possibility to visit the San Andreas fissure. The 1 on the coast between Monterey and San Simeon is supposed to be the prettiest part of California coast. At San Simeon I plan to turn inland, making my way to Sequoia National Park for more camping and redwoods (but mountains instead of sea this time). I will not visit Los Angeles, but take the small roads through Silverwood Lake to Joshua tree park and then I'm in the desert. I like deserts :)

Joshua tree park to Yuma (400km, 1day)
I will fly to Mexico, without a plane ticket out of the country, the immigration might not let me in. My flight leaves in Yuma, right at the border. I will get there over Box Canyon Road and the Salt Lake Salton Sea. I will also pass Mecca :)

Washington and Oregon

Time: 10 days

Bellingham - Seattle
I guess there will be buses/trains or other kinds of public transport to get from Bellingham (which is further north than I thought) to Seattle. I Seattle I will have to decide whether to buy or rent a car or other form of individual transport (I'm still hung up on that scooter idea) there will be a blog post about this soon. In Seattle I will couchsurf, of course, after the over 100 people I hosted in Iceland, karma should be kind to me at least couchsurfing wise. No plans for the city, hosts and coincidence will help me out there for the time I need to secure transport. And then the roadtrip starts!

Seattle-Oregon (400km 3 days)
I will be passing two active volcanoes, Mt.Rainer and Mt. St Helens. So there will be lots of opportunities for short hikes and possible death in volcanic eruptions. South of Mt. St.Helens is the ape cave, a volcanic cave which I definitely want to see, because I love caves.
West of Mt. St.Helens is a creationism museum, which would be fun, although it is a bit out of the way.

Portland
supposed to be one of the nicest cities in USA so couchsurfers, here I come!

Oregon coast (325km, 3-4 days)
the 101, apparently one of the prettiest coasthighways and next to some of the most beautiful beaches in the USA and cosy little seaside towns.Ecola State Parks seems to be a good choice for camping, the town Tillamook is famous for it's cheese (desperate for good cheese I am) and there is an opportunity of a pretty coast hike at Cape Meares at the Three Capes Scenic Loop. The prettiest part of this road is between Yachats and Coos Bay, which is basically state park after state park. After Coos Bay Siskiyou National Park on the Elk River seems to be the best place to stay the night. It is a bit inland and might just prove a good change from all these beaches. And then to California!

Alaska itinerary

12 days

departure from Germany: 19.06. 10:15h
change in Anchorage
arrival in Fairbanks: 19.06 14:32h

need to buy a tent!
Fairbanks go north hostel has campsite attached (12$)

waaaay to long to go to Deadhorse, 16h drive or really expensive flight, have also spend enough time around the Arctic Circle...

Denali National Park (between Fairbanks and Anchorage)
restricted access, transport: bus (www.alaskashuttle.com 55$/train (www.akrr.com 64$)
sleeping: 9-20$ (on campgrounds)
maps and information available in the national park
bears and all that stuff!

to anchorage: train (146$) or bus (75$)

in Anchorage at the ship creek viewing platform, salmon are jumping in abundance (in the city, cool...)

dorm around 25$ there does not seem to be camping, but after Denali National Park I might not want to camp anymore anyway)

around anchorage two possibilities:
Girdwood (a hippietown), possible to do a day hike and see gold mining artifacts
Palmer has a similar hike
called Hatchers Pass

around Whittier (where the boat leaves)
Prince William sound islands and kajak

Money

Visas:
USA Visa 14$
Other around 3$ per country around 27$
Visa for Chile:

Transport:
Plane to Alaska: 944$
Ferry ticket from Alaska to Seattle: 547$
Plane from Yuma to Mexico City: 245$
Cruising from Panama to Colombia: 500$

Other:
Diving: around 600$
Inca trail: 600$ or 800$ depending on which trek

Total: 3477 / 3677
Paid: 1203

Outline of the trip

June 21st to 2nd July: Alaska
-ferry through the inside passages to 7th July-
July 2nd to August 2nd: USA
August:Mexico, Guatemala
September: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
October: Panama, Columbia
November: Ecuador, Peru
December: Chile