“I spent my last birthday on Isla de Ometepe, an island rising from two volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua, Concepción and Maderas. The dead volcanoes form the island, population 35,000, in the shape of an hourglass. The island’s economy is based on livestock, agriculture and tourism.
This photo is taken in Playa Santo Domingo, in the southeast half of the island, in front of Volcán Maderas. I stopped here a couple of days out of a two-week trip to Nicaragua. The island is beautifully forested, with farms, coffee and tobacco plantations and rainforest. Hikers can scale Maderas (3,833 feet above sea level)—the trek is muddy–and return in about 8 hours. “ – Monica
Backpack brand: Kelty
Backpack model and capacity: Santa Fe 4000W (4000 cubic inches)
The location where you took the picture: Playa Santo Domingo, on Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua
Trip Length: 3 days on Ometepe; entire time in Nicaragua was 2 weeks
More pictures at: www.blackbroadabroad.blogspot.com
Thanks to Monica Williams
“Five friend on an adventure through New Zealand. We decided to walk the Tongariro Crossing in what seemed like the worst possible weather, but it didn’t start out that way. 27 miles in a little over 24 hours. We screamed at the top of our lungs when the Skotel Hotel came into sight. Our feet were sore and our backs ached, but we didn’t care…we had made the crossing!” – John
Backpack brand: Kelty
Backpack model and capacity: Red Cloud 5600
The location where you took the picture: Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
Trip Length: 15 days
More pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/relic
Thanks to John Mundy.
Should John win our New Zealand photo contest?
“This picture is atop the first pass on the Inca Trail in Peru ( Warmiwanusca – 13,780 ft). There were three more days after this to reach Machu Picchu. An incredible trip! My friend Mat (on the left in the picture) is currently traveling the globe while I sit here in an office and work…..I’m not jealous though 
“ - MJ
Backpack brand: Kelty
Backpack model and capacity: Kelty 5600
The location where you took the picture: Inca Trail, Peru
Trip Length: 8 days
Read Mat’s (left) blog: http://matsjournal.blogspot.com
Thanks to MJ Menely!
“After suffering from an acute case of quarterlife burnout in New York City, best friends Holly Corbett, Jen Baggett and Amanda Pressner decided to chuck their boyfriends, apartments and steady media jobs to travel around the world for a year. They hit five continents and more than a dozen countries, and thanks to their PacSafes and some pretty sharp reflexes, managed to avoid having anything stolen during the journey! In this photo, taken on their last day in New Zealand, the girls are waiting for yet another airport shuttle (and mugging for the camera).” – Amanda
Name: Holly Corbett (left)
Backpack brand: EMS
Backpack model and capacity: Summit 4500 (4500 cubic inches)
Name: Amanda Pressner (middle)
Backpack brand: Snowgum (an Aussie brand)
Backpack model and capacity: Not sure! I bought mine second-hand from an Australian friend of mine for $75, and its probably about 4500 cubic inches.
Name: Jennifer Baggett (right)
Backpack brand: Kelty
Backpack model and capacity: Coyote Pack–Women’s, 4500 cubic inches
The location where you took the picture: Christchurch, New Zealand
Trip Length: One year
More info at: http://lostgirlsworld.blogspot.com
Thanks to Holly, Jennifer and particularly to Amanda!
Note from Mathieu: You really should take a look at their blog if you didn’t know these girls yet folks. They rock! I’m a big fan!
“In this photo, Rich is looking up at the peaks surrounding Bighorn Park, which is along the Mt. Whitney Trail between Whitney Portal and Mount Whitney. This 22 mile (11 miles from trailhead to the top) trip can be done in a long day hike, which we did a few years before this, but this time we took it easy and we were on the trail for a total of three days. It was a great trip; we camped at Trail Camp, made it to the top of Mt. Whitney without any problems and enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way.” – Ben
Backpack brand: Kelty
Backpack model and capacity: Red Cloud 5600, 5600 cubic inches
The location where you took the picture: Bighorn Park (near Mount Whitney), California, United States
Trip Length: 3 days
More pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28236328@N00/
More trips at: http://backpacking.jamin86.com
Trip Report: http://backpacking.jamin86.com/trips/whitney.html#2005
Thanks to Ben Zastovnik
Should Ben win the photo contest?
With a group called The Road Less Traveled, I spent 3 weeks in the backcountry of Costa Rica with 6 other teenagers and 2 college age leaders. We also rafted and sea kayaked across the Gulfo Dulce. I had an amazing time!
Thanks to Chandler for this picture!
Backpack brand: Kelty
Backpack model and capacity: Don’t know, he borrowed it from a friend
The location where you took the picture: Corcovado, Costa Rica
Trip Length: 3 weeks
More info at: www.flickr.com/photos/83343773@N00/