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D Boots Mali is dirt poor, fiercely hot, has a lit- eracy rate of 40 per- cent, and is home to bandits. Why would anyone choose to go trekking in this god- forsaken D Sleeping bag D First aid kit D Pack D Trekking poles D GPS D Headlamp D Chai mix D Base layer D Insulation D Shell jackeVpants D Hat country? Because you'll see things that you never knew existed; and there's a good chance it could change every- thing. For example, a pair of gorilla's hands cut off at the wrists still bound together, black and hardened by the sun selling for $50. When you ask the toothless man in the makeshift stall if you can take a picture he laughs and demands $20. Nomadic Tuaregs sell salt and silver daggers by the side of the road, wearing fabric that's so blue you'll think they cut it out of the Saharan sky. Village kids walk down dusty streets wearing silent head- phones because the batteries for the gifted Walkman died months ago. You'll see all this and more in Mali, and while you're there, you have to visit Dogon country. Named after a people who fled their original homeland to escape the spread of Islam, the Dogon settled in and around the cliffs of the Bandiagara Escarpment, which runs like a huge scar across southeast Mali. Today they are subsistence farmers with animist beliefs who claim they descended from aliens. Famous for their iron-working abilities, the Dogon have demonstrated incredible astronomical knowledge-much of which Western scientists couldn't confirm until the early 20th century. Breathtaking cliff dwellings mark the way, along with villages where people tend to crops and tourists, and worship their ancestors from mud huts. Treks in this region can last between a couple days and a couple weeks. The hiking and climbing is non technical, as most of your traverse will be over flat terrain . Temperatures can reach into the 100S during the late spring, so the optimal time to go is when it's cooler (80S and 90S), in October through March. Once in Dogon Country, it is easy to find a guide, or you can arrange a trip with a larger outfitter (some of whom lead jeep-supported tours).-Aaron Clark I OUTFITTERS SAGA TOURS, MALI Bamako-based Saga Tours offers between 6- and is-day excursions in Mali. There are no dates or groups- everything is tailored directly to your needs. If you've been to West Africa before, or are looking for the cheapest option, these are the people to contact. Saga has been operating since 1998. Customized; $965-$2,365; maximum group size 12; year-round; 223-220-2708, www_sagatours_com, mail@sagatours.com 5 "" z ~ UJ ::E UJ c 15 L-______________________________________________ _ Vi o ~ MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SOBEK, USA, UK If you've never been to West Africa before and you don't speak a lick of fran , ais then Mountain Travel Sobek who has been running trips in the region for the last 13 years will take you there from start to finish. 18 days; $3990; maximum group size 14; January, February, October and November; 888-687-6235, www_mtsobek_com, info@mtsobek_com a. Pearl Izumi Forte Jacket b. Brunton Multi-Navigator c. Feathered Friends Hummingbird Sleeping Bag Versatility is key if you want to use items for multiple trekking expeditions. Whether you are on a rugged day hike, or out for a few days with a light pack, the Zamberlan 199 Taiga GT Plus trekking boot ($160, www.zamberlan.com. 39-0445-660-999) is both lightweight and supportive. This Italian-made boot also has a Gore-Tex liner and shock absorbent heel to make wet conditions and steep trails a bit more manageable. For multi-day trips, the Hummingbird 20 degree down sleeping bag by Feathered Friends ($395, www.feathered- friends. com, 206-292-6292) is exceptionally light and can be custom-made continued on page 70