Chile’s Yosemite: The Refugio Experience in Torres Del Paine
The refugio and hotel infrastructure in Torres Del Paine make this landmark accessible through a variety of experience and exertion. Visitors can simply bus into the Lago Grey Hotel to view an...
View ArticleBay Area Explorers in 2015
Lots of things happened with Bay Area Explorers in 2015. The biggest being splitting off to an independent adventuring group where previously it was an ambassador group for the Epiclist brand. Through...
View ArticleThe 5 Cities of Southern Patagonia
In my three weeks in South America I found Chile to be raw and local with modest food and accommodation. Whereas Argentina had higher prices, delicious lamb and beef dishes, much more shopping and a...
View ArticleParks and Places of Southern Patagonia: Chile
Activity in Chilean Southern Patagonia centers around Torres del Paine National Park. Torres del Paine itself has many options to experience it, however if you didn’t come to Patagonia to experience...
View ArticleParks and Places of Southern Patagonia: Argentina
Argentina’s Torres del Paine and UNESCO World Heritage Site is Parque Los Glaciares. This area features its own glaciers, beautiful mountain vistas and contains the “end of the world.” Below you’ll...
View ArticleThe Complete Guide to Patagonia
You are all set on going to Patagonia, but don’t know what you want to do down there yet? First thing to know is there are three main regions: Northern (Lakes District), Central and South. Most people...
View ArticleTrail Report: Mt. Shasta via Green Butte Ridge
On February 5, 2016 I went up to Mt. Shasta City with my friend Michele to attend a free avalanche training from the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center. Once we saw that low avalanche danger, clear skies and...
View ArticleTraining for a Mountaineering Summit
One way of describing mountaineering is, “walking uphill while not feeling very well”. Another is a performance sport pushing mental and physical exhaustion. Since last year I’ve completed two Mt....
View ArticleBest of the Bay: Training Hikes
Need to keep fit for a big backpacking trip or mountain climb? Maybe eye’ing a Shasta summit? The best way to train for such trips is to spend more time in nature and pack a heavy bag (30-40lbs). Stay...
View ArticleBecoming Bilingual @ Coursera
Halfway through my HCI degree I “saw the light” and moved from a flip phone to an Apple iPhone in 2010 despite being notoriously cheap. The following year I wrote my first iOS app for the device. Since...
View ArticleHow to (Not) Climb Round Top, or: The Importance of Good Research
“We think we took a wrong turn a quarter of a mile back.” Guest post by Matthew Adjemian We were about a mile into our hike and had come across a team of young hikers breaking camp. They had spent the...
View ArticleTrail Report: Spring Summit Attempt of Lassen Peak
Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the snowiest places in California and also one of the least visited national parks despite its rich geology and beauty. Around mid-April it was one of few lower...
View ArticleTrail Report: Cone Peak Loop – Big Sur
Want to see the real Big Sur? The wilderness where mountains dive dramatically into the ocean? A mountain range hidden from Highway 1? Cone peak (5155 ft) is a great route for you. It is one of the...
View ArticleTrail Report: Mt Shasta Casaval Traverse
I had been training all year for a difficult climb up Sargent’s Ridge when the trip fell through a couple weekends back so when I had an opportunity at another ridge route I jumped at it. In all the...
View ArticleClimbing Auburn Cliffs (Quarry)
Outdoor rock climbing is my summer project this year and I’m trying to get out to do it as much as possible. So far this summer I’ve done my first sport lead, trad lead and multi-pitch. I’ve gained...
View ArticleEat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat at EDC Las Vegas
I just got back from the largest electronic music festival in North America, Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas which starts at sunset and ends at sunrise. I’ve been to smaller shows, regional...
View ArticleBirthday Blitz: River crossings and alpine lakes onto Mt. Baldwin
The plan was to go hike to Dorthy lakes for a three day backpacking trip for my birthday. Hoping to summit either Mt. Baldwin (12,615′) and possibly Red Slate Mountain (13,123′) depending on whichever...
View ArticleClimbing Third Pillar of Dana and Fairview Dome in/near Yosemite
My more experienced climbing friend of mine was more than happy to head off to Yosemite to climb these five star classics. A five hour drive with stop to provision at the last good grocery store in...
View ArticleCraig Climbing Big Chief and Green Phantom in North Tahoe
A few weekends back I decided to go on a climbing trip with a bunch of people I didn’t know via a very active meet up group Get Your Climb On. What could go wrong? Actually, everything went right and I...
View ArticleMulti-Pitch Trad at Lover’s Leap
Keeping in pattern with a climbing trip every weekend I signed on to go to Lover’s Leap in South Lake Tahoe where huge rocks charge up from the surrounds just off I-50. The area is very popular due to...
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