I just got back from a stunning autumnal week in New Hampshire, where I finally (after 10 years) ticked off the 48 4,000-footers in the White Mountains. I had 9 left: Hale, Zealand, Guyot, Waumbek, Cabot, Passaconaway, Whiteface, Isolation, and Owl’s Head. So after 82 miles and 19,000 vertical feet, I can move on to [...]
I spent the first 10 days of June at the Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch, a place near and dear to my heart, at the base of the Grand Teton, in northwestern Wyoming. The GTCR is run by the American Alpine Club as sort of a rustic hostel/hangout spot for climbers who are either gearing up [...]
Kev, Jon, and I went to Mexico two weeks ago, and climbed Izta (17,340′). We also checked out the pyramids at Teotihuacan, climbed Nevado de Toluca (15,400′), and slept on the beach about 30 miles north of Acapulco (aka AcaVegas). Here’s what we learned: Acclimatize slowly but steadily, especially if you live at sea level. [...]
Matt, Karen, and I, as the presiding members of the food committee, learned a valuable lesson on our recent hut-to-hut ski trip: frozen ravioli is an inferior food product, ill-suited to the distresses of variable climates over long periods. In the interest of public safety, I’ve sent this message to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, [...]
(flashback from ’04, when I climbed lots more) We expected the electrical storms, and we were prepared for the cold, gusty wind. We were ready, too, for the rain and snow, which rendered the final traverse a terrifying solo across wet, slippery slabs. Matt and I were ready because we’d been waiting to climb Mt. [...]
Five years ago, when I was living in Paonia, Colorado, I met up with E. for a weekend of bouldering and mine exploration in the Crystal River valley. I’d heard lots about the bouldering in Redstone, but more importantly, I had yearned for a while to explore the giant marble quarry up in the town [...]