After flying to Lukla yesterday, and trekking in to Phakding where we spent the night, we made the trip to Namche Bazaar today. Namche, at more than 11,000 feet, is the largest village in the Khumbu Valley. The rest of today and tomorrow will be spent checking it out. So far, everything is great. As an added bonus, Adrian has many of the same staff Russell Brice employed when I was on...
Actually, the yaks aren’t loaded up yet, but they willl be soon. That shot is from Everest back in 2003. I just thought it was fitting for the moment. Christy and I pulled into Kathmandu last night and met up with Dirk. Tomorrow we fly to Lukla and begin the trek in to basecamp. Total time is just over a month to the mountain and back, and the schedule is stacked. Check out the more detailed trip-itinerary. Ama Dablam,...
Gettin’ Ready With our depature for Nepal on Wednesday, we had time for a little last minute trip prep. Our planned route on Ama Dablam is the SW Ridge. As a true hand and foot climbing route, it won’t have any significant “jug hauling”, that is, pulling ourselves up a fixed rope with mechanical ascenders, or jumars. For safety reasons though, we will be clipped in and using an ascender, while...
A writeup from a 2008 climb of the Kiener’s Route on Longs Peak.
“I’d like to see the guy who can ride up that!” said the rude guy from California as he arrived to the top of Murphy’s Hogback, walking his bike. When it was revealed that not only did most of our group ride the steep hill but Jared managed to do it with his daughter, Maia, in tow, he started in about how his gear ratios weren’t the same (otherwise he most certainly...
(or better yet, …to us!) Canyon country is awesome this time of year. So when Tim asked if I’d like to join him and some friends on a Westwater trip, I was in. I’ve always been curious to see what this classic Colorado River run was all about. And with rapids that bear names like Funnel, Skull, Razor Rock and the Room of Doom I knew this wouldn’t disappoint. It might be nice to go...
The ten second countdown to the start of a 100 mile race is a crash course in coping. I often feel a bit sick to my stomach and while standing there I can’t help but think about what is happening, what kind of mistake I’ve made. How did I get in this situation? Why would anyone voluntarily sign up for this, let alone pay money to participate? Will I really watch the sun rise twice while...
We’re ready to go. Here’s some info to follow along.
We’re getting married!!! Christy and I got engaged on Sunday. No maps, slideshows or GPS coordinates are needed for this post. Plan A – a summit proposal atop Coxcomb was stymied by bad weather so Plan B had us on a quick hike to a pass above camp and with just enough of a break in the weather I was able to get down on a knee and pop the question. She said...
This connection of trails that circumnavigates the Maroon Bells crests four passes greater than 12,000 feet and resides entirely within the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness. It’s one of those reminders as to why we live here. Completed in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, its reported distance and elevation gain varies a bit depending on who you ask and where you start but definitely qualifies as a must-do. Outings can commence from...
We met in Aspen in 2000 and have been happily stuck in the rockies ever since, getting out in the mountains every day we can, in every season and by all means possible. Read More
