It’s a slippery slope (pun intended) in making any list of books, albums, or favorites of anything. Such lists are almost entirely a reflection of the list-maker’s preference, and representative of his/her experience. It is a wholly subjective exercise, and usually met with skepticism, and the inevitable: “but you left so-and-so (who wrote the greatest book ever), off the list!” And one could never deem any collection of climbing literature a definitive ‘best of’ list – the genre has too many good authors in a myriad of experiences for that. But a reading list of recommended titles is a place to start if you’ve recently started climbing and want to know more of its story, or, have climbed for years and just haven’t read much on the subject. Maybe you just enjoy reading as an ‘armchair mountaineer’ and want to know more. If any of these describe you, then consider the selections below.
Category: Articles (Page 18 of 21)
The Tatoosh Range in the Central Washington Cascades lives in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, both figuratively and literally. In the park, approximately 7 miles south of ‘big brother’ Rainier, the peaks of the Tatoosh are well worth a visit. Most of them can be bagged via hiking routes in the summer, unless a more technical route is chosen. There are two distinct ‘areas’ of the Tatoosh Range, and while an energetic party can actually summit several of them in a long-day traverse of the Range, I’ve separated them here based on your approach. You’ll need a basic alpine set-up, ax and crampons, a half-rope will suffice for most parties.
Camping in Goose Neck State Park, Utah was one of the greatest challenges I have faced in my outdoor experience so far. The climate was excruciating, the soil was soft and the insects and reptiles were plentiful. Alone with a close friend, a first-time camper, we attempted to pitch our tent in the soft soil, start an un-successful fire, and were continuously assaulted by an ever growing windstorm. Our first night turned into a long list of un-pleasant events including, setting up camp in the dark, being utterly and terrifyingly lost, and being bombarded by a tsunami of light seeking insects.
Despite the smog, forget the traffic, disregard the surly demeanor of the locals, and ignore the over population. There is much more to the outdoor world of Northern California. Known to many as the Bay Area, or, to those industrious individuals, the Silicon Valley, there is much to offer the outdoor community. No activity is more than a stone’s throw away. Pick your poison: surf the icy shores of Santa Cruz, hike the numerous trails lacing the Coastal Range from Los Gatos to San Francisco, climb the famous sandstone rock at Castle Rock, or saddle up and hit the open road with your bike; mind the cars.
Climbing might seem daunting. I know. I teach new climbers to swallow their fears and pull on plastic holds 35 feet above the ground. But these climbers have made it over the hump. They have elbowed their way through the strange and pricey gear. They have decided to step out of their comfort zone, and most importantly they have decided to look past the stereotype. The attitude beaning hipster with a harness is often the most common reason potential climbers either back out of the gym door, or decide to stay grounded while their buddies dance on the rock in front of them. Personal sports are fueled by ego, and climbing has it’s fair share.
Eli Vega is a published photographer and photography instructor, a published writer, and philosopher. He has photographed and hiked the Colorado mountains since he set foot on the Centennial State five years ago. Included among his serious hikes are three fourteeners: Mt. Bierstadt, Quandry Peak, and the state’s highest peak, Mt. Elbert (14,443’). Below are some life lessons that Eli extracted, internalized and of which he was reminded when he hiked his three Colorado fourteeners.