I am an amatuer backpacker with experience roaming around in the Wind Rivers, Zion National Park, Yosemite, and other great sites in the western United States. My latest adventure has been working for a wilderness therapy program in southern Utah. Its a great job, but puts a lot of wear and tear on the body, the mind, and especially gear.
I awoke early in the morning, just before dawn, so got up to wander a bit and watch the sun come up. When we arrived at the camp the night before, the first thing we noticed was that this camp was a junction for the other hike routes up to the summit. This meant there were dozens more hikers than we had seen at the camps previously, and the term “tent city” came to mind.
Landon Faulkner and his cousin Andrew are two bearded adventurers that are trying to make a difference for some at risk and under-served youth. They have announced Climb for Change, an ambitious assault, and first-ever two-day winter ascent, of Mount Lassen and Brokeoff Mountain in California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park using snowshoes.
Is dinner and a movie not your ideal Valentine’s Day? Try something fun and different this year with an outdoorsy twist on your date night! Here’s a list of fun date ideas for the couple that loves to spend time both outside and with each other:
On the third day we woke to another short but strenuous hike, just over five miles, but because we walked very slowly to help acclimatize and not get too winded, we did okay. The first three miles or so were a long but gradual uphill climb through lava fields. We sang snatches of songs we couldn’t remember all the words to, and played movie trivia.
Day two of the hike was relatively short, only a few miles, but very steep and rocky, and about another 2,500 feet of elevation gain. Everybody in the party did well, and the day felt much easier. This was due mainly to the fact that it was dry instead of drizzling, and we had the whole day to make the hike, instead of just a few hours on the day previous.
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