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Mountain Field Guide
Author's posts
Dec 21 2024
Sierra Madre
The Sierra Madre is one of the defining geographical features of Mexico—a vast system of rugged mountain ranges that frames much of the Mexican Plateau and shapes the country’s climate, rivers, forests, wildlife, and human geography. Rather than being a single mountain chain, the name Sierra Madre is most commonly associated with three great ranges: …
Dec 21 2024
The Ultimate Guide to Sun Protection for Mountain Climbers
Mountain climbing exposes you to some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth—but it can also expose your skin and eyes to unusually intense ultraviolet radiation. Elevation, long hours above treeline, highly reflective snow and ice, and limited shade can combine to make sun protection an essential part of a climber’s safety system. Even cool …
Dec 20 2024
Southern Alps: New Zealand’s Great Alpine Backbone
The Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana form the dramatic mountainous spine of New Zealand’s South Island. Stretching for roughly 500 kilometers (310 miles) from northeast to southwest, this vast alpine system contains the country’s highest summits, immense glaciers, deep river valleys, high mountain passes, and some of the most spectacular landscapes in …
Dec 20 2024
Pik Voyennykh Topografov
Pik Voyennykh Topografov | Pik Vojennich Topografov Pik Voyennykh Topografov is one of the great high mountains of the Central Tian Shan, rising to 6,873 meters (22,549 feet) in the Xinjiang region of western China. Its name, derived from Russian Пик Военных Топографов, is commonly translated as “Peak of the Military Topographers.” Despite being overshadowed …
Dec 19 2024
Red Lake Peak
Red Lake Peak rises immediately north of Carson Pass in California’s central Sierra Nevada, forming a rugged volcanic summit above Highway 88 and the upper Carson River country. At approximately 10,069 feet (3,069 meters), it is not among the tallest Sierra peaks, but its substantial prominence, volcanic geology, historical importance, and commanding views make it …
Dec 19 2024
Stevens Peak (California)
🏔️ Overview Stevens Peak is a prominent 10,000-foot summit overlooking Hope Valley in Alpine County, California. Located in the northern Sierra Nevada, the mountain rises immediately north of Carson Pass and forms part of the high ridge separating the Lake Tahoe drainage from the upper Carson River watershed. Although Stevens Peak does not have the …
Dec 17 2024
Striped Mountain
🏔️ Overview Striped Mountain is a distinctive 13,000-foot summit on the crest of California’s Sierra Nevada, rising along the boundary between Fresno and Inyo counties. Its western slopes fall into Kings Canyon National Park and the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness, while its eastern side lies within the John Muir Wilderness of Inyo National Forest. The mountain …
Dec 17 2024
Ethiopian Highlands
The Ethiopian Highlands, sometimes called the Abyssinian Highlands, form one of Africa’s largest and most remarkable elevated regions. Spreading across much of Ethiopia and extending northward into Eritrea, this immense highland system contains volcanic plateaus, deep gorges, sheer escarpments, fertile valleys, Afroalpine moorlands, and some of the highest mountains in northeastern Africa. Much of the …
Dec 17 2024
Cascade Range: Volcanoes, Glaciers, and Wild Landscapes of the Pacific Northwest
🏔️ Overview The Cascade Range, often simply called the Cascades, is one of the great mountain systems of western North America. Stretching from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon into northern California, the range is famous for snow-covered volcanoes, rugged alpine terrain, deep forests, glaciers, waterfalls, and some of the most recognizable mountains in …
Dec 16 2024
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains form one of Eurasia’s great mountain systems, rising between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea at the meeting point of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Stretching for more than 1,200 kilometers (about 750 miles), the mountains contain immense glaciers, volcanic peaks, deep river valleys, alpine meadows, ancient forests, and some of …
