Apr 12 2020
Anytime you are starting a conversation about a 3,000 mile stretch of mountains, you are bound to run into some variations. After all, the expansive collection of peaks and valleys that we call The Rocky Mountains is actually an ensemble of different climates, ecosystems, and geological oddities. In particular, the Canadian Rockies present some unique …
Apr 11 2020
On the westernmost shore of the great American plain, the city of Denver sits like a sentry, guarding the central Rocky Mountain region like an old military fort, offering westward travelers one final opportunity to replenish their supplies before spiriting off into the hills for one adventure or another. At least, that is what this …
Apr 06 2020
At just over 3,000 miles long, the Rocky Mountains are the second longest mountain range on planet Earth, and are home to some of the most amazing plants, animals, and geological wonders that can be found anywhere. But the Rocky Mountains are not a single, unbroken system of mountains. Rather, they are a family of …
Apr 05 2020
While the Rocky Mountains of North America can’t quite compete with the incredible heights of Alaska, they still hold claim to many of the tallest points in the contiguous Unites States. In fact, other than the lonely Mount Whitney in California, the Rockies have all of the highest points in the contiguous U.S., and as such …
Apr 04 2020
Because the Rocky Mountains are over 3,000 miles long and sometimes hundreds of miles wide, it should be no surprise that there are many hundreds of different animal species that call these mountains home. From the most fearsome carnivores to tiniest ground mammals, the Rockies are capable of supporting such a diverse cast of characters …
Mar 29 2020
It seems that no matter what part of the Rocky Mountains you are traveling through, you will be overcome with an incredible and unassailable sense of history. Indeed one feels overwhelmed with ghost-like recollections of the prospectors and trappers that settled this wild country, or the explorers and warriors that came before them to unlock …
Jul 14 2019
About two hours outside of Mexico City, in the state of Puebla, towers Popocatépetl, the second-highest peak in Mexico at an elevation of 17,880 feet (5,450 m). Popocatépetl, a volcano locally known as “el Popo,” spends part of the year with a snow-covered peak. With more than 25 million people living within a 62-mile (100 …
Jul 13 2019
While all mountains have an interesting story to tell, rooted in geological drama and local legend, La Malinche, with her rippling contours, spins a more intriguing yarn than most. Soaring above the border between Puebla and Tlaxcala states in Mexico with a prominence of 6,300 feet (1,920 m), La Malinche’s peak reaches into the sky …
Oct 14 2018
What to do when you’re in one of the best states for exploring mountains, new at climbing, and tethered to the city of Portland during your summer vacation? Walk Portland, Oregon’s dormant volcano, Mount Tabor! This is exactly what I did this summer. One sunny day in August, my daughter, brother-in-law, niece, and I took …
Jun 16 2018
It is sometimes the lower, quieter mountains that can offer the deepest insights into the world. Douglas Mountain, located in Sebago, Maine, is one of those mountains. Referred to by some as Douglas Hill, it offers the natural beauty that sets the state apart, while also having trails that are short enough to do in …
