Category: Countries

How Big are the Rocky Mountains?

If you spend as much time as we do thinking about mountains, then there is a good chance that you have asked yourself the most pressing question that there is about any mountain, which is, quite simply, How Big is it? Our fascination with mountain landscapes is no doubt due to the sense of majesty and …

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Fun Facts about the Rocky Mountains

There runs through the heart of our country a mighty spine of rock … a jagged 3,000 mile wonder that separates the Great Plains from the Western Plateau, and the deserts of New Mexico from the woodlands of Canada. Truly, this is the Purple Mountain Majesty that we sing of, and the Rocky Mountain High that has …

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Stargazing from the Summit of Sierra Negra

The summit of Sierra Negra is a special place. It is an extinct volcano with bragging rights as the fifth-highest peak in Mexico. Its prominence is just 1,770 feet (540 m), but its location in the higher altitude neighborhood of Pico de Orizaba, the summit of Sierra Negra reaches a maximum of 15,030 feet (4,580 …

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Standing Indian Mountain’s Monster is No More

The mountains hold so much wonder. I feel a billowing sense of wonder whenever I stand on a giant rock which was forced up by energy deep within the Earth to soar above the crust many millennia ago. A mountain top is a place to look around and gain a deeper understanding of the fascinating …

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Mount Ritter, A Marvel of Nature

When the electrified chaos of the city becomes too loud, it is necessary to escape to nature. John Muir waxed poetic on the subject, and I would tend to agree with his waxings. A visit to Mount Ritter, whose jagged profile can be seen from his eponymous trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Central …

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Starter Peaks: Nine Easy Mountains to Climb in the U.S.

If you’re ready to tackle your first peak, or want to explore some of America’s amazing beginner treks, then consider one of these great beginner “walk up” mountains for your next climb. These are some of the easiest of the beginner mountains, and are great for most adventurers in good physical condition. Climbing one of …

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Earth’s 10 Highest Mountains

All of the world’s ten highest peaks, based on height above sea level, lie in or near the Tibetan region of the Himalayas, with Everest as the tallest and most of the rest being child mountains of Everest.  The highest peaks of the Himalayan region stretch from India to the southwest of Nepal, to China to …

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The Alpine Glaciers of the Rocky Mountains

No matter where you look in the Rocky Mountains, you are likely to see the handiwork of alpine glacial activity somewhere in the area. As a force of steady erosion, glaciers are significantly responsible for the iconic shape of the Rocky Mountains, in which sharp and narrow ridgelines are separated by wide, “scooped out” valleys. …

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More Facts About the Rocky Mountains

Whether you’re looking to learn more about that Purple Mountain Majesty that everyone is singing about or you are simply in need of a way to keep your brain fresh for the next few minutes, we are happy to provide you with the next installment of interesting, unknown, and quirky facts about one of the …

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How Old Are the Rocky Mountains?

If your dad was answering this question, he would probably just say, “old.” And leave it at that. But an answer like this is meaningless to the thoughtful mountaineer, geologist, or outdoor enthusiast with an active mind. The real answer is a bit harder to pin down. The real answer, it turns out, it all …

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