Oct 15 2023
Navigation Mountain navigation is the ability to understand where you are, where you are going, what lies between those two points, and whether the landscape around you matches the route you planned. That sounds simple when a trail is obvious and the weather is clear. In the mountains, however, trails can disappear beneath snow, fog …
Oct 14 2023
The Pocono Mountains, usually shortened to the Poconos, form one of northeastern Pennsylvania’s best-known mountain and outdoor regions. Rather than a landscape of sharp, towering summits, the Poconos are characterized by broad forested uplands, rolling ridges, deeply cut river valleys, glacial lakes, wetlands, waterfalls, boulder fields, and wooded plateaus. The modern tourism region covers roughly …
Oct 10 2023
Dom Rising to 4,545 meters (14,911 feet) in the Pennine Alps of Valais, the Dom is the highest mountain located entirely within Switzerland. It towers between the Mattertal and Saastal valleys, with Randa far below its western side and Saas-Fee beneath its immense eastern flank. The Dom is the highest summit of the Mischabel massif, …
Oct 10 2023
Liskamm (Lyskamm) Stretching as a brilliant white wall between Switzerland and Italy, Liskamm is one of the most imposing mountains of the Pennine Alps. Its long, heavily glaciated summit ridge contains two principal peaks: the East Summit, the mountain’s highest point, and the lower West Summit. The UIAA lists the East Summit at 4,527 meters …
Oct 09 2023
Tour Sallière | Tour Salière Rising to 3,220 meters (10,565 feet) above the lakes, glaciers, and limestone valleys of western Valais, Tour Sallière is one of the most distinctive high mountains in southwestern Switzerland. Its enormous three-sided pyramid rises between Lac de Salanfe, Lac d’Émosson, the Susanfe basin, and Grand Mont Ruan near the French …
Oct 09 2023
Monte Rosa (Dufourspitze) Rising to 4,634 meters (15,203 feet) in the Pennine Alps, Monte Rosa is the highest mountain massif in Switzerland and one of the greatest concentrations of 4,000-meter summits anywhere in the Alps. Its highest point, Dufourspitze, is the national high point of Switzerland and the highest Alpine summit outside the Mont Blanc …
Oct 08 2023
Stetind | Stetinden | Stádda Rising almost directly from the dark waters of Stefjorden in northern Norway, Stetinden—better known to generations of climbers simply as Stetind—is one of Scandinavia’s most recognizable mountains. Its smooth granite walls sweep upward into an unmistakable obelisk-like summit, capped by a comparatively flat, anvil-shaped top. Stetinden reaches approximately 1,391 meters …
Oct 08 2023
Mountaineering clothing has a difficult job. It must protect against wind, snow, rain, cold, abrasive rock, and rapidly changing weather while still allowing climbers to move, sweat, reach overhead, wear a harness, and carry a pack. That combination makes technical mountaineering clothing quite different from ordinary hiking apparel. A lightweight rain jacket that works perfectly …
Oct 08 2023
Gerlachov Peak | Gerlach | Gerlachovský štít Rising to approximately 2,655 meters (8,711 feet) in northern Slovakia, Gerlachov Peak, or Gerlachovský štít, is the highest mountain in Slovakia, the highest summit of the High Tatras, and the highest point in the entire Carpathian mountain system. Known informally simply as Gerlach, the mountain stands completely within …
Oct 08 2023
Store Skagastølstind | Storen Rising to approximately 2,405 meters (7,890 feet) in the wild western mountains of Jotunheimen, Store Skagastølstind—better known simply as Storen—is Norway’s third-highest mountain and one of the most important climbing summits in Scandinavian history. Unlike Galdhøpiggen and Glittertinden, Norway’s two higher mountains, Storen has no ordinary hiking route to the top. …
