Feb 12 2022
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 …
Feb 05 2022
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 …
Feb 05 2022
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 …
Nov 28 2021
Mount Ritter 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 …
Oct 22 2021
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 …
Jul 07 2021
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 …
Dec 14 2020
At the very beginning of 2020, in early January, my family was struck with a sudden death. Soon after, the world was beset with the coronavirus, and we had to make some pretty big lifestyle adjustments along with everyone else. So in late summer, my sister and I decided to reconnect with nature for healing …
May 03 2020
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. …
May 01 2020
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 …
Apr 28 2020
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 …
