Skills
Join Andrew and I on February 6 for another Ask Us Anything livestream. The focus of this conversation is desert travel and backpacking. Join us on February 6 at 6:00pm MT here. Topic covered will include: In terms of the desert experience we’ll be drawing upon, here are the highlights: Andrew Katie Questions? If you would…
Last week an experienced thru-hiker, 37-year old Christopher Roma, died tragically of exposure in the White Mountains. My condolences are with his parents, family, and friends. My father and several alumni shared this news with me. I had never met Christopher, but in at least a few respects we were kindred souls. I know only…
Yesterday, Andrew and I hosted our first Ask Us Anything event of 2024. The topic was winter backpacking and our special guest was Montana-based guide, Richard Forbes. Richard has guided more than 220 days across a wide range of mountain sports including rock climbing, mountain biking, mountaineering, whitewater, backpacking, backcountry skiing, map and compass, and…
On Thursday, January 4, Andrew and I will be joined by guide Richard Forbes for another Ask Us Anything event. The focus of this conversation is how to safely backpack in winter. Join us on January 4 at 6:00pm MT here. Richard has guided more than 220 days across a wide range of mountain sports…
Last evening, Andrew and I hosted our fourth Ask Us Anything event in two weeks. The topic was canyoneering and our special guests included Jose Mendez and Jeff Wohl, the guides for our inaugural canyoneering trips last spring. Jeff is a senior NOLS instructor with over 200 weeks of guiding experience. He’s guided courses in…
Next Thursday, Andrew and I will be joined by one (or more!) of our canyoneering guides to host a Canyoneering-focused Ask Us Anything event. The event will last no more than 60 minutes and will be similar in structure to the three Ask Us Anything events we hosted last week with Dan Durston, Brian Robinson,…
Last night, Andrew and I hosted the last of our Ask Us Anything events this week. Our special guest was Mikaela Osler. Mikaela is a Triple Crown thru-hiker (AT, PCT, CDT), has set FKT’s on the Long Trail and Colorado Trail, is an excellent guide, and has an infectiously positive personality. In this conversation, we…
Yesterday Andrew and I hosted the second of this week’s Ask Us Anything. Our special guest was Brian Robinson, one of Andrew’s original guides who was the first person to complete the Calendar Year Triple Crown, in 2001 and the seventh Barkley Marathon finisher and former course record holder, and who completed the John Muir…
Last week I wrote about the High Sierra’s record-breaking 2023-23 snowpack and its implications for trip planning, gear selection, and essential skills. In short, this season will be far from normal. Are you ready for that? This week Katie Gerber and I are hosting an “Ask Us Anything” online event to answer your questions about…
As atmospheric rivers crashed into the High Sierra during the 2022-23 winter, I had two primary reactions. I was: In 2023 backpacking trips in the High Sierra will be more difficult and risky than identical itineraries in past seasons. However, it’s possible to accurately predict, entirely avoid, and/or safely manage the challenges. Personally, I think…