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Showing posts with label Adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adventure. Show all posts

Thursday, 30 May 2013

A climber takes in the view on Mount Shasta.
Photograph by Chris Carr, Shasta Mountain Guides
By Kate Siber
Mount Shasta is one of the largest Cascade volcanoes by volume, but think of it as a gentle giant. This 14,163-foot (4,317-meter) volcano that towers over northern California is a veritable utopia for mountaineers: It’s gifted with spectacular vertical relief, relatively mild terrain, and reliably sunny weather that makes for prime climbing conditions. “There are few places in the world where you have that much vertical without the objective hazards,” says Chris Carr, director of Shasta Mountain Guides.
From a base camp above 8,000 feet (2,438 meters), the outfitter offers three-day courses that teach novices the basics of ski or snowboard mountaineering, such as how to use ski crampons, climb with skins, and self-arrest. Day three is when they put it all together for a summit bid: Students rise at 2 or 3 a.m. and zigzag 5,000 vertical feet (1,524 meters) up to the peak, a jumble of boulders big enough for multiple people to scramble on top to take in the views, which stretch as far as 125 miles (200 kilometers). The reward is one of the longest continuous ski descents in the Lower 48: Through some of the nation’s best corn snow, you’ll turn 7,000 vertical feet (2,134 meters) down a consistent 35- or 45-degree slope all the way to the trailhead.
Need to Know: Join Shasta Mountain Guides (www.shastaguides.com) on a prescheduled trip, starting at $595, from May through June.

Ski Mountaineer Mount Shasta California Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

A climber takes in the view on Mount Shasta.
Photograph by Chris Carr, Shasta Mountain Guides
By Kate Siber
Mount Shasta is one of the largest Cascade volcanoes by volume, but think of it as a gentle giant. This 14,163-foot (4,317-meter) volcano that towers over northern California is a veritable utopia for mountaineers: It’s gifted with spectacular vertical relief, relatively mild terrain, and reliably sunny weather that makes for prime climbing conditions. “There are few places in the world where you have that much vertical without the objective hazards,” says Chris Carr, director of Shasta Mountain Guides.
From a base camp above 8,000 feet (2,438 meters), the outfitter offers three-day courses that teach novices the basics of ski or snowboard mountaineering, such as how to use ski crampons, climb with skins, and self-arrest. Day three is when they put it all together for a summit bid: Students rise at 2 or 3 a.m. and zigzag 5,000 vertical feet (1,524 meters) up to the peak, a jumble of boulders big enough for multiple people to scramble on top to take in the views, which stretch as far as 125 miles (200 kilometers). The reward is one of the longest continuous ski descents in the Lower 48: Through some of the nation’s best corn snow, you’ll turn 7,000 vertical feet (2,134 meters) down a consistent 35- or 45-degree slope all the way to the trailhead.
Need to Know: Join Shasta Mountain Guides (www.shastaguides.com) on a prescheduled trip, starting at $595, from May through June.

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Posted at 23:10 |  by Unknown
Rafters take on whitewater rapids on the Kern River.
Photograph courtesy Sarah Teed, Kern Outfitters
By Kate Siber
Locals describe the Forks of the Kern in two ways: It’s either 80 rapids in quick succession or one really, really long one. These 22 miles (35 kilometers) of nonstop Class IV and V rapids make the Forks of the Kern, only 150 miles (241 kilometers) from Los Angeles, one of the country’s premier whitewater runs. But it’s also a brilliant escape. After the 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) hike in, there are no other people, no roads, no Starbucks, and no distractions from the beauty of the remote granite canyon.
Because many of the rapids are unscoutable, even veteran rafters must bring their A game. Kern River Outfitters don't require experience for their three-day trips, but they do require passing a swim test. On day one, the groups (no larger than 15 people) schlep gear to the put-in, while mules carry the rafts. Soon after launching, the river turns as bumpy as a bronco with a succession of boat-flipping Class IV and V rapids and drops as large as 10 feet (3 meters). Side hikes lead to lush waterfalls and natural 60-foot (18-meter) waterslides, but arguably the best part is the pine-ensconced riverside campsites. Come evening, guides fix three-course meals before tuckered rafters fall asleep under a blanket of California stars.
Need to Know: Kern River Outfitters’ (www.kernrafting.com) three-day all-inclusive trips start at $798, and depart on fixed dates between May and July, depending on flows.

Raft the Forks of the Kern California Adventures -- National Geographic

Rafters take on whitewater rapids on the Kern River.
Photograph courtesy Sarah Teed, Kern Outfitters
By Kate Siber
Locals describe the Forks of the Kern in two ways: It’s either 80 rapids in quick succession or one really, really long one. These 22 miles (35 kilometers) of nonstop Class IV and V rapids make the Forks of the Kern, only 150 miles (241 kilometers) from Los Angeles, one of the country’s premier whitewater runs. But it’s also a brilliant escape. After the 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) hike in, there are no other people, no roads, no Starbucks, and no distractions from the beauty of the remote granite canyon.
Because many of the rapids are unscoutable, even veteran rafters must bring their A game. Kern River Outfitters don't require experience for their three-day trips, but they do require passing a swim test. On day one, the groups (no larger than 15 people) schlep gear to the put-in, while mules carry the rafts. Soon after launching, the river turns as bumpy as a bronco with a succession of boat-flipping Class IV and V rapids and drops as large as 10 feet (3 meters). Side hikes lead to lush waterfalls and natural 60-foot (18-meter) waterslides, but arguably the best part is the pine-ensconced riverside campsites. Come evening, guides fix three-course meals before tuckered rafters fall asleep under a blanket of California stars.
Need to Know: Kern River Outfitters’ (www.kernrafting.com) three-day all-inclusive trips start at $798, and depart on fixed dates between May and July, depending on flows.

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Posted at 23:06 |  by Unknown
A trekker stands above a moulin on the Root Glacier, located in the middle of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.
Photograph by Whit Richardson, Aurora Photos
By Kate Siber
Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, the country’s largest national park, operates on an entirely different scale than the Lower 48. Let’s just review the numbers: Six times the size of Yellowstone, it’s home to the country’s largest collection of glaciers and peaks over 16,000 feet (4,879 meters), including nine of the 16 tallest mountains. Parts of the national park are so remote and unexplored that mountains, glaciers, and passes remain unnamed, and only two roads—both gravel—enter it at all. Few visitors ever set foot into the backcountry. All of this adds up to that rarest of finds: true solitude.
Because there are limited well-trod trails in the park, backpackers usually forge their own routes, which is why a guide can come in handy. Enter Greg Fensterman, the author of the FalconGuides to trekking in the park and owner of the outfitter Trek Alaska. After exploring the park for the better part of a decade, Fensterman now offers choice guided treks, ranging from several days of bush-plane-accessed base camping and pleasant day hikes to nine days of serious climbs, swift river crossings, and bushwhacking. Either way, the rewards are indescribable: You’ll witness paper-white peaks that rise 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) out of valley floors, spot grizzlies that have likely never seen humans, and witness a place so remote and wild it could very well be the end of the world.
Need to Know: Contact the National Park Service (www.nps.gov/wrst) for information on backpacking. Trek Alaska offers five-day trips from $900 (www.trekalaska.com).

Trek Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska Adventures -- National Geographic

A trekker stands above a moulin on the Root Glacier, located in the middle of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.
Photograph by Whit Richardson, Aurora Photos
By Kate Siber
Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, the country’s largest national park, operates on an entirely different scale than the Lower 48. Let’s just review the numbers: Six times the size of Yellowstone, it’s home to the country’s largest collection of glaciers and peaks over 16,000 feet (4,879 meters), including nine of the 16 tallest mountains. Parts of the national park are so remote and unexplored that mountains, glaciers, and passes remain unnamed, and only two roads—both gravel—enter it at all. Few visitors ever set foot into the backcountry. All of this adds up to that rarest of finds: true solitude.
Because there are limited well-trod trails in the park, backpackers usually forge their own routes, which is why a guide can come in handy. Enter Greg Fensterman, the author of the FalconGuides to trekking in the park and owner of the outfitter Trek Alaska. After exploring the park for the better part of a decade, Fensterman now offers choice guided treks, ranging from several days of bush-plane-accessed base camping and pleasant day hikes to nine days of serious climbs, swift river crossings, and bushwhacking. Either way, the rewards are indescribable: You’ll witness paper-white peaks that rise 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) out of valley floors, spot grizzlies that have likely never seen humans, and witness a place so remote and wild it could very well be the end of the world.
Need to Know: Contact the National Park Service (www.nps.gov/wrst) for information on backpacking. Trek Alaska offers five-day trips from $900 (www.trekalaska.com).

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Posted at 05:44 |  by Unknown

Wednesday, 15 May 2013


By Robert Earle Howells
The huge upside of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, nexus of an environmental battle lost a generation ago, is the emergence of its progeny, Lake Powell, as a supreme freshwater kayaking destination. The lake’s green-water tentacles extend from the main 185-mile (300-kilometer) watercourse into 96 side canyons, where kayakers can paddle free of tides, waves, currents, and motorboats. A reverential hush inevitably descends upon a group of kayakers when they proceed into slots of Navajo sandstone towering 500 feet (150 meters) overhead that constrict to barely the length of a paddle.
The size and complexity of the lake convey both challenge and mystery to the experience. Kayakers wanting to go the DIY route might need two full days to get to the best kayaking—and even then they can find themselves paddling into inviting slots that turn out to be blank walls. Outfitters provide a motor assist and the local beta for five-day trips that get you into canyons like Cascade, Driftwood, and Rainbow, beneath the numinous presence of Navajo Mountain (10,388 feet, or 3,166 meters) and the Kaiparowits Plateau. Rainbow Canyon is the gateway to the massive natural arch of Rainbow Bridge.
The typical routine is to paddle eight to ten miles (13 to 16 kilometers) a day, venture into a slot, cross the channel, paddle another, proceed afoot when the canyon closes in entirely, and paddle back out to camp on the main channel where sunset, stars, and sunrise are players in the drama.
Spring and fall are the best times to paddle free of the swarms of speedboats and personal watercraft that plague the lake in summer. Warm water lingers right into fall.
Need to Know: No fees or permits are required to enjoy Lake Powell. Get general info at www.nps.gov/glca. Outfitters and rentals: Kayak Powell (www.kayakpowell.com) provides shuttles, tours, and rentals. A five-day tour starts at $895.

Paddle Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

Paddle Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona


By Robert Earle Howells
The huge upside of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, nexus of an environmental battle lost a generation ago, is the emergence of its progeny, Lake Powell, as a supreme freshwater kayaking destination. The lake’s green-water tentacles extend from the main 185-mile (300-kilometer) watercourse into 96 side canyons, where kayakers can paddle free of tides, waves, currents, and motorboats. A reverential hush inevitably descends upon a group of kayakers when they proceed into slots of Navajo sandstone towering 500 feet (150 meters) overhead that constrict to barely the length of a paddle.
The size and complexity of the lake convey both challenge and mystery to the experience. Kayakers wanting to go the DIY route might need two full days to get to the best kayaking—and even then they can find themselves paddling into inviting slots that turn out to be blank walls. Outfitters provide a motor assist and the local beta for five-day trips that get you into canyons like Cascade, Driftwood, and Rainbow, beneath the numinous presence of Navajo Mountain (10,388 feet, or 3,166 meters) and the Kaiparowits Plateau. Rainbow Canyon is the gateway to the massive natural arch of Rainbow Bridge.
The typical routine is to paddle eight to ten miles (13 to 16 kilometers) a day, venture into a slot, cross the channel, paddle another, proceed afoot when the canyon closes in entirely, and paddle back out to camp on the main channel where sunset, stars, and sunrise are players in the drama.
Spring and fall are the best times to paddle free of the swarms of speedboats and personal watercraft that plague the lake in summer. Warm water lingers right into fall.
Need to Know: No fees or permits are required to enjoy Lake Powell. Get general info at www.nps.gov/glca. Outfitters and rentals: Kayak Powell (www.kayakpowell.com) provides shuttles, tours, and rentals. A five-day tour starts at $895.

Paddle Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

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Posted at 10:36 |  by Unknown

By Doug Schnitzspahn
When it comes to terrain, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort claims some of the best on the planet—famed chutes like Corbet’s Couloir and backcountry gates that access stuff straight out of ski movies are the norm here. But the resort is, after all, still a resort. To take it to the next level, head to Teton Pass, where a quick hike from the apex of Wyoming Highway 22/Idaho 33 (which runs between Wilson, Wyoming, and Victor, Idaho) will reward you with myriad adventurous backcountry lines and practically guaranteed powder. The most popular route, up to the top of 10,086-foot (3,074-meter) Mount Glory and down Glory Bowl, delivers 2,000 vertical feet (610 meters) of wide-open lines, trees, and secret stashes.
Teton Pass is no secret. In fact, on powder days it feels as if it’s a resort itself since many of the locals ski here exclusively. But it is a rite of passage for any backcountry skier or snowboarder visiting the Tetons. It’s also a fantastic way to experience powder skiing in the high, dry northern Rockies without committing to a long skin slog. The true beauty of the pass is that the hike is so fast and the ride down dumps you onto the highway so that you can rack up lap after lap of fresh white goodness. Plus, you can escape the crowds by heading across the highway to Avalanche Bowl or pack the skins and head farther north from Glory into Unskiabowl and the Great White Hump.
Just be very careful: This is true backcountry and it can be deadly. Carry avalanche gear and know how to use it. If you are unsure of your backcountry skills, hire a guide.

Need to Know: Get prepared with a 24-hour basic avalanche course with Exum Mountain Guides, starting at $235 (www.exumguides.com).


Backcountry Ski Teton Pass, Wyoming, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

Backcountry Ski Teton Pass, Wyoming


By Doug Schnitzspahn
When it comes to terrain, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort claims some of the best on the planet—famed chutes like Corbet’s Couloir and backcountry gates that access stuff straight out of ski movies are the norm here. But the resort is, after all, still a resort. To take it to the next level, head to Teton Pass, where a quick hike from the apex of Wyoming Highway 22/Idaho 33 (which runs between Wilson, Wyoming, and Victor, Idaho) will reward you with myriad adventurous backcountry lines and practically guaranteed powder. The most popular route, up to the top of 10,086-foot (3,074-meter) Mount Glory and down Glory Bowl, delivers 2,000 vertical feet (610 meters) of wide-open lines, trees, and secret stashes.
Teton Pass is no secret. In fact, on powder days it feels as if it’s a resort itself since many of the locals ski here exclusively. But it is a rite of passage for any backcountry skier or snowboarder visiting the Tetons. It’s also a fantastic way to experience powder skiing in the high, dry northern Rockies without committing to a long skin slog. The true beauty of the pass is that the hike is so fast and the ride down dumps you onto the highway so that you can rack up lap after lap of fresh white goodness. Plus, you can escape the crowds by heading across the highway to Avalanche Bowl or pack the skins and head farther north from Glory into Unskiabowl and the Great White Hump.
Just be very careful: This is true backcountry and it can be deadly. Carry avalanche gear and know how to use it. If you are unsure of your backcountry skills, hire a guide.

Need to Know: Get prepared with a 24-hour basic avalanche course with Exum Mountain Guides, starting at $235 (www.exumguides.com).


Backcountry Ski Teton Pass, Wyoming, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

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Posted at 10:32 |  by Unknown

By Kate Siber
It’s the climber’s equivalent of Mecca: Every winter, between November and March, thousands of climbers from across the world make the pilgrimage to Hueco Tanks, an 860-acre (348-hectare) bouldering area outside El Paso, Texas, with more than 2,000 problems—and counting. It’s renowned for its dry, sunny weather, bombproof igneous rock, and fantastical rock formations that make for endlessly challenging climbing.
Though the problems get as hard as V15—picture holds the size of a housefly on an overhanging rock—the beauty of Hueco Tanks is that there’s such an abundance, variety, and concentration of problems that a veteran and a newbie can challenge themselves within spitting distance. The atmosphere, therefore, is decidedly inclusive and laid-back. Whether you arrive with friends or solo, seasoned or brand-new, you’re virtually guaranteed a personal cheering section.
A large part of the experience is staying at the ten-acre (four-hectare) Hueco Rock Ranch, a campground, guesthouse, pro shop, and gathering spot where climbers often camp for months. It’s an immersion into come-as-you-are climber culture: Each night climbers of all stripes break out instruments, fire up the grill, and gather around a bonfire. Keep an eye out for familiar faces: Here, the woman who just offered you a beer could very well be climbing legend Lynn Hill.
Need to Know: Hueco Rock Ranch (www.huecorockranch.com) offers camping for $5 per person per night as well as services like a kitchen, showers, and guided bouldering tours. Private rooms are $30 per person and shared bunks are $20 per person. Discounts are available for extended stays.


Boulder Hueco Tanks, Texas, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

Boulder Hueco Tanks, Texas


By Kate Siber
It’s the climber’s equivalent of Mecca: Every winter, between November and March, thousands of climbers from across the world make the pilgrimage to Hueco Tanks, an 860-acre (348-hectare) bouldering area outside El Paso, Texas, with more than 2,000 problems—and counting. It’s renowned for its dry, sunny weather, bombproof igneous rock, and fantastical rock formations that make for endlessly challenging climbing.
Though the problems get as hard as V15—picture holds the size of a housefly on an overhanging rock—the beauty of Hueco Tanks is that there’s such an abundance, variety, and concentration of problems that a veteran and a newbie can challenge themselves within spitting distance. The atmosphere, therefore, is decidedly inclusive and laid-back. Whether you arrive with friends or solo, seasoned or brand-new, you’re virtually guaranteed a personal cheering section.
A large part of the experience is staying at the ten-acre (four-hectare) Hueco Rock Ranch, a campground, guesthouse, pro shop, and gathering spot where climbers often camp for months. It’s an immersion into come-as-you-are climber culture: Each night climbers of all stripes break out instruments, fire up the grill, and gather around a bonfire. Keep an eye out for familiar faces: Here, the woman who just offered you a beer could very well be climbing legend Lynn Hill.
Need to Know: Hueco Rock Ranch (www.huecorockranch.com) offers camping for $5 per person per night as well as services like a kitchen, showers, and guided bouldering tours. Private rooms are $30 per person and shared bunks are $20 per person. Discounts are available for extended stays.


Boulder Hueco Tanks, Texas, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

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Posted at 10:29 |  by Unknown

By Doug Schnitzspahn
Encircling the largest alpine lake in North America, the 165-mile (266-kilometer) Tahoe Rim Trail just may be the singletrack with the greatest view in the United States. More than 80 miles (129 kilometers) of the trail are open to mountain bikes. In fact, the riding here is so sublime that the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) named the 21.8-mile (35-kilometer) section between Tahoe Meadows and Spooner Summit as one of its Epics, an honor bestowed on trails that epitomize the best that mountain biking has to offer.
For good reason: The trail takes in gritty climbs and fast descents with spectacular views of Tahoe to the west and the Nevada desert to the east. Nine miles (14 kilometers) in, you’ll split off onto the adjacent 22-mile (35-kilometer) Flume Trail, which starts at the Spooner Lake campground. Though not officially part of the Rim Trail itself, it’s the signature ride here, and it requires a decent climb and a bit of singletrack to get down. Just remember, it’s tough to keep your eyes on the trail with all those eye-popping views of the lake. One of the best things about the rides on the Rim Trail is that it can be just as much fun for novices as it is for fat-tire vets.
Need to Know: Some sections of the trail are only open to bikes on certain days. Many local bike shops provide shuttles for the point-to-point rides in the Rim Trail. Rent bikes and check in on trail conditions at Flume Trail Mountain Bikes (www.theflumetrail.com). Bike rentals start at $45 a day; shuttles from $15.Read about the trail at www.tahoerimtrail.org.


Mountain Bike the Tahoe Rim Trail, California/Nevada, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

Mountain Bike the Tahoe Rim Trail, California/Nevada


By Doug Schnitzspahn
Encircling the largest alpine lake in North America, the 165-mile (266-kilometer) Tahoe Rim Trail just may be the singletrack with the greatest view in the United States. More than 80 miles (129 kilometers) of the trail are open to mountain bikes. In fact, the riding here is so sublime that the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) named the 21.8-mile (35-kilometer) section between Tahoe Meadows and Spooner Summit as one of its Epics, an honor bestowed on trails that epitomize the best that mountain biking has to offer.
For good reason: The trail takes in gritty climbs and fast descents with spectacular views of Tahoe to the west and the Nevada desert to the east. Nine miles (14 kilometers) in, you’ll split off onto the adjacent 22-mile (35-kilometer) Flume Trail, which starts at the Spooner Lake campground. Though not officially part of the Rim Trail itself, it’s the signature ride here, and it requires a decent climb and a bit of singletrack to get down. Just remember, it’s tough to keep your eyes on the trail with all those eye-popping views of the lake. One of the best things about the rides on the Rim Trail is that it can be just as much fun for novices as it is for fat-tire vets.
Need to Know: Some sections of the trail are only open to bikes on certain days. Many local bike shops provide shuttles for the point-to-point rides in the Rim Trail. Rent bikes and check in on trail conditions at Flume Trail Mountain Bikes (www.theflumetrail.com). Bike rentals start at $45 a day; shuttles from $15.Read about the trail at www.tahoerimtrail.org.


Mountain Bike the Tahoe Rim Trail, California/Nevada, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic

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Posted at 10:25 |  by Unknown
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