The Symbolism of the Mountain

A year ago, I had only just heard of the 14ers in Colorado and their popularity as a hiking destination. I had no knowledge of the alpine environment. I had never seen a marmot nor had I experienced many of the magnificent flowers that have adapted to the harsh...

Rock Solid Simplicity

No matter what is going on in my life or yours, I guarantee you that it is all easier when you wake up in a tent in the Rockies. Whether it’s financial woes, relationships, the meaning of life, or the C.I.A. after all those secrets in your head, being in the outdoors...

Every Step is Worth It.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP…. I roll over, grab the alarm clock that’s relentlessly screaming 2:45 AM, click it off, and chunk it towards my feet. This is how I start some of my mornings in the Chicago Basin as I prepare myself for the three mile hike to the...

In Search of Solitude, Saturdays are not Your Friends

THIS. IS. RIDICULOUS. THERE ARE ENTIRELY TOO MANY PEOPLE. Startled, I looked up from the scree field I had been carefully picking across and dove to the side to avoid the grumpy-looking young man pounding down the trail.  Looking up the switchbacks of the East Slopes...

Alpine Vegetation and the Struggle to Survive

Existing high on mountaintops, above 11,000-11,500 feet in elevation, the alpine tundra takes hold. This rugged landscape experiences strong and frequent winds, harsh ultraviolet radiation, and extended periods of cold temperatures. These ecosystems, much like a...