Blog
A few weeks ago I completed my thru-hike of the Grand Enchantment Trail (GET), an ~800 mile route expanding from Albuquerque, NM to Phoenix, AZ. First off, The GET is the most beautiful mile-by-mile route that I have ever hiked. From the desert lowlands, to traversing mountain ridges, to fording rushing rivers, to scrambling up steep canyon walls, the GET has truly got it all. Now, you may be asking yourself, “why haven’t I heard of the GET?”. You are probably most familiar with the 11 National Scenic Trails that make up our ‘official’ trails here in the US. Outside of our National Trails system, we have tons of other routes, which simply connect littler trails to create one large trail - like the GET. If you’ve never gotten off the beaten path before, route finding can be a little scary. We’re talking remote, we’re talking burly, and we’re talking beautiful. I’m going to be explaining five differences between hiking National Scenic Trails and Hiking Routes!
Continue reading
It was all going so well. Until it wasn’t. I had spent the summer training for my first 100 mile mountain race scheduled for September 16. As soon as the snow melted, I started with long hikes in the San Juans, followed by big days of backpacking, interspersed with running on the roads and trails around Durango. I thought I was doing everything right. Having had a hamstring tendon surgically reattached not even two years before, I knew I had to be careful. I swam three times a week. I did strength training. I foam rolled. I ate enough. I went to bed early. In early August, I was feeling strong.
Continue reading
Friday. 6:00 p.m. I’m in Pierre, parked just off the Million Dollar Highway near Molas Pass- perched at almost 11,000 feet between Durango and Silverton. Pierre is in the transition from cargo to sweet camper van if only his owner would decide to work on him instead of hiking in the mountains. Another season perhaps…
Continue reading
Ambassador James Lamers shares his video trip report of his trip to Bears Ears Provincial Park, where he relied fully on public transportation to get to and from the park.
Continue reading
The Camino Olvidado is one of the most ancient Camino de Santiago routes, leading walkers through the southern valleys of the Cantabrian Mountain range. The path begins in Bilbao and winds approximately 500 kms southwest to connect with the Camino Frances at Villafranca del Bierzo. This Camino is best suited for intrepid, experienced walkers who seek an authentic pilgrimage experience.
Continue reading