Trip report: Quandary Peak Ski tour
7/4/2023 Hey everyone, it has been a while! A LOT has happened in our lives since the last post on this blog... we'll have to spend some time recapping various...
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Sierra week part 1: Eastern Sierras
The Eastern Sierra Nevada is perhaps the most beautiful and inspiring mountain range in the whole world. The views from US-395 anywhere between Lone Pine and...
37.23806, -118.59750 · Open in Google Maps
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Trip Report: Mt. Shasta West Face Gully
In the light of the moon, we strapped on our crampons and stepped onto the snow. Despite the fact that it was 2:30 AM, we were wide awake. Our path up the...
41.40987, -122.19489 · Open in Google Maps
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Zion: we can't get enough of this park!
The last time we were in Zion, we managed to avoid seeing anyone else for hours while navigating through Mystery canyon , even though it was the busiest day of...
37.29820, -113.02630 · Open in Google Maps
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The Grand Canyon
After failing to see the Grand Canyon on several trips down I-10, we finally made it happen. We drove through a pretty intense dust storm followed by rain, and...
36.10696, -112.11300 · Open in Google Maps
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A magical day in Canyonlands
Having arrived to the campsite at night, the rising sun brought our first sight of the magical landscape. A giant sandstone finger pointing to the heavens...
38.32687, -109.87826 · Open in Google Maps
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March's Arches
We were thinking about our van life during our European summer, so we tricked out our CR-V with a bed and headed East to find the sandstone in southern Utah and...
38.73308, -109.59251 · Open in Google Maps
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Birthday in Death Valley
Coming back to the mainland US after being abroad for so long was definitely an adjustment! Fortunately, our friends David and Rachel softened the blow by...
36.50539, -117.07941 · Open in Google Maps
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Warming up in Hawaii
We found an incredibly good deal on flights to Hawaii from Japan, so we decided we had to stop there on our way home. We basked in the warmth for a week,...
20.87833, -156.68250 · Open in Google Maps
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Closing 2018 in Japan
We returned to Japan in late December just in time for Christmas to spend the holidays with Alan's family. Although we had not expected to return so soon, and...
35.18145, 136.90640 · Open in Google Maps
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January in Japan
Mobile once again, we set out to meet up with friends in two parts of Japan. Near Hiroshima, we met up with Josh, a buddy from Cornell. Then, after finally...
34.38520, 132.45529 · Open in Google Maps
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Finding Paradise in Tonsai
Our friends Julie and Marty traveled across the world to join us in Tonsai for a few days of magical Thai adventures. We ate, laughed, kayaked, caved, practiced...
8.01790, 98.83430 · Open in Google Maps
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Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai
Our daily schedule in Chaing Mai closely resembled that of hobbits. In between our busy days of second lunch and pre-dinner we explored museums and beautiful...
18.70606, 98.98172 · Open in Google Maps
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The ancient city of Angkor
Over one thousand years ago, an ancient king established Angkor as the capital city of the Khmer Empire. The city would grow to be the largest in the...
13.41247, 103.86699 · Open in Google Maps
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Green Climbers Home
Legend tells of a climber’s paradise hidden in the karst mountains of Laos. They say that any climber willing to endure a confusing and fairly uncomfortable bus...
17.45646, 104.91338 · Open in Google Maps
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An Afternoon in Hue
The former capital city of Vietnam was directly on our path to Laos! We enjoyed our short stay by visiting the elaborate mausoleums of two former Emperors and...
16.46371, 107.59086 · Open in Google Maps
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We Love Hoi An!
Of all the places we have visited in Vietnam, Hoi An has felt the most like home. The town has everything you want: picturesque landscape for biking, nice...
15.88006, 108.33805 · Open in Google Maps
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Boating and Biking in Tam Coc
Tam Coc is a quaint village near the city of Ninh Binh, 2.5 hours by bus from Hanoi. Famous for its newly classified UNESCO landscape it is certainly growing as...
20.21658, 105.93747 · Open in Google Maps
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Trekking in Sapa, Vietnam
Sapa is a mountain town near the border with China that is home to several ethnic minority tribes in Vietnam. Most of the residents come from one of five...
22.33636, 103.84379 · Open in Google Maps
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Cat Ba Island
Stepping off of the bus in Cat Ba town, we were relieved to be taking a break from big cities, and beyond excited to rock climb! Cat Ba town is a bit awkward....
20.80000, 106.99972 · Open in Google Maps
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First stop: Bangkok
On our first stop in Southeast Asia, we stayed a couple days in Bangkok and ate (and cooked!) some of the best food of our entire trip so far. We saw some...
13.75633, 100.50177 · Open in Google Maps
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Homestays in Japan
For our last two weeks in Japan, we stayed in homes instead of in guesthouses or hostels. First, we stayed in Hadano, with a lovely couple that hosted us...
35.18145, 136.90640 · Open in Google Maps
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Kanazawa
Our decision to go to Kanazawa was rather spontaneous but so worth it! After getting shut down in the Alps in the rain, we decided that rain can't stop culture....
36.56133, 136.65621 · Open in Google Maps
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The Japanese Alps: still on our bucket list
After getting citied-out in Tokyo, we were eager to get into the mountains. The skies were grey on our train ride out of the city, but we were optimistic about...
35.90971, 138.61233 · Open in Google Maps
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Japan Part 1 - Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara
After a long journey taking us through Dubai, we arrived in Tokyo. The sprawling metropolis swallowed us whole as we stepped into the neon craziness of Shinjuku...
35.01164, 135.76803 · Open in Google Maps
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Climbing in Spain, and saying goodbye to Europe
We found ourselves newly carless after selling our van in Chamonix. Without Bleu Lightning, our plan of driving and climbing our way back across France was no...
43.53220, -5.66112 · Open in Google Maps
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Trip Report: Rebuffat (6a)
Our day started before the sun lit the valley, and we excitedly finished off oatmeal and coffee before lacing up boots and beginning the walk to the Aiguille du...
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Dolomiti
Our drive into the Dolomites took us through picturesque mountain towns where "danke schoen" worked just as well as "gratzie" and restaurants served pizza and...
46.61868, 12.30277 · Open in Google Maps
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Muttekopfhütte
Tucked away in the Alps of north Tyrol, Muttekopfhütte felt like staying in a 5 star hotel for Mel and I. The views out the bedroom window were fantastic, there...
47.24013, 10.73954 · Open in Google Maps
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Trip report: Sudwand (5+)
This long alpine route was at least as mentally demanding as it was physically demanding. In the mostly stable weather of August 1 st , 2018, Melanie and I set...
47.27297, 10.67816 · Open in Google Maps
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Friends and a transition
After leaving Romania, we enjoyed a day in Belgrade, reunited with a new friend in Zagreb, and coasted north to Munich, stopping in Ljubljana and Salzburg. We...
45.81501, 15.98192 · Open in Google Maps
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Discovering Romania
We arrived in Bucharest for dinner, and to our delight, we found the pedestrian “old town” bustling with life and packed with restaurants and bars. This was...
45.65797, 25.60120 · Open in Google Maps
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Crossing Bulgaria
Our ferry arrived back in Athens, and we spent the day in the city before heading north to the mountains of Bulgaria. We did two fabulous day hikes and explored...
42.69771, 23.32187 · Open in Google Maps
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The tufa kingdom of Kalymnos
We arrived to the island paradise of Kalymnos ready to spend 9 days climbing and enjoying island life. Little did we know, 9 days was not nearly enough time. As...
36.95331, 26.97981 · Open in Google Maps
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Greece: The halfway point
Our first few hours in Greece were eventful! Not only did we see a bear cross the road, but we also admired the super deep Vikos gorge from the town above!...
39.72170, 21.63059 · Open in Google Maps
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Albanian canyons and fine dining
Despite our best efforts, we still got grey weather in Albania. However, we caught a fantastic weather window to take a river cruise and go for a hike! Along...
42.44664, 19.88270 · Open in Google Maps
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Montenegro
After landing in Sarajevo, we set off for Montenegro, retracing our path through the beautiful Bosnian countryside. (This time with a well-traveled English...
43.14962, 19.08958 · Open in Google Maps
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The surprise Istanbul adventure!
With spirits soaring as high as our airplane, we arrived to Istanbul. After seeing the massive city from the airplane, we were ready to explore! Ahead was an...
41.00824, 28.97836 · Open in Google Maps
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Next stop: Sarajevo International Airport?
With minutes left to leave our guesthouse in Omis, we checked the weather for the next week and tried to mask our disappointment - nonstop rain. Not great news...
43.85626, 18.41308 · Open in Google Maps
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The Croatian adventure, continued!
After getting our fill at Paklenica, we continued our track south along the Adriatic. Along the way, we got spectacular lightning storms, more magical...
43.86660, 15.97248 · Open in Google Maps
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Paklenica
Our first climbing destination in Croatia was Paklenica National Park, which initially felt like climbing in a gym! We walked 5 minutes from the van, and were...
44.34371, 15.48400 · Open in Google Maps
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Ancient cities and waterfalls
On our way south, we travelled through the cities of Rovinj and Pula before carving our way inland to explore Plitvice lakes (Plitvička jezera) national park....
44.86540, 15.58201 · Open in Google Maps
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Osp, At the Cry
On the recommendation of friends we met in Finale Ligure, we headed to Osp, Slovenia. Osp is a tiny village surrounded by an imposing limestone amphitheater,...
45.57159, 13.85846 · Open in Google Maps
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The Italian Traverse
Our journey across Italy took only three days, but we squished in as much sightseeing and adventure as we could! Day One After a final climb in Finale Ligure,...
45.44085, 12.31552 · Open in Google Maps
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Finale Ligure
Tucked away in the unassuming wooded valleys at the western edge of Liguria, this limestone paradise brings climbers from all over Europe. Like Calanques, this...
44.16890, 8.34162 · Open in Google Maps
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The Riviera Era
We cruised through the urban and sophisticated French Riviera to the rugged charming Italian Riviera. Our destination was Finale Ligure, but each stop we made...
43.73842, 7.42462 · Open in Google Maps
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Calanques
Our first stop on the climbing road-trip adventure was Calanques National Park on the Mediterranean coast of France. We started off strong with a pleasant hike...
43.21050, 5.42000 · Open in Google Maps
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How to buy a van in 10 days
Upon arriving to France the hunt for an adventure van began. Ten days later, we were on the road! All it took was 3 steps: find a van, buy the van, then...
43.66462, -1.39769 · Open in Google Maps
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Brussels
We arrived in Brussels without much of an itinerary in mind, but it ended up being the perfect bridge between Germany and France. The city is fun and compact,...
50.85035, 4.35172 · Open in Google Maps
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[Exchange] Sister adventures: The authentic German experience.
Our first stop in Europe was Lüdinghausen, Germany! We spent a few wonderful days with my exchange sister and her family. We were welcomed with a double rainbow...
51.76822, 7.44656 · Open in Google Maps
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Reunions
After a few final days in Buenos Aires, we said goodbye to Argentina and flew back to the States. April was a wonderful month full of reunions, and a great...
38.90719, -77.03687 · Open in Google Maps
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Star Gate & Arenales
After a breathtaking flight from Bariloche, we reached the northern terminus of our Argentine adventure. After a quick resupply in Mendoza, we set off to meet...
-32.88946, -68.84584 · Open in Google Maps
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Frey
Frey was one of the first destinations we had decided on for our trip to Argentina. The mountain destination came highly recommended from a climbing friend, and...
-41.19828, -71.48608 · Open in Google Maps
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Siete Lagos
After a few days trapped inside recovering from a stomach bug, setting off on the road of Seven Lakes (the span of Route 40 between Bariloche and San Martin de...
-40.15721, -71.35244 · Open in Google Maps
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Cerro Tronador
Hiking to Refugio Meiling on Cerro Tronador is typically something that is done in two days, but we only had one. Unwilling to let that stop us, we began our...
-41.17624, -71.81829 · Open in Google Maps
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Venga!
We first heard about Piedra Parada from the Petzl Roctrip, but didn’t think we’d make it there on this adventure. After talking with a lot of Argentinian...
-42.65997, -70.10170 · Open in Google Maps
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Lavender, Hippies, and Blue water
We arrived in the evening to the hippie paradise of El Bolson. First impressions: there’s an artisan market with tons of handcrafted goods, slack lines are set...
-41.96492, -71.53534 · Open in Google Maps
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Semi Circumnavigation
A detour on our journey to El Bolson broke up what would have been a 24 hour bus ride, and allowed us to visit a special place highly recommended by a friend:...
-46.62402, -72.67525 · Open in Google Maps
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In the presence of giants
Two days of near perfect weather welcomed us to the austral paradise of El Chaltén. As our bus pulled into the town and we saw Fitz Roy and its neighboring...
-49.33149, -72.88632 · Open in Google Maps
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Hello, Patagonia!
We thought that we’d be short on light when we arrived at around 7PM to the airport at El Calafate. However, after taking a bus to town, walking and checking in...
-50.33797, -72.26480 · Open in Google Maps
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Buenos Aires
O ur four days in Buenos Aires were filled with great food (empanadas, pizza, pasta, dessert!) and lot of beautiful parks and plazas. We wandered the busy...
-34.60368, -58.38156 · Open in Google Maps
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In Between
Four weeks of friendship and downsizing have passed, and we're on our way to Argentina! Our time in between established life and definitive fluidity featured...
33.98870, -118.45457 · Open in Google Maps
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Potrero - The Time Wave Goes!
We returned to the scene of the crime (aka proposal spot!! <3) this year with a group of 10 incredible friends! Our mission: to climb long sport routes on...
25.95125, -100.47718 · Open in Google Maps
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Team Leisure Sends Red Rocks!
About six months ago, our friend Ravi invited us to Red Rocks to do some rock climbing. He introduced us to the magical world of traditional climbing and we've...
36.15192, -115.45412 · Open in Google Maps
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24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell
Nobody in their right mind climbs for 24 hours straight. When Melanie told me that she and her best friend Joanna were going to register for 24 Hours of...
36.00415, -93.29957 · Open in Google Maps
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Wedding!
On August 12th, 2017, we agreed to be adventure buddies for life! Wedding day was awesome. Surrounded by friends and family, we said "I do" among the trees near...
37.65085, -119.03696 · Open in Google Maps
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Trip Report: Venusian Blind (5.7)
July 30th, 2017 From the moment I first saw a photo of the massive granite formation overlooking gorgeous glacial lakes, I have wanted to climb Temple Crag....
37.10965, -118.49261 · Open in Google Maps
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Entry to Yosemite Valley
Per the modified plan, this post should have been called "Hike to Little Yosemite Valley". With a shorter distance to cover (or so we thought), we got a later...
37.72482, -119.53330 · Open in Google Maps
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Cathedral Pass
After an incredible night's sleep, we awoke in Lyell Canyon ready for a more mellow day of hiking. We began by walking through the lush river valley, stopping...
37.83465, -119.41488 · Open in Google Maps
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Donohue Pass and Lyell Canyon
Day 2 took us over Donohue pass and into the beautiful Lyell canyon We woke up to gorgeous skies on the second day, and started off to tackle Donohue Pass, our...
37.76021, -119.24848 · Open in Google Maps
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Thousand Island Lake
A perfectly still and clear Thousand Island lake reflects Banner peak, and a thin sheet of ice remains on most of the lake. It's an odd experience to see so...
37.72044, -119.18340 · Open in Google Maps
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Crystal Crag - 24 most excellent hours
At 10:30PM yesterday we left LA. We fell asleep under a blanket of stars in the Alabama hills and woke up with a view of Mt. Whitney. Our afternoon was hiking...
37.59964, -119.00323 · Open in Google Maps
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Multisport day
Mammoth is a pretty rad town - after a day of snowboarding, Alan joined me at the local crag for a few climbs. The approach was a casual three minute flip flop...
37.64869, -119.00346 · Open in Google Maps
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Mystery Canyoneering 101
This was our first trip to Zion National Park! It has been on Melanie's top 5 for ages and we finally made it - and boy did the park show us its best. Over the...
37.29820, -113.02630 · Open in Google Maps