Exploring the mountains, tackling technical climbs, and venturing into remote landscapes is a transformative experience. And even though I normally write about solo adventures here, there are absolutely objectives that require more support! Whether you're an outdoor novice or an experienced climber[...]
A magical little island adrift in the Indian Ocean, Socotra protects pristine beaches, high-elevation forests, sparkling wadis, rippling sand dunes, and 700 plant & animal species found nowhere else on earth. Despite surging internet popularity, we were delighted to find the island so rugged an[...]
An ancient Nabatean city carved deep into the rose-hued sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan, Petra is one of the most awe-inspiring ancient sites in the entire world. Even after 2,000 years, it stands as a testament to the architectural and engineering brilliance of a nomadic people who transformed[...]
The Jordan Trail is a breathtaking hiking route that winds from the lush green forests of Umm Qais in the north all the way to the coral-filled waters of the Red Sea in Aqaba, Jordanβs southernmost tip. Officially opened in 2017, the trail stitches together ancient pathways to offer an intimate j[...]
Due to Argentinaβs unstable economy, there is a widespread and easily accessed black market for currency, pinned to the US Dollar. The so-called "Blue Dollar" rate can be anywhere from 1.5-3x the "official" currency exchange that you'd get from a bank, so it really pays to understand this informa[...]
The Queen of the Andes and highest point in the Americas at 6,962m (22,838ft), Aconcagua has long-since captivated climbers from around the world with her broad, marbled face, towering penitentes (ice spires), and dramatic glaciers. Despite being a non-technical ascent, Aconcagua poses an incredibl[...]
The highest volcano and 3rd tallest mountain in all of North America, Pico de Orizaba is a challenge that you might not expect to find in Mexico. Although not overly technical, glacier conditions above 5,000m can be absolutely wild and this mountain is a breathless ascent up snow and ice that threa[...]
Mexicoβs 3rd tallest volcano is a truly epic climb along an impossibly long ridgeline complicated by half a dozen false peaksβ itβs a little brutal, but truly so spectacular to spend hours above 5,000m, appreciating the sprawl of Central Mexico beneath you and the constant steaming of active[...]
Straddling the border between Puebla and Tlaxcala in one of central Mexico's most beautiful national parks, La Malinche is a dormant volcano named for the local Nahua woman who acted as interpreter to HernΓ‘n CortΓ©s during the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire. Although many view her as a trait[...]
Situated within easy driving of Mexico City yet a world away from the bustle of the capital, Nevado de Toluca is the countryβs 4th highest volcano and an absolutely spectacular Class 2-3 scramble. Of the "easier" climbs in this region, this is by far the most exciting, delivering scenery, intrigu[...]
Nestled in the highland forests of Chiapas, a departure from the sweltering jungles and ancient ruins that abound in Mexico's southernmost state, the little mountain town of San CristΓ³bal de las Casas (or San Cris, as it's affectionately known) is a true gem. This beautiful colonial town is a[...]
There's a popular saying among locals: you aren't a true Slovenian until you've climbed to the top of Mt Triglav. At 2864m, this is Slovenia's highest peak, an iconic "three-headed" mountain that rises above the spectacular Julian Alps and dominates the view throughout Slovenia's one and only natio[...]
You've seen the photos: slender iron rungs leading up the side of a limestone cliff while a climber dangles dramatically over the void below, clipped only to a cable bolted into the mountainside. Invented right here in the Italian and Austrian Alps, the Dolomites are home to hundreds of via ferrata[...]
With its endless stretch of pristine coastline, infinite camping possibilities, and hidden gems tucked far away from tourist hotspots, Baja may just be the ultimate roadtrip destination for those seeking adventure south of the border. Even more than the beaches and the prices, you'll fall[...]
Preparing to set out on an epic hut-to-hut adventure in the Italian Dolomites? I've spent months hiking through these mountains across different routes, seasons, and conditions, eventually building the ultimate Alta Via packing list that works for any hut-based hike through the Dolomites. Whethe[...]
For avid hikers, climbers, and the otherwise mountain-obsessed, there's hardly a more exciting destination than the Italian Dolomites, a paradise of dramatic limestone spires, sparkling glacier lakes, and breathtaking peaks cut by thousands of kilometres of hiking trails and more via ferrata routes[...]
Translating to βiron routeβ in Italian, via ferrata is a form of protected climbing that ascends steep rock faces and traverse exposed ledges through the use of ladders, pegs, stemples, rungs, and even the occasional bridge, bringing those with limited climbing experience to incredible heights.[...]
More than 1,000 alpine mountain huts (rifugi, in Italian) comprise the incredible Dolomite hut systemβ and they are a huge part of what makes hiking and climbing in this region such a unique and accessible experience, providing basic but comfortable accommodation and amenities in staggeringly bea[...]
If youβve always dreamed of climbing but donβt have heaps of technical mountain experience or youβre a solo climber looking for adventure without a partner, this classic form of protected climbing needs to be on your radar! Once unique to the Italian and Austrian Alps (and still closely as[...]
For all the thousands of kilometres of incredible mountains that comprise the European Alps, there's hardly an equal to the Italian Dolomites. Characterised by jagged limestone (dolomite) peaks, dramatic glacier-carved valleys, and the kind of alpine lakes that seem painted from the pages of a stor[...]