Mexico’s 3rd tallest volcano is a truly epic climb along an impossibly long ridgeline complicated by half a dozen false peaks— it’s 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 Hernán Cortés 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 country’s 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 Cristóbal 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, finally building the ultimate Alta Via packing list that works for any hut-based hike through the Dolomites! Whether y[...]
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 “iron route” 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 system— 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 you’ve always dreamed of climbing but don’t have heaps of technical mountain experience or you’re 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[...]
Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of Mexico’s most important spiritual traditions and an incredible celebration of life that dates back thousands of years to the country’s rich pre-hispanic roots. Although festivities take place all over the country, there is absolutely no better p[...]
The towering monarch of the Alps and the highest peak in Western Europe at 4,808m (15,778ft), Mont Blanc has drawn climbers for centuries with its jagged ridges, sprawling glaciers, and ever-changing alpine conditions. Despite being one of the most popular high-altitude climbs in the worl[...]
Winding around Triglav National Park for more than 300km, the Juliana Bike Trail offers unparalleled access to Slovenia’s small but spectacular Julian Alps, as well as its many gorges, turquoise rivers, alpine meadows, and charming historic towns. With nearly 10,000m of elevation gain, it’s no[...]
Alta Via 4 comes to an end over the next day or two as you meander through a stark glacier valley and begin dropping into the forest to eventually return to town. This too is an incredibly quiet section of trail, and the en route via ferrata offers plenty of intrigue up and over Forcella[...]
Today’s route is dominated by a long and exhilarating via ferrata, two-thirds of the epic Giro di Sorapis that circumnavigates a dramatic peak of the same name. This is the most challenging of AV4's unavoidable via ferrata, and together with tomorrow's route over Forcella del Ghiacciaio, it is al[...]
Day 3 of AV4 descends into the bustling town of Misurina, a great place to restock on supplies or access services before heading back onto the trail for the second half of the trek. You'll also have the option today to take a gondola into town to save the descent (not worth it, unless you're injure[...]
Today is the most visually spectacular day of AV4 (not including the via ferrata side trips yesterday), with a meandering path that parades around Tre Cime, leading to the serrated peaks of Cadini di Misurina and finally taking in the dramatic beauty of Torre Wundt from above. It’s not a[...]