Behind the Shot: Tommy Caldwell Climbs Above the Clouds in Switzerland
Climber Tommy Caldwell tells us about this climb, the benefits of thick clouds, his decade-long Yosemite Dawn Wall obsession, and his favorite recovery food. “I think most climbers will drool over this photo,” says top climber Tommy Caldwell, who has made several significant first free ascents in Yosemite, Colorado, and Patagonia. “The rock is unique and perfect.…
The San Gabriel Mountains tower far above their surroundings, dwarfing even one of our most expansive creations. The massive metropolis of Los Angeles sprawls just to the West, reaching high for the sky but nowhere near the height of those peaks. Push a little further and the truly infinite expanse of the Pacific Ocean quietly…
Upcoming Film: Valley Uprising – Yosemite’s Rock Climbing Revolution
Over the past nine years, the REEL ROCK Film Tour has been gaining speed to reach some 100,000+ moviegoers in 35 countries and a huge online audience. This year’s tour will pick up serious momentum with Sender Films‘ highly anticipated feature film Valley Uprising. The 90-minute documentary examines Yosemite National Park’s 60-year legacy of revolutionary rock climbing and thriving counterculture.…
Jimmy Chin on What It Takes to Ski the Grand in the Tetons
See more photos like these in our Extreme Photo of the Week gallery. Plan a long weekend in Jackson, Wyoming. We generally think of Jimmy Chin as an amazing photographer and climber. But his first love is skiing, stemming back to making turns in jeans as a kid in Minnesota. He went on to ski Everest.…
Jennifer Pharr Davis holds the speed record on the Appalachian Trail, a feat which made her an Adventurer of the Year. See our featured hikes. Here’s how to be smart, feel safe, and get the most out of your hike. 1. Test drive your backpack and shoes. The two pieces of gear that can make…
Alastair Humphreys was honored as one of our Adventurers of the Year. He has just published a book called Microadventures. As a young man, I was ambitious. I didn’t want to be rich or famous. But I wanted to go far. As far as I could go. So far, in fact, that when I climbed onto…
Experts Weigh In: “Everest is Completely Out of Control”
“Everest is a shit show,” said Aaron Huey, a National Geographic photographer who is currently documenting the culture of Sherpa guides. Ten years or more ago, I mused, that pronouncement would have stirred up protestations, or at least murmurs. But this May, the Friday morning crowd, coffee mugs in hand, spilling well out the doorway…
20 Peaks in 30 Days—A Bold Volcano Ski Tour
Dr. Jon Kedrowski was boot-packing the final push up Mount Adams in Washington, 150 yards from the 12,276-foot summit, when his spidey sense kicked in. Danger was near. His neck hair stood on end, sending chills down his back. Thunderheads had been building all day, and now it was certain they were here to stay.…
An elephant! Her leathery wrinkles are amazing—great texture. Must get a detail shot. Did we get a model release for that beautiful child? Yes, ok good. Who will be the main voice of the film? There is a pride of lions lounging under that tree. When will we charge our batteries next? Oh there’s an…
See more of our favorite hikes, including our feature World’s Best Hikes: Thrilling Trails I am not a mountaineer. In fact, I’m not particularly athletic. But when I found myself traveling around the island of Borneo, I could not resist an attempt at climbing Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in the Malay Archipelago and the…