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The Gravity of Canyonlands
In our down time this past spring, Maggie and I decided to sign up for a Wilderness First Responder (WFR, or “woofer“) course. Maggie needed to renew her WFR certification ahead of starting a ranger position with the National Park Service, and I had been thinking about taking the course for quite some time. When…
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‘Twas the Skison – for Backcountry
After our South American summer vacation, Maggie and I were in Colorado, thrust back into the heart of winter. Attempting to save a little money, and knowing that we would be spending a good chunk of time abroad, we decided to forgo ski passes for the 22-23 season and devote more time to backcountry skiing.…
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Chao, for now, Chile – Puerto Varas to Denver
Having checked off most everything on our list, it was time to make our way back to the United States. Maggie and I made the most of our last day in Santiago by romping around town and seeing things we missed on our first visit. 10 February 2023 The joy ride in our rental car…
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A Long Drive to Find Big Trees – Caleta Olivia to Puerto Varas
Maggie and I were closing the distance to Puerto Montt, where we had to return our rental car. A few more days of driving lay ahead, but we tried to make the most of it on the long road north before ending our South American adventure. 6 February 2023 Our seaside nook near Caleta Olivia…
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Not Quite the End of the World – Punta Arenas & Monte Leon National Park
Maggie and I had about a week left in South America. We wanted to get a far south as we could, but we needed to budget some time for the long drive back north. We settled on stopping through Punta Arenas, then made some fun stops on the way north through Argentina. 3 February 2023…
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Taking it Easy & Hiking Hard – Torres del Paine Day 5-6
At Camp Grey, Maggie and I only had 31 miles of trail left on the O circuit. Our itinerary split that nicely into two halves: seven miles to Paine Grande Camp, followed by twenty four miles to the car. We leaned into the relaxation on our easy day, then pushed hard to finish the trek…
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A Trek Around the Mountains/A Lap Around the Sun – Torres del Paine Day 2-4
After a busy first day in Torres del Paine National Park, Maggie and I started making our way into the backcountry along the O trek. It didn’t take long to find some solitude, which was a welcome change and nice surprise. Fresh views were found around every corner as we wandered deeper into Patagonia. 29…
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Towers and Traffic Jams – Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine Day 1
One of Chile’s many crown jewels – the Torres del Paine massif – is tucked away near the southern end of the continent. It is far from just about everywhere, yet it has become a destination for backpackers and big wall climbers from around the globe. Maggie and I made our way to this remote…
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The Things We Do For a View – El Chaltén
After three strenuous days romping around the mountains near Cerro Castillo, it was time to settle in for two days of driving to El Chaltén, Argentina. Home of the iconic Mount Fitz Roy/Cerro Chaltén massif, we were anticipating this stop for quite some time, and it’s safe to say the mountains there did not disappoint……
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A Tough Hazelnut to Crack – Torres del Avellanos
Ad·ven·ture (noun): an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity… Maggie and I were heading into the mountains on a suggestion, a trip report translated from Spanish to English, and a low resolution screenshot of the route. We weren’t entirely sure what to expect, but we knew we were in for a big adventure… ***UPDATE JANUARY…
Boldly going nowhere in particular
Distance Over Time 