Tag: Travel
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Puzzles in the Mist – Curacautín & Conguillío National Park
The Andes were calling. Volcanoes, lakes, and bizarre trees were just up the hill from us in Curacautín. Without a car, we enlisted a local eco-tourism outfit for lodging and transportation, but first we had to prepare for a night out in the mountains. 9 January 2023 Maggie and I had wanted to go to…
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On the Trail Again – Concepción
After a couple of flops and lots of time in urban centers, Maggie and I were feeling motivated to explore the outdoors. We finally got out on our first South American hike after spending a week in Chile. 6 January 2023 We were up and out of bed at 7 am. Our next destination was…
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Bussing to the Beach – Rancagua & Pichilemu
2 January 2023 It was our last day in Santiago. Maggie and I packed up in the hostel, then left our big packs in the lockers for the morning. We went out for breakfast at Wonderland Cafe, an Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant. It was a little kitschy, but a fun vibe, and being in…
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33 South Bound – Denver to Santiago
When I’m bored, I often peruse a combination of Google Maps and Wikipedia (because I’m a nerd). I quite enjoy exploring the world from the comfort of my own home. Well, one day I was looking at South America on the map. That enormous, unbroken chain of mountains from top to bottom was alluring. The…
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PCT FAQ
When Maggie and I returned home after hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, our friends and family naturally had lots of questions about our journey. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions: What were your trail names? Russell: Fanny SnacksAfter the 100 mile mark and a few beers at the Montezuma Valley Market, we…
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Berries, Beer, and Rainier – White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass
The crown jewel of Washington state – Mount Rainier. If you’ve been keeping track, then by now you may have noticed the PCT doesn’t actually go over any high peaks. Rather, the trail just gets close enough for a good view. Mt. Rainier is one peak I was happy to admire from a distance as…
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Of Glaciers and Goats – Trout Lake to White Pass
Washington started to deliver the goods! Mount Adams and the Goat Rocks Wilderness were some definite high points in this gorgeous state. Day 142 – 24 miles/2255 (8/17/22) With the big bubble around, we realized sleeping in and rolling into camp at 7 pm wasn’t gonna work much longer. The tent sites were typically getting…
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Fire Afoot – Shelter Cove to Bend
Wildfires were on our heels, smoke was in our lungs. We were maintaining a relatively relaxed pace to meet friends off trail, so it almost seemed inevitable the flames would catch up to us… Day 126 – 23 miles/1934 (7/31/22) We woke up to a smokey morning on Rosary Lake. There were some mosquitoes, but…
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Hail from the Heavens, Mosquitoes from Hell – Crater Lake to Shelter Cove
With ample time on our hands, we were able to enjoy some of the high points in the Oregon Casades. In the karmic tradition of the PCT, all that was good was balanced with a healthy dose of reality… Day 120 – 0(+2) miles/1821 (7/25/22) No alarms on this day. Maggie and I started stirring…
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Traversing the Trinity Alps – Mt. Shasta to Etna
This section is perhaps one of my favorite hidden gems of northern California. The shift in geology from the white granite Sierras to the extrusive igneous (volcanic) andesite and basalt of the Cascades was instantly noticeable. However, the extrusive volcanic rocks are not continuous across the entire length of the Cascades. Enter the Trinity Alps:…
Distance Over Time 