I have a problem, and it involves me making everything ten times more difficult than it needs to be. Whenever I search for my next hiking trail to tackle, I tend to look for the longest, highest-elevation paths. The Caliente Mountain Ridge Trail is no different.
Read moreSolo On The Mountain
Suddenly, the problems you had near sea level seem meaningless. You momentarily forget the terrible news cycle that usually ruins your day. From the high elevation, standing solo on the mountain, you are forced to change your perspective on life and everything in it. What seems big and impossible to deal with on the ground feels possible when you are standing among the clouds.
Read moreHow the Mountains Shaped Me
My experience has inspired me to search further and look more deeply into how the land I was recreating on was shaped, and to strengthen my backpacking and mountaineering skills to be a better hiker. The mountains shaped me into the leader and hiker that I am today, and I am forever grateful for the chance to explore them.
Read moreMy Great American Road Trip: The Circle of Discovery
I ended up visiting Crater Lake National Park, the Oregon Caves National Monument, which features a cave system in the Siskiyou Mountains, and the Redwood forests along the northern California coast, which protect some of the tallest trees on Earth.
Read moreMy Great American Road Trip West: Mount Shasta
Although I didn’t summit, I shifted my focus. It was less about conquering extreme challenges and more about enjoying new experiences.
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