My first climb in the Bernese Alps was the Monch (13,448ft). I awoke at 5:30am to catch the 6:25am tram from Murren to Lauterbrunnen. Once down I had to run to the rental car to retrieve my climbing gear and meet Franz and the train to the Jungfraujoch. We chatted and enjoyed the train ride […]

The morning was filled with sunshine.  As we continued our drive, vast snow covered peaks start breaking the horizon. The ground was brown and rocky. We crested the first of many la (mountain passes). Shishapangma at over 26,000 ft loomed large. A gate of prayer flags welcomed us to the Tibetan Plateau, the rooftop of […]

We had arrived in Joshimath for the second time in the last few days and after hours of hiking and another frightening long drive we were in desperate need of a beer. Though the district of Uttarakhand is officially alcohol free due to the number of religious sites and pilgrimages we did find that all […]

My father owned a small farm in northwestern Nebraska near the town of Hemingford. Our family lived and worked the place for about four years and during that time I attended a small rural school from first thru fourth grades. The school consisted of one teacher and 14 children (grades first thru sixth)  from the […]

In 1997 my long time climbing partner (Tim) and I decided to head back down to the Sierras in California and give Mt. Whitney another go. We had been there the prior year and attempted the Mountaineers Route but due to heavy snow and ice conditions failed to make the summit. This time we agreed […]