Great Outdoors

Western Shore, Lake Maninjau, Sumatra, Indonesia.

This is what I think of when travel comes to mind. I think untrammeled territory, wide open country, bits and pieces of the world I've never seen before, people doing things I didn't know they still do or ever did, and a big, booming landscape.

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Close Encounters with Gray Whales

The ocean churns as a 36-ton mammal swims up to the boat. With your arm plunged into the cool water, you await the touch of a California gray whale. Like a house cat craving a scratch on the head, the whale pushes its rubbery skin, rough with...

Hiking Roy's Peak in Wanaka, New Zealand

The guidebooks say this is a difficult trek but well worth it. After a huffing and puffing trek to the top of Roy’s Peak, I would most certainly like to concur. 11k in approximately 4-5 hours, a decent level of fitness is most needed for this...

Roof of Africa

Climbing to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was a highlight of my life. In honor of my dad's 60th birthday, my family and I hiked up the Machame Route to Uhuru peak (19,341 ft). This is the highest point in Africa, nicknamed the Roof of...

Road Trip Out

Driving south from Reno, Nev., my then-fiancée and I were slightly anxious. We were on our way to the wedding of one of Kate’s best friends to a Patagonia-sponsored rock climber who had completed first ascents and other impressive feats throughout...

High in the Sierra

One of the most spectacular views in the central high Sierra (about one hour's drive north of Truckee, CA) is surprisingly accessible. This wasn't always the case. The first time I saw these lakes--near to far, Young America, Upper Sardine, Lower...

El Capitan at midnight....

I was at yosemite for the super moon and shot El Capitan with a 2 minute exposure from the meadow in front. the super moon provided great fill light on the face. there was a bunch of climbers on Rock, and we could see a ton of headlamps high on...

Black Sands Beach 2: The Lost Coast

This is another view of Black Sands Beach, which probably should be named "Black Rocks Beach."

For the next 24 miles from Black Sands Beach, the Lost Coast Trail is primarily on the beach. The crunch of the black stones while walking was quite...

Las Medulas

A UNESCO World Heritage Site: A Roman gold mine dating back to 1AD. The hill formations were all dug by hand!