The Power of Peru’s Wild Places
Join explorer and photographer Eric Hanson as he treks through the Cordillera Blancas of Peru, the epicenter for South American adventure.
Climbing the Avellano Towers of Patagonia
The Avellano Range in Patagonia is still wild and raw, far from the development and climbers of the popular tourist town Chalten.
Thru-Hiking New Zealand: The Fabled Tararua Ranges
In our quest to conquer Te Araroa, New Zealand’s 3,000km tramping trail that runs the length of both islands, one last challenge lies between us and the end of the North Island: the Tararua Ranges. The first real mountains on Te Araroa, the Tararuas are fabled to be one of the toughest hikes yet. From steep climbs and descents to hazardous weather blowing in from the Antarctic, we are in for a real challenge, whether we’re ready for it or not. By now, my dad and I have been on the trail for nearly two months and have already conquered some challenging terrain: steep and muddy rain forests, rocky volcanic scree, and the concrete jungle of Auckland. Though the Bluff, the end of the trail, is still over 1,300 km…
In the Footsteps and Handholds of Genghis Khan
When Genghis Khan and his armies charged west across Mongolia on their way to conquer foreign lands, they traveled alongside a granite belt of mountains that stretch from central Mongolia to the Gobi Desert.
A Recon Mission in Patagonia
The crew from MSR sent me a quick note asking if I would share details from my recent reconnaissance trip to Patagonia. They were specifically wondering about my gear,
Field Testing MSR Snowshoes in Switzerland
Designing gear can’t happen in a cubicle. Sure, there’s a lot of computer work that goes into creating CAD drawings and engineering specs, but the real solutions—the big ideas—come from the field. Chris Barchet, category director for MSR Water & Winter products, is a perpetual field tester. He recently headed to the Andermatt region of Switzerland on a snowshoe R&D trip to reacquaint himself with the terrain and chat with mountain guides and users to find out what works best for them. Here’s a quick look at one of the many professional recon missions Chris takes in the world’s most incredible places.
New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail: Tramping vs. Hiking
Perhaps it was the face plant into ankle deep mud, my feet ensnared in slippery roots and grasping vines, my pack pressing me deeper into the sludge. Or maybe it was bushwhacking through a tunnel of needle-prick gorse, my arms and face cut by a thousand tiny, green swords. Or, no, it could have been the time an electric fence was stretched directly across the trail—when I realized New Zealand’s famed Te Araroa might not quite be what I was expecting.
Hit the Trail: Five Great Hikes to Explore in the New Year
With the New Year comes new opportunity for adventure. Where will your wanderlust take you in the coming months? We asked five MSR reps to divulge their favorite hikes—near or far—to get your bucket list off to a great start. Make these treks part of your new year’s resolution and make this year one for the books.
OnLocation Collective Takes on Big Bend National Park
Article by Steve Rokks – Images by Steve Rokks, PaulGo, and Daniel Davis DAY 1 – NOV 4, 2014: 5:00AM The forecast called for non-stop rain, 40+ mph winds, and occasional hail; so Paul Golangco, Ty Clark and I loaded up our vehicle and headed south down I-20. Our latest onLocation trip was taking us to the mountains and valleys of Big Bend National Park in South Texas where we planned to meet up with Daniel Davis, Kris Rutherford, and Jacob Combs who were leaving from Austin. The onLOCATION Collective is our crew of adventurers, creators and storytellers. Together, we’re on a journey to beautiful destinations around the world with one simple purpose: to seek adventure as a means to inspirational and creative experiences. At 12:45pm on this November day on…