I don't have any feats that are that noteworthy, but I can recall one time that gave me an unexpected adventure. It happened when I was climbing Weaver's Needle (Arizona) one hot August afternoon with my partner. At the top of this spire there are two small places to pitch tents (so one can sleep at the top). We did just that, but woke up in the middle of the night to a maelstrom of a storm around us (thanks, summer monsoons). As such, we had to quickly abandon ship, rappelling down a pitch and hunker down in our bivvy sacks at the edge of the cliff in order to wait out the storm. It was quite a long night, but led to one of the most beautiful desert mornings I have seen! Weaver's Needle   Post-monsoon morning view from the summit     Tent site at the summit   Daybreak at Weaver's Needle         ... View more

Wow, no way! I had a similar crevasse experience when I was in Patagonia a few years back, but it was one of my partners instead of me that took the plunge! Crevasses are no joke! ... View more

Super cool story, and what a great memory! ... View more

@jesno I also have wide feet and absolutely love my Miura VS shoes (which @REI-CarterC had mentioned)! However, they are relatively aggressive, so they might not be the best pick for a beginner climber. I would suggest checking out the La Sportiva Finale's or the Black Diamond Momentum shoes - both are great less-aggressive options for people with wider feet (I also have a pair of the Finale's and love them). ... View more

@Marc_OV_AZ welcome! I lived in Tucson/Phoenix for several years before moving to Uruguay where I am currently (and where I will be for the next 6 months). It is a beautiful place! Stay safe during the summer! ... View more

@heartwoodphoto What a cool topic! Thanks @REI-CarterC for tagging me, even though it's taken me a minute to get back and respond to this post (I recently moved to Uruguay for 6 months so things have been a bit hectic!)!   To answer your questions in reverse order, I love to get outside to remind myself of the simple things in life, and to escape the seemingly never-ending cycle of urban life. I love photography because it helps me capture those hard-to-reach places (and some not so hard to reach) so that I may in some way share those same spaces with others unable to experience them in person. The ultimate goal of this is, of course, to inspire others to explore and discover in whatever capacity that is for them.   For me, getting a great shot is all about the moment - particularly framing, lighting, and perspective. Are there animals in the frame? How is the lighting? Is there a storm brewing on the horizon? Are the leaves changing color? Does the shot look ideal from higher up or closer to the ground? Trying to capture raw uniqueness while preserving the ambiance - the emotion, thoughts, movement (or stillness), etc. of a scene is the ultimate goal.  To answer the second half of question 2 and all of question 1, I am sharing a link to this post I had responded to a while back that deals with the pro's and con's of different cameras (just search for my comment on p. 2).   Super excited to see what else gets posted in this group! Keep on exploring everyone!   ... View more

I agree with what @Dad_Aint_Hip said. Other than that I haven’t seen much in lower MI, but if you get up to the UP, @Graf , I’d definitely recommend Tahquamenon Falls, the Porkies Mountains, and along Superior to the east of the Porkies and north of the Falls.    ... View more

@GregA are you inquiring about how the outdoor week went? ... View more

@DouglasGreen such a great question! I, too, have found many instances in which I need to store water for days on end in the desert. My all-time favorite water reservoir is the MSR DromLite Bag. There are various sizes, but I typically use the 6L. This container is extremely durable, lightweight, easy to fill and use, and very compactable. It is easy to squeeze out excess air, and I can store this in my pack underneath gear without worrying that it will break. I have never tasted plastic when drinking water stored in these containers. The fact that it's semi-opaque also helps because you know exactly how much water you have left inside!   Hope this helps, and good luck on the trails! ... View more

Welcome to the community! I grew up in the mountains outside Boulder, CO (on the way to Estes Park). The Colorado Rockies are amazing! ... View more