Trail to Peak: The Adventurous Path
Hiking, Exploring, Travel & Adventure
Hiking
For the most part, hiking takes me to the Rocky Mountains of Canada. The mountains around Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper hold a special place in my heart and I spend as much time there as I can. Yet, my love of hiking extends beyond those magical boundaries, and out into the world at large through our travels.
Travel
To me, travel is a complex idea. It is not a vacation, even though it takes you away from the familiar day-to-day events of your life. It is far, far more than that. Travel is adventure. It is a collection of experiences that open your eyes to the ways of the world. It exposes you to new ideas and new ways of thinking. It helps you meet…
Snapshots
This section of my blog revisits some of my favourite photographs and memories of our years spent discovering the unique places of the world and the hidden recesses of our innermost selves. Each post takes one photo, and tries to capture that memory so that you can experience what it was like at the moment in which it was…
The Ladin Valleys – A Linguist’s Dream
Surrounded by steep, rugged mountains, now connected by a vast system of tunnels that have been blasted tremendous distances through the rock, it is easy to see how isolated cultural pockets develop distinct ways of life.
The Col Rosa (Ettore Bovero) Via Ferrata
Climbing up along a long, dramatic arête (sort of like a long, upright column of rock that stands out, like a corner, on the mountain side) took a lot of stamina. This climb, due to the nature of climbing up that arête feature, had far more exposure than the day before. Some of the views down made my heart leap with an, “oh my! that’s a long way down” jolt. It was the bravest I felt I’ve been in a long time, both from an exposure point of view, and from the length of time I had to climb without respite. Bill feels it represented about a 5.7/5.8 climb.
Piz da Lech Via Ferrata
Piz da Lech is a via ferrata that begins near the town of Corvara. Perched above the town, it is easily accessed by taking the Boè gondola, followed by the Vallon chair lift, up to a point on the mountain that is within a short hike to the start of the VF route. It has outstanding views from the top of the Sella group of mountains, with their dramatically-cut stone pillars and deep chasms. The Sellas are mountains that remain hidden from view until you summit up top… and catching a glimpse of them from way up there is so well worth the effort!
