24 articles tagged with mountain trails
The first light of dawn breaks through the mist as I stand at the trailhead of Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela's oldest protected wilderness. My sketchbook already bears the marks of early morning inspiration – quick strokes capturing the way...
Standing at the edge of Vatnajökull National Park, with the ancient ice cap stretching before me like a frozen sea, I felt that familiar duality that has defined much of my life—the Japanese concept of *ma*, the powerful space between...
There's something profoundly satisfying about experiencing two dramatically different ecosystems within a single journey. As someone who's spent decades studying marine environments, I've developed a deep appreciation for how terrestrial landscapes influence the waters below. My recent two-week solo expedition...
In my 25 years as an emergency dispatcher in Norfolk, I've guided countless people through their worst moments. But it was the mountains that guided me through mine. After my burnout diagnosis at 45, I discovered that wilderness trails offer...
There's something alchemical about the Blue Ridge Mountains in autumn. The transformation happens gradually, then suddenly—like the perfect reduction sauce simmering on a back burner while you're distracted by other things. One moment, you're squinting through summer haze at uniform...
Standing at the edge of Big Almaty Lake, with the imposing peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains reflecting in its turquoise waters, I couldn't help but wonder why Kazakhstan isn't on every outdoor enthusiast's bucket list. This Central Asian gem...
When most travelers think of Iceland's Golden Circle, they envision tour buses pulling up to Gullfoss waterfall, crowds gathering around Geysir's predictable eruptions, and the obligatory selfie at Þingvellir National Park. But having just returned from my third visit to...
The first time I stood atop Twin Peaks, watching the famous San Francisco fog (affectionately called 'Karl' by locals) roll in like liquid mercury over the city grid below, I understood why this peninsula has captivated so many souls. Having...
The first time I stood atop Slættaratindur—the highest peak in the Faroe Islands—I felt like I was perched on the edge of the world. Below me, emerald valleys carved by ancient glaciers tumbled toward a coastline where the restless North...