The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition — Phaplu at last. The next day’s trek was almost entirely downhill from just above 3000 m. (about 10,000 ft) and ended up at 1800 m. (5900 ft). We were in the sun most of the time, making it a warm but very enjoyable journey into […]

The following is a continuation of Mera Peak Expedition – Getting in and out of Kathmandu. After our aborted attempt to fly to Phaplu from Kathmandu on Monday, we were able to successfully fly out at around noon on the 11th of October. The Tara Air plane was a small turbo prop that sat 19 […]

Originally submitted at REI Regain your confidence when walking on packed snow and ice with the updated, simple-to-use Yaxtrax Pro traction devices. Yaktrax Pro Let’s be fair, folks…these things work By Chris et Jeanne from Pasadena, CA on 11/13/2011 4out of 5 Pros: Versatile, Great Grip, Comfortable, Easy To Put On & Adjust Cons: Bulky […]

Quite unexpectedly, we were able to take a short, local flight this morning from the El Monte Airport, about a half hour from our home in Pasadena . For an hour or so, we flew in and around the mountains that we love to hike. To have such a bird’s eye perspective and to pass […]

Originally submitted at REI The waterproof Black Diamond Storm headlamp is built to withstand the worst weather, because the last thing you need when caught in a storm is for your headlamp to die. Black Diamond Storm Headlamp Tested in the Himalaya By MaximumAdventure dot net from Pasadena, CA on 12/24/2011 5out of 5 Pros: […]

Craig Welzbacher standing in while Chris and Jeanne are in Nepal climbing Mera Peak. My wife and I decided to go to Peru this summer to see Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. It’s been a bucket list item for me for the last 20 years, although at 40, I hopefully still have a long […]

These are the words that self-describe Tony Yeary, our favorite resource at the Arcadia, California REI. His knowledge and stories were so extreme that the first few times we met him, we struggled to think he wasn’t making it up. As we knew more and realized it was all true, we knew we needed to […]

We’ve found over time that the only way to make sure you have everything you need, or have at least considered everything you need, is to use a checklist. We accomplish all types of trips by have a single, inclusive checklist that we call our Ultimate Checklist.

Originally submitted at REI The expertly designed soles on the Asolo TPS 520 GV hiking boots reduce shock impact while enhancing stability and support. Full-grain leather uppers with seam-sealed Gore-Tex� linings provide waterproof protection from the elements. Gusseted tongues and padded ankle collars keep trail debris out; … Asolo TPS 520 GV Hiking Boots – […]

Our first time together in Amsterdam and of course we had to check out the Red Light District, locally called De Wallen. From Dutch coworkers to the concierge at our 5-star hotel, we were told to make that one of our first stops. It wasn’t hard to find as we could follow the significant number of […]