Yosemite is a large part of the reason I settled in California. I had moved out here from Texas for a summer job, intending to return to Texas that fall for a grad school program. I was very into climbing at the time. My job was working for an oil-field service, and we worked 6 weeks on, then got two weeks off. For my first break, I went to Yosemite, and climbed. And fell in love with the place. For the next decade or so, my life revolved around climbing, and Yosemite was a big part of it.
Kim and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary this weekend with a lovely weekend in Yosemite. Saturday morning we got up early, and drove there in time to get in a climb. Kim is a super strong climber, but is still pretty new to traditional lead
Leaning Tower Trip Report….. My first Big Wall (multiple days on the rock). I’d been thinking about this day since I started climbing. Actively thinking about it since my first trip (post-childhood) to Yosemite Valley, the home and mecca of big wall climbing. When I
Big Bear Skiing and Snowboarding Compilation Big Bear Lake has several ski areas, and three that are covered on our ikon ski passes. While they may not be as incredible as Mammoth area or Tahoe, they are close enough for day trips and we’ve enjoyed
National parks are one of the best ideas america has ever had, and deserve to be protected at all costs. The Grand Canyon is an incredible place and we’ve made several trips there, most memorably rafting and kayaking the full length of the canyon several
One of my favorite runs in California, with amazing scenary, fun rapids, and generally cold, clear waters. When I lived up North I used to run laps on this regularly, and it is perhaps still the stretch of whitewater I’ve paddled most. A write up
June is an awesome ski area in the Eastern Sierra mountains. It’s laid back, and always feels a little like a throwback to the areas I grew up skiing. The girls both tried skiing there their very first times on skis, and we’ve continued to
There have been a few different contests for waveskis and kayaks held at Ventura over the years, including the first surf kayak I ever attended, and later my best contest finish ever where I was ranked as the #2 American waveski paddler. I don’t have
The biggest paddle surf contest in the world. Held for many years at the incredible steamer lane.
Davenport is a unique cove for surf. When it’s big, there is a deep water channel that allows you to paddle out in conditions that would make many beaches impossible. I’ve surfed some big waves there. The contest was a staple on the west coast
