Feathered Friends Blog
“For a little while we are again able to see, as the child sees, a world of marvels.” Edward Abbey
In 1956 and 1957 Edward Abbey was the park ranger for Arches, at a time before it had achieved National Park status and when the unpaved roads were more traveled by tumbleweeds and lizards than visitors. Now, the park is visited by 1.5 million people each year.
Even with this incredible number of visitors, Arches retains its sense of awe and wonder. Of all the parks I visited, I saw more people here who were simply standing, observing, and marveling. You know you are somewhere special when a child’s expression of awe at the 290-foot expanse of Landscape Arch is mirrored on the face of the adults beside them.
Part One: A Feathered Friends Tour of the Southwest
Hoodoos. Ladies with hairdos. Fairy Chimneys. Whatever you call them, the incredible rock formations of Bryce Canyon are unlike anything else in the world. The towering spires, vibrant colors, and chromatic vistas were the first stop in a road trip to celebrate the National Park Centennial.
Last month I went on a month-long road trip to explore the parks that are arguably one of “America’s best ideas” in relation to conservation and recreation. It was also the perfect opportunity to put some new Feathered Friends gear to the test in a cold and arid climate.
BD.TV Spring Film Tour @ Feathered Friends | May 12 Mark the calendar – it is time to get amped up! The BD.TV Spring film tour will be coming through Seattle on May 12th! Back for a second year, the BD.TV tour will highlight some of the best in climbing from Black Diamond athletes.
The post BD.TV – Spring Film Tour – May 12 appeared first on Expedition Tales.
Hummingbird Ridge – Still Waiting for a 2nd Ascent | North America’s Fifty Classic Climbs, Episode 4 & 5
WITH MARK & JANELLE SMILEY
Those of you fortunate enough to have seen Mark Smiley’s presentation at Feathered Friends back in September got a pretty good idea of how brutal Mt. Logan’s (19,551′) Hummingbird Ridge really was. Now, with the release of North America’s Fifty Classic Climbs, Episode 4 & 5, everybody can see why this “classic” has only had one successful ascent… half a century ago…
Part I
Part II
Hut Skiing in the Selkirk Mountains
–Words and Photos by Jed Porter
Canada is where it’s at. As much as we Americans love our local skiing, its our northern neighbors that truly hold the goods. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love skiing in all corners of the United States. We have an amazing diversity of terrain, cultures, and climates in which to practice the white and slippery. If an American ski mountaineer were to assemble a “bucket list” of must do trip types, many could be accomplished on home turf. However, there is one type of ski vacation that is simply better in Canada.
Western Canada, with its reliable snow and unique land-use patterns and history, is blessed with some of the best backcountry, hut-based ski touring on the planet.