All blogs
Every full length (longer than 60 seconds) video and accompanying blog post
Long Term Review of the Outdoor Research Kids' Helios Sun Hat: Camping, Climbing, and Summits
My twin (now) 8-year-olds beat up their gear when they are camping, hiking, and attempting summits, but we've managed to keep them in an Outdoor Research Kids' Helios sun hat for about two years. The hats are still going strong, but like any piece of gear, they aren't perfect. Here's a long term review of these handy, comfortable, and durable adventure hats.
Sometimes We Just Hike: A Quick Film Showing the Virtues of Simple Family Hiking
We are teaching our kids about climbing, and they love it. They also enjoy snow and ice climbing. While these activities come with a high sense of accomplishment, they also come with higher risks. Sometimes, we like to get out and simply enjoy the views and the company. Hiking helps keep us sane.
74 Year Old Grandpa's First Alpine Climb: Three Generations Go Climbing
My Dad was one of my original partners for summiting peaks. Now at 74 years old, we had him out on a new summit experience, doing some technical climbing with his son and grandsons on Horsetooth Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Joy! A Short Film of a Seven Year Old's Winter Summit Hike and Scramble
One half of our seven-year-old twins, Connor, and I went on a winter training hike as he progresses towards his first winter ascent of a Colorado 14er and starts to ready himself for true mountaineering. Hiking and scrambling on snow makes everything just a little bit harder, so it was nice to see his determination and sense of accomplishment. Unlike most of our videos, this one isn't instructional, it's just a short film to celebrate the joy my family and I find in the outdoors.
An Alpine Experience: Taking My Nephew Up Mount Bancroft's East Ridge for His First Technical Climb
I was there when my 8 year old nephew climbed his first 14er, and I was there again - 9 years later - when he did his first technical, class 5 climb on a classic alpine climbing route: Mount Bancroft's East Ridge. High winds and intermittent clouds made for a day demanding focus and confident movement.
Past is Prologue: A Short Film of Twin 6 Year Olds' First Summer Snow Climb
My twin boys are changing. They are growing up, gaining confidence, and improving their mountaineering skills. After a spring time working on ice axe techniques, the boys wanted to take on "a real snow climb." With feet too small for front-point crampons, we did a summer time climb of a permanent snowfield: the remnant of the glaciers that used to dominate the Rocky Mountains over ten thousand years ago. Like my boys, the mountains are changing, too.
Goalwards: Twin Six Year Olds Set a Goal and Climb Two 13ers in Route to Their Frist Colorado 14er
Twin brothers Connor and Kade, just after turning six, wanted to climb their first 14er, that's a mountain that stands more than 14,000 feet (or 4267 meters) tall. It was winter time when they set the goal. So over the spring, they were working out and going on runs. Come summer, they needed to to build up their acclimatization and performance at altitude, so they built up to their first 14er by summiting a few 13ers, Mount Sniktau and Dyer Mountain. Then it was time for the attempt at their goal: 14,036' (4278m) Mount Sherman. This is a short film chronicling the three climbs.
Small Talk
One of my twin boys and I went on a winter hike for some quality time and a chance to connect. With the pandemic keeping the family together in the home for schooling and activities, we find it's important to give each of the twins dedicated time to be their individual selves, rather than only a member of the family. These one-on-one times are a big part of that. And hiking, outside despite the cooler winter weather, is a COVID-safe way to go out and share an experience and fan the hopefulness that is such a big part of youth.