Words and photos By Dustin Silvey, Ph.D 　　The sun beat down on our adventure team. The other kayak had pulled off a kilometer ahead in the shade of a rock to wait. As we caught up, movement in the water signaled action—on the other side of the rock, a pod of dolphins was hunting our bait ball. 　　We paddled over...

　　In Chile, they have a saying: Only those who hurry through Patagonia waste time. For any enthusiast of the great outdoors, it is one of the world’s truly great wildernesses—and somewhere to explore at a slow pace. The very word “Patagonia” stirs up images of grand mountains, thick forests, shimmering lakes and icy glaciers interspersed with a sparse population and...

　　 　　We set out from the comfort of our day jobs to experience a new place—a new horizon. We headed north and then west to the Wind River Range of Wyoming. With alternating sounds of good tunes, good conversations, and the constant ‘whirr’ of rubber on the road, we made our way to the trailhead. As the sun slipped lower...

　　By David Clock 　　Last year, David Clock hiked California’s 211-mile John Muir Trail. His striking photos reveal the grandeur of the trail’s surrounding terrain, and they kick off our series: Thru the Lens: Photo Journeys of the Major Thru-Hikes.” 　　var lightbox_transition = 'elastic'; var lightbox_speed = 800; var lightbox_fadeOut = 300; var lightbox_title = false; var lightbox_scalePhotos = true; var...

　　Words by Nina Caprez, photos by Jan Novak 　　Climbing has this ability of showing us what is really going on inside of us, of bringing our ego to the light, and that’s often painful. 　　Standing at the bottom of the wall, I was realizing this. Realizing I had not really faced this type of challenge as directly and bravely as...

　　Story and Photography by Eric Larsen 　　They were hard questions to receive: “How do you know when to pull the plug on an adventure?” “What do you learn when you come up short?” 　　I think that both of these topics are relevant, interesting and worthwhile; however, the timing of the inquiry—a few weeks after I returned from a “failed” expedition...

　　By Renee Patrick 　　The quintessential Oregon that comes to mind for many is one of wet, lush forests, rocky coastlines, and snowy peaks, but on the other side of the Cascade Mountains lies a high desert landscape that covers almost half of the state. For Brent Fenty, Oregon Natural Desert Association’s (ONDA) executive director, this immense desert has captivated him...

　　Last year, Brandon Sharpe made the pilgrimage up the west coast’s Pacific Crest Trail, through 14,000 feet of elevation, 25 national forests, and 7 national parks. His incredible photos showcase many of the trail’s iconic views, and they continue our series: “Thru the Lens: Photo Journeys of the Major Thru-Hikes.” 　　var lightbox_transition = 'elastic'; var lightbox_speed = 800; var lightbox_fadeOut...

　　Story by Hilaree Nelson 　　Photos by Nick Kalisz, Dutch Simpson and The North Face. All rights reserved. 　　I’m always in awe of the things I obsess over, especially when the lens is through hindsight. Mostly because in the moment, when the idea first takes hold, when the dreams start waking me up at night, when the secret planning starts to form...

　　Theres no business like snow business. 　　Nearly every year in January or February, I make a pilgrimage to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, where I indoctrinate a bevy of aspiring Shackleton wannabes on the finer points of polar travel and winter survival. 　　 　　For those of you who dont know, I teach a variety of hands-on intensives focused on winter...

　　By Eric Larsen 　　 　　Some people look at winter and see bone-chilling cold, bad driving conditions and more, but if youre anything like me you see winter as the great leveler—literally. Snow evens out the bumps, stumps, roots and rocks of any trail, and covers up undergrowth and shrubs, making the wintry landscape beautiful and perfect for snowshoeing. Still, some...

　　Editor’s note: Triple Crowner Quoc Nguyen undertook the PNT in the fall, a feat that should be reserved only for expert thru-hikers and those with extensive avalanche education and winter backcountry experience. Below he recounts his journey and provides tips for anyone thinking of thru-hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail. 　　5 author tips for hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail located at the...