Range Cascade Range
At this season Lassen Peak is a bit of a lottery. It is high enough and far north enough to be covered in snow in mid-June. After reading some month-old reports, I concluded it was worth trying. It was still unclear how high I could drive or how much of the national park road would…
Range Great Basin Ranges
Last year, I aimed to hike Telescope Peak in November, but storms had closed the route a long time ago. This time, Death Valley National Park’s website says nothing about road closures. Time to try again! Mihai mentioned it hit 45°C in Death Valley last week, so I expect little snow on top. At the…
RegionCalifornia
Grabbing a window seat means a chance to observe mountains on the way, and I won this mini-lottery today. It was a bit cloudy and misty over Greenland, and Canada, Montana, and Wyoming were also shrouded in mist. But once we reached Utah, Nevada, and California, I had the chance to glimpse canyons, ridges, and…
Range North Atlantic Islands
Fueled by the thrill of reaching Teide’s summit years ago, my eyes remained fixated on the other ultra-prominent peaks that dominated the Atlantic horizon. Excuses kept popping up, but I never gave up hope for the perfect chance. And then it arrived! John invited me to hike Roque de los Muchachos. While tackling just one…
RegionMadeira
Madeira surprised me with a storm and a bumpy landing, but it was a truly unforgettable experience. Respect to pilots. Everything else was smooth sailing, like the sensual charm of Portugal itself. Obviously, a few days aren’t enough to explore all the levadas (water channels), villages, restaurants, museums, and hiking trails. I believe it would…
Range North Atlantic Islands
After a glorious sunny day of exploration, I detoured to a small bump on the road for a final adventure before dinner. The sun dipped below the horizon, transforming Madeira into a magical landscape. I climbed a short flight of stairs (just 10 meters!) to a trig pillar. But the true peak, nestled amongst the…
Range North Atlantic Islands
The setting sun ignites the sky in fiery hues as I dash towards a cool rock formation jutting out from the coast, the one I scoped earlier from Pico da Coroa and Pico do Arieiro. Penha d’Águia towers ahead, its impressive cliffs guarding all sides. But thanks to Ben’s tip on the Peakbager app, I…
Range North Atlantic Islands
Another P144 peak, Pico da Coroa, catches my eye on the map. The southern route from Maroços seems like the easiest and most obvious way to reach the summit. I’m practically celebrating the convenient starting point when I hit a snag – literally. Google Maps’ “easiest route” turns out to be a concrete walking trail,…
Range North Atlantic Islands
Looking for a peaceful alternative to Pico do Furado’s hustle and bustle? A relaxing drive on winding Madeiran roads (don’t worry, the switchbacks are manageable!) leads me to the Pico do Castanho trailhead. This cozy parking lot, sized for a small adventure crew (think 3-4 cars!), welcomes me with open asphalt. Looking back, I see…
Range North Atlantic Islands
The Cabo São Lourenço peninsula caught my eye during a rather harrowing landing two days ago. Well, “landing” might be a bit of an understatement—let’s say I “fell,” “dropped,” or even “plummeted” onto the runway. Kudos to the pilots though, they did a stellar job—I even gave them a round of applause. After three attempts,…
Range North Atlantic Islands
Expecting a speedy drive to the top, we hit a roadblock three kilometers out due to police intervention. We found ourselves in a bustling parking lot nestled between two hills, filling rapidly. As newcomers circled in search of spots, I changed shoes and swiftly moved ahead of the pack. As I climbed up to the…
Range North Atlantic Islands
Pico da Torre is another drive-up peak. When I arrived, there was a barbecue party at the top, complete with music, which made the climb more enjoyable. Otherwise, it’s just a parking lot with a cross and a viewpoint. The views of the urban areas below are decent. I snapped a few photos before heading…
Range North Atlantic Islands
Pico do Galo is located right next to Cabo Girão, a tourist hotspot that claims to be “one of the highest cliffs in the world.” I’ve seen at least three taller cliffs: Croaghaun on Achill Island in Ireland (688 m), Cape Enniberg in the Faroe Islands (750 m), and Preikestolen in Norway (604 m). And…
Range North Atlantic Islands
As I drove down from the island highpoint towards Santana, I saw a lot of cars lining up for this dead-end road. No problem, though—I’d already climbed it earlier that morning. From there, I took the scenic northside route to Ponta Delgada, where the old coast road caught my eye. It’s often closed to cars…
Range North Atlantic Islands
Pico Remal wasn’t on my radar, especially since my original plan was to reach Pico Ruivo do Paul da Serra from the north. But plans have a way of changing, right? The northern route turned out to be too rough for my small rented car, so I drove all the way around and approached from…
Range North Atlantic Islands
As I trudged with hundreds of tourists to Pico Ruivo, I kept wondering how to shake up this monotonous routine. Then, out of nowhere, I spotted a narrow trail leading to the Pico Ruivo East Peak. It was barely visible through the bushes, but it was definitely a trail—clearly used occasionally by the adventurous. The…
Range North Atlantic Islands
La Palma’s Roque de los Muchachos was cool, but now I’m all about Pico Ruivo in Madeira, Portugal. This peak is the island’s highest, with ultra-prominence and nearly 450 km of isolation. It’s clearly captured my interest. After a bumpy landing, a good dinner, and a comfortable night’s sleep, I had a hearty breakfast before…
Range North Atlantic Islands
On the way to the airport, a darkened dot on the map catches my attention. Dark signifies less than 100 meters of prominence. With a spare hour and few other plans, why not take a detour? I didn’t delve into the details but spotted a road at the base and headed for the peak. To…
Range North Atlantic Islands
John shifted his flight from the afternoon to the morning, so I dropped him off at the airport. Now, with 3-4 hours to spare, I’m pondering my options. Naturally, I think of peaks. The more captivating ones like Volcán de la Deseada require more time than I have. Thus, I narrow down my search and…
Range North Atlantic Islands
After a successful and memorable climb to Gran Canaria’s true high point, El Morrón de la Agujereada we stop at a restaurant chosen by Aron. After enjoying great food, we head to the airport. Our flight to La Palma is on time, and all procedures go smoothly. It takes a few minutes to disembark and…
Range North Atlantic Islands
El Morrón de la Agujereada stands as the island’s highpoint—an ultra-prominent peak with nearly 100 km of isolation. It boasts an exposed climbing ‘trail’ that snakes its way to the true summit. This challenge is precisely why 99.99 percent of visitors park their cars, stop at the Pico de las Nieves (“touristic high point”) just…
Range North Atlantic Islands
I landed right on schedule and promptly rejected the notion of shelling out fifty euros for a taxi, choosing a public bus instead. After a mere 15-minute wait and an expenditure of just 1.65 EUR, I arrived in Telde. Upon finding my accommodation, I engaged in a brief conversation with the hostel owner. It soon…
RegionOccitania
Catching an early morning Lufthansa flight from Vilnius to Frankfurt is pretty straightforward. After a brief layover in Frankfurt, I’m on a 4h30 flight with Discover Airlines to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Lucky to have a window seat, I marveled at the views over the Pyrenees—clear skies and breathtaking scenery. Naturally, I couldn’t help but…
Range Taebaek Sanmae
Our adventure targeted Jiri-san, South Korea’s continental zenith. Denise and Richard ventured further, conquering Halla-san on Jeju Do Island, the country’s highest peak. Time constraints led me to bid South Korea farewell after Jiri-san, marking the end of my journey. Day 1: Flights, and a Seafood Reunion Embarking from Taipei to Seoul, Denise, Richard, and…