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Pilot Peak

Great Basin Ranges
2024-06-19
hike
3266m
P1745m
i86.42km

This peak is officially my favorite of the trip. It’s remote, has challenging access, and is wonderfully wild. No real trails mar its landscape. The views are captivating, and it’s just hard enough to remember yet easy enough to conquer in a day. By my standards, it’s almost ideal peak. Getting to the trailhead is…

Mount Lewis

Great Basin Ranges
2024-06-18
hike
2949m
P1303m
i56.24km

After an easy hike to Star Peak, I still have plenty of time and no plans for today. Consulting maps and satellite images, Mount Lewis looks like an easy target and is more or less on the way to Pilot Peak. Obviously, I head towards it and soon park on the unpaved roadside, not far…

Star Peak

Great Basin Ranges
2024-06-18
hike
2998m
P1646m
i111.09km

Waking up in Reno and drove a couple of hundred kilometers to the geothermal plant. I then turned right onto a reasonably good unpaved road, which soon became steep and then even steeper. A few sections really required a high-clearance 4WD car. Although it’s not impossible with a mini SUV (I switched to manual gear…

Virginia Peak

Great Basin Ranges
2024-06-17
hike
2551m
P1111m
i33.71km

Early afternoon, after a few hours’ drive from Mount Rose south of Reno, I approach Virginia Peak, northwest of Reno and near Pyramid Lake. It’s the second Ribu today. I drive up unpaved Microwave Rd., and the road name hilariously matches the warning sign at the top about potential radiation—maybe I’ll shine today like casino…

Mount Rose

Sierra Nevada
2024-06-17
hike
3285m
P1107m
i53.49km

Checking the calendar and map of the peak I want to climb, it becomes obvious that I have a buffer day. Since I appreciate the price and comfort of the casino hotel in Reno, I decide to stay an extra night. I plan to bag two Ribus and spend the rest of the time catching…

Mount Eddy

Northwest U.S. Coast Ranges
2024-06-16
hike
2751m
P1556m
i21.36km

There are three ultra prominent peaks in relative proximity: Mount Shasta, Lassen Peak, and Mount Eddy. After a successful Lassen Peak climb, my attention turned to Mount Eddy. Like with most of the other peaks on this trip, there was a risk of being inaccessible due to snow. I gave it a try and relaxed…

Lassen Peak

Cascade Range
2024-06-15
hike
3187m
P1594m
i114.86km

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…

Telescope Peak

Great Basin Ranges
2024-06-14
hike
3367m
P1880m
i92.04km

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…

Frankfurt to Los Angeles

2024-06-13
flight

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…

Mid-Atlantic Islands 2024

2024-04-08
trip

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…

Madeira

2024-04-07
region

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…

Pico do Facho

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-07
hike
322m
P32m

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…

Penha d’Águia

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-07
hike
589m
P349m
i9.51km

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…

Pico da Coroa

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-07
hike
734m
P144m

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,…

Pico do Castanho

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-07
hike
626m
P251m
i15.41km

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…

Pico do Furado

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-07
hike
170m
P135m
i23.15km

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,…

Pico do Arieiro

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-07
hike
1818m
P248m
i1.55km

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…

Pico da Torre

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-06
hike
205m
P50m

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…

Pico do Galo

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-06
hike
650m
P60m

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…

Pico Ruivo do Paul da Serra

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-06
hike
1649m
P642m
i9.20km

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…