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Pico Ruivo East Peak

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-06
hike
1780m
P70m

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…

Pico Ruivo

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-06
hike
1862m
P1862m
i449.82km

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…

Montaña de Breña

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-05
hike
567m
P67m
i5.90km

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…

Montaña Quemada

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-05
hike
1363m
P104m
i2.82km

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…

Roque de los Muchachos

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-04
hike
2428m
P2428m
i128.64km

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…

El Morrón de la Agujereada

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-04
hike
1960m
P1960m
i96.69km

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…

Montaña de las Palmas

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-03
hike
560m
P130m
i4.47km

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…

Frankfurt to Las Palmas

2024-04-03
flight

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…

Korea-Amur Area 2024

2024-03-25
trip

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…

South Korea

2024-03-25
culture

The journey from Seoul to Jinju aboard the train, cruising at speeds around 290 km per hour but capable of reaching up to 330 km per hour, serves as a prelude to the grandeur awaiting at Jiri-san. This majestic, ultra-prominent peak is the centerpiece of our trip, symbolizing the adventure and exploration that lie at…

Jiri-san

Taebaek Sanmae
2024-03-24
hike
1915m
P1695m
i245.14km

Embarking on our journey on March 24th, 2024, Ricard, Denise, and I set out on the adventure of ascending Jiri-san, locally known as Cheonwangbong. Because, really, what better way to spend a serene Sunday than challenging gravity and pushing our limits? Standing tall at 1915 meters, with a prominence of 1695 meters that dwarfs most,…

Jinjuseong

Taebaek Sanmae
2024-03-23
hike sight
61m
P30m

We eased off the train from Seoul into Jinju, our limbs thankful for the stillness. Ditching the station’s buzz, we hopped into a taxi that whisked us another 10 kilometers to our abode, the New Yorker Hotel. A curious fusion of luxury and kitsch greeted us with a jacuzzi and a cinema right in our…

East China 2024

2024-03-22
trip

The trip’s goal was straightforward: summit two ultra-prominent island peaks, considering anything beyond that a bonus. Goal achieved, we ascended Youshan and Xueshan, bagged a few minor peaks for good measure, and, as an encore, climbed the Qixingshan ribu volcano near Taipei city. By all measures, we rocked it. While reflecting on our achievements, it’s…

Taiwan

2024-03-22
region

First off, Taiwan leaves you with the impression that everything is meticulously organized. The locals are exceptionally friendly; catch them spotting your bewildered gaze amidst trying to decipher some rule, and they’re right there offering help. Nice touch, thanks! Due to this welcoming behavior, many hurdles were swiftly and smoothly overcome. Transportation We decided to…

Qixingshan

Taiwan
2024-03-21
hike
1118m
P1058m
i36.45km

Having scaled both of Taiwan’s ultra prominent peaks, we naturally shift our focus to the next priority: the P1000. After scrutinizing the map and our calendar, it’s clear that time is tight for remote peaks. However, one peak near Taipei catches our eye: Qixingshan. Popular among locals and just a short hike for us, it…

Xueshan

Taiwan
2024-03-19
hike
3885m
P1937m
i104.84km

Pairing Xueshan peak with another Taiwanese giant, Yushan, feels like an unwritten rule; skipping one just seems wrong. Naturally, we planned to summit both peaks. Xueshan, also known as Snow Mountain, welcomed us with some old hard snow on the trail close to the summit. Securing permits turned out smoother than expected, despite a labyrinth…

Yushan

Taiwan
2024-03-18
hike
3951m
P3951m
i1814.66km

Island highpoint, a top 100 prominence peak and one of the dozen ultra-prominent peaks starting with the letter Y, boasts over 1800km of isolation—a real monster peak for peak baggers. Here we are in Taiwan, at the Youshan trailhead, late afternoon, with reservations at the lower hut, teeming with friendly hikers eager to assist us…

Yushan – Xifeng

Taiwan
2024-03-17
hike
3519m
P110m
i2.40km

We arrive at Paiyun Lodge by 11 am, pondering whether to tackle Yushan today or delay it until tomorrow. Given the cloud-swathed scenery, aiming for the summit today hardly seems wise. After some thought, we agree to proceed with our original plan and explore the West Summit, saving Yushan’s peak for an early morning attempt….

Mongolia Ranges 2023

2023-06-27
trip

On December 7th, 2022, we stood atop Cerros de Pereyra in Argentina, embarking on what would become our Mongolian journey. As we descended the wind-battered slopes seeking shelter under pines from the relentless sun, a surprising Mongolian tune captured our attention. This was no ordinary music; it was Khoomei, a form of throat singing where…

Horse Statue Museum

2023-06-26
sight

Cruising down the highway towards Ulaanbaatar, a good 450 kilometers to go, a curious sight snagged our attention. A massive square monument peeked at us from the roadside, beckoning for a closer look. We heeded the call, and our curiosity was rewarded. This imposing structure, guarded by a vast 100-meter square compound, wasn’t your average…