I’ve been looking for a cause I am really excited to support and help create awareness for while I’m on the CDT this summer. I just stumbled across the perfect fit…
When I hit the trail I’ll be doing so as a data collector for the Worldwide Pika Project. I’ll be collecting data on the Pika and its habitat that will be used by scientists in their studies on climate change.
In 2 short months I’ll have started my journey on the Continental Divide Trail! Today’s walk will have been a whole lot of nothing… except maybe some rattle snakes and dead animal carcasses. I am so excited I can’t sit still, metaphorically speaking at least because that’s all I’m doing right now actually, with trying to get work wrapped up and getting my trip planning done. So here’s an update on how it’s all going…
It is seriously impossible to stay on track planning for this trip. I’ll give you an example: I sit down with a goal of spending an hour researching trail navigation.
Mother Nature put on a private screening of her beauty for Guinness and I. We spent 3 incredible days discovering a new part of the High Uinta Wilderness.
7 words, that’s where it started. 7 seemingly innocuous words.
“You should hike the Continental Divide Trail”
Guinness and I adventure a new basin in the Uinta Wilderness, Grandaddy Basin. We hiked about 8 or so miles a day, staying at Fern Lake the first night and Pine Island Lake the second. Truly beautiful wilderness. After passing Granddaddy Lake on the way in and out of the basin, we didn’t see another human in 2 days.
Taking personal challenge to a whole new level.
In 2013 I spent 6 weeks in Nepal attempting to climb Ama Dablam, one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. A cyclone near India caused a 20 year storm and prevented a summit attempt. But climbing to Camp 2 at 20,000 ft was still an incredible experience and pushed me to new limits.
While in Nepal to climb Ama Dablam in 2013, I trekked around 3 valleys in the Sagarmatha National Park- Khumbu, Gokyo and Bhote Koshi. Highlights were frequent, including visiting Everest Base Camp and Kala Pattar, Gokyo Lakes and Renjo Pass. 2 Albums to view below.
The adventures of Kate and Guinness continue on this quick 2 day backpacking trip.
Another fabulous Kate and Guinness adventures in a new drainage of the Uintas. The hike followed the Highline trail through pine forests and then climbed up and over Rocky Sea Pass at 11,300ft then dropped down into our home for 3 days, Rock Creek Basin. The basin was filled with stunning views of alpine cirques, glistening lakes, bubbling streams and pretty meadows. The fear factor over bears and mtn lions this time replaced by lightening.
3 days of solitude exploring the beautiful 4 Lakes Basin with Guinness. My first solo backpacking trip in the wilderness was a great experience… stunning scenery, pristine lakes and not another person in 3 days. I was pretty freaked out about bears and mountain lions, but it’s all a matter of mind over emotion, the reality of an encounter being very unlikely.
3 weeks in Peru’s majestic Cordillera Blanca mountains. 10 days in the Ishinca Valley summiting Ishinca (18,150 ft), Urus (17,783 ft) and Tocllaraju (19,800 ft). Then an attempt on Chopicalqui (20,850 ft) in the Huascaran National Park showed me that you don’t always get the opportunity to summit. What matters is that everyone that goes up, comes down… and that you have lots of fun along the way!
There are no words to describe how incredible it felt to be on my first mountaineering trip, standing on Island Peak’s 20,300 ft summit, looking around at Himalayan giants like Lhotse, Makalu and Ama Dablam. It was a very special day that I was lucky enough to share with my guide and friend Geljen.
3 inspiring weeks in the Himalayas trekking the Khumbu Valley en route to climb Imja Tse (Island Peak). The classic Khumbu experience: Lukla 9,200ft to Everest Base Camp 17,600ft and back. Massive peaks, beautiful Buddhist culture and the wonderfully addictive lifestyle of walking everyday.
My first major solo trip, and what a great trip it was! 5 weeks in Nepal and 25 days on the trail trekking the Annapurna Circuit with side trips to Tilicho Lake and Annapurna Sanctuary. The Annapurna Range is north-west of Kathmandu and home to 3 of the world’s 8000+ meter peaks. Incredible!
