Sometime in June 2017 I signed up for a mountaineering course with Alpine Ascents on a whim and I was hooked. Mountaineering and Alpinism appealed to me because not only did it require a combination of strength and endurance but also it requires technical ability while climbing very steep terrain. Not that I am doing a great job with it, but I try my best to record the trips that as a way to document and reflect.
Mountaineering
Feb 25, 2024
Trap Dike solo
Trap Dike is legendary classic that forms on the weakness of rock on Mt Colden. It was first climbed in late 1800s. It is THE mountaineering route of the Adirondacks...
Dec 31, 2023
2023 year in review
2023 was a big year in terms of ice climbing for me and resurgence of my interest in skiing. I also managed to get a little bit of rock climbing...
Dec 31, 2022
2021/22 year in review
Later 2021 and 2022 was a big year for my climbing. I was able to dial down my trad leading at the gunks, getting about 20 days of outdoor rock...
Dec 31, 2022
Mt Adams and almost Mt Rainier
Hi friends, Its been a while. I write this post in March 2024 about a trip out in Washington where we attempted to summit Mt Adams and Mt Rainier. In...
Jul 1, 2021
Last month in Canada
Hello friends, Writing this last newsletter has been on my to-do list for a while now. After the course, I stuck around in western Canada for about a month...
Jun 2, 2021
Mountain Expedtion!
Hello friends! It’s been a hectic few weeks with planning our final mountain expedition and wrapping up the course and figuring what I am up to next! This letter is...
May 23, 2021
Cumbre o muerte!
Hello again! “Cumbre o muerte” (summit or die in Spanish) was our farcical war cry when we were climbing. Disclaimer: we carefully analyze risk before making any decisions in the...
May 15, 2021
Climbing rocks rocks!
Hello everyone! It has been another hectic week of rock climbing learning and experiencing the great outdoors in Alberta. Rock climbing has become a big part of my life over...
May 2, 2021
Yam group (and me too) take a break
Hello everyone~! Been a while since I sent something out. Hope you are doing well and keeping safe! It has been a restful couple of weeks for me with the...
Apr 16, 2021
Ski mountaineering and finally enjoying skiing
Hello again! Hope everyone is doing well! I just returned from our biggest backcountry ski trip of the course. The trip has been christened a ‘Ski Mountaineering’ trip because the...
Apr 5, 2021
Surreal snowscapes
Hello friends, Last night I got back from our second backcountry camping trip. We all got back tired, smelling quite terribly and hankering for a shower. When I got back,...
Mar 29, 2021
Ski touring in the rockies
Hello again friends, Hope everyone is keeping safe. My mom has been informing me about the COVID situation in India which is worsening and that the vaccines have not been...
Mar 21, 2021
Lots of ice climbing!
Hello again everyone, It feels like yesterday that I was writing the first update of my series! Time is really flying by with the busy schedule and how exciting the...
Mar 14, 2021
And it begins!
Hello family and friends, Firstly, thank you so much for signing up! I didn’t expect to have almost 90!! people sign up for this so I have just a little...
Sep 18, 2020
Boulder learning to lead
“Every moment is possible due to the work of so many people before you. You are almost literally standing on the shoulders of giants.” A rather poignant but obvious thought...
Sep 6, 2020
Great Range Traverse
“The current state and direction of a path aren’t necessarily reflective of the final destination or goal.” – Yours truly On my exit via the Johns Brook Lodge, I got...
Jul 18, 2020
Mt Marcy
“Don’t break a leg.” - Ming English phrases can be really misleading and the etymology nebulous. If someone tells you to break a leg, they aren’t some obvious sadists lunging...
Mar 1, 2020
Ouray Colorado
“The journey is often better than the destination” – Zach I organized this trip mostly on a whim and after a lot of convincing by my coworker John. John has...
Jan 16, 2020
Mt. Whitney via the mountaineer's route
“Go slow to go fast.” – Kevin This is the year of Denali and to give myself a taste for some real mountaineering, I signed up for the winter summit...
Jan 4, 2020
Mt. Washington via the Lions Head Winter route
“The mountain is going to be here all day.” - Jon One mountain that has been on my list for a long time is Mt Washington. Mainly because it is...
Jun 15, 2019
Mt. Baker via the North Ridge
Mt. Baker via the North Ridge I recently got into ice climbing but counter-intuitively signed up for this without having ice climbed ever before. I was motivated to make sure...