A few trips in the past month. Trail work. A wedding weekend (not mine!) stroll. A quick backpack where I did not bring any camera memory (doh!), and a day hike last weekend with an old friend.

But the most interesting trip I did, at least for me, was continuing my evolving into an all around outdoors person.

I've been getting into alpine climbing this past year. Combine a thru-hiker's endurance and over-all outdoor experience add in some technical skills and you get alpine climbing.

I have no desire to walk in 100 yards and perfect gnarly moves all day. Hiking in 6 miles and gain 1000'+ vertical with scrambling and ropes? Sounds good to me!

The climb this past weekend was Longs Peak. A Front Range classic, this 14260' is a rite of passage for many people. But, it also epitomizes why I seldom DO NOT do 14ers: Crowds of people (Picture Franconia Ridge on Labor Day weekend!), people who put themselves into situations they are frankly not ready for (out of shape, not acclimated, poorly prepared, no outdoor sense), and people disregarding outdoor ethics (No dogs..and look who brings a dog up???)

Basically, doing a 14er makes my 36 yo self a premature cranky old man.

Continue reading Hiker Trash continuing to go vertical… at PMags.com.