Category: Adventures

Grandeur Peak Trail West Face | The Hardest Hike in the Wasatch Mountains?

Zachary Kenney2 Comments

There are two pinnacle hikes that every Salt Lake resident can see from the city and eventually should do. The two are Mount Olympus and the West Face of Grandeur Peak. Having done both of them, and many other peaks in the Wasatch, I think it’s safe to say, the Grandeur Peak via the West Face is the hardest hike in the Wasatch. In typical Wasatch trail fashion, right out of the parking lot you immediately head straight up. With little reprieve at the bench, you have the option of choosing between trails that ascend up two different ridges that …

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Huntington Dog Beach

Zachary Kenney0 Comments

Flat out, I think the best part of California is the Dog Beach in Huntington Beach. On our first trip to California over Thanksgiving in 2018, when our dog Gregor was only 6 months old, we discovered this absolute gem of a beach. And two years later, we made the drive back to California over the same Thanksgiving weekend to go Huntingdon Dog Beach again, because it’s that incredible. And after three days, back to back to back at the dog beach, Gregor was completely wiped out and slept the entire 12hr drive back to Utah. What exactly is the …

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Neahkahnie Mountain Trail | Hiking the Oregon Coast

Zachary Kenney1 Comment

Overlooking the tiny beach town of Manzanita, cut off from the ocean by the Oregon Costal Highway, is one of the most surreal mountains I’ve ever hiked. Is it some alpine peak requiring ropes and ice axes, no. But does it hold some of the most incredible, panoramic views of the Oregon coastline, you bet it does. I’m talking about Neahkahnie Mountain. And on our road trip through Oregon this past summer, we stumbled upon this hike one morning, and couldn’t have been more surprised. Growing up on the east coast, and doing a fair amount of growing up while …

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Long Weekend in Ketchum, Idaho | A.K.A. Sun Valley

Zachary Kenney0 Comments

Like the rest of the population, we all try to get out and make 4th of July weekend more memorable than the average weekend. That extra day off from work, perfect weather, and of course the excitement of being overly patriotic for a day or two, it’s hard to beat. Back when we lived on the east coast, 4th of July usually meant sitting in traffic for hours in order to spend a day or two at the beach. But that’s rarely the case since we’ve moved to Utah. This year, we decided to head north towards cooler temperatures and …

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Hiking Mount Elbert | Colorado’s Tallest Mountain

Zachary Kenney0 Comments

Summiting a 14er, the coveted goal of most hikers in the USA and around the world. Similar to hiking a 4,000 footer in New England, a 14er is any mountain whose summit stands over 14,000 feet in elevation. But don’t let that staggering elevation discourage anyone from trying. Most 14ers have trailhead that start at 10,000 feet or higher, making the elevation gain only around 4,000 feet, similar to the hikes in New England. Well, Courtney and I are just like the rest of the ambitious hikers in Colorado with a goal of summiting Colorado’s tallest mountain, Mount Elbert! On …

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Capitol Peak | My Experience On One of Colorado’s Most Dangerous Mountains

Zachary Kenney0 Comments

The most shocking part about climbing this mountain is how different the experience can be for each climber in the same party. For my 3 friends, it was an incredible time, totally fun, no big deal. For me, this mountain almost killed me, and has changed my feeling towards mountains for the rest of my life. I will never climb on any rock this sketchy ever again, and will reconsider my climbing trips to mountains and routes that overtly warn against unstable rock combined with high exposure in 100% no-fall zones. This is the story of that trip. The genesis …

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Failing to Summit The Grand Teton

Zachary Kenney2 Comments

The Grand Teton as a special place in my heart. Ever since my buddies and I did it back in 2019, I’ve always thought about taking Courtney up it. Sure it’s massive and an excruciatingly long day, but she’s strong I and I knew she could do it. Fast forward to the end of August 2020, when nearly out of the blue, she says to me, “Let’s go climb the Grand in September!”Needless to say, I couldn’t have been more stoked. We had about e weeks to prepare, get it more specific climbing shape, and get the best beta we …

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Crested Butte, Colorado

Zachary Kenney0 Comments

This was not our first time in Crested Butte, or CB. We actually had just rung in the New Year of 2020 here with a group of friends, but visiting in the summer was 100% different. Even though the town was still just as busy and filled with tourists, the vib had completely changed. People were outside, walking around in shorts and t-shirts, which was much different than the -15F weather we were lucky to experience over New Years Eve. Luckily, after two sites were no good to camp in, we were able to find a campsite on Kebler Pass, …

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First Bikepacking Trip | Video

Zachary Kenney0 Comments

First Bikepacking trip was a success! It’s like bike touring, but on a mountain bike, and over some gnarly terrain. You strap everything you need for a night of camping onto your bike and go have an adventure. A quick, overnight trip up to the Wasatch Crest from Park City after work. My buddy Tyler joined me for this sufferfest of a climb, but was all worth it the next morning for a 10mile descent back home. The Route we took started in Kimball Junction, then headed up the UOP, up BLT, followed by a very steep climb on Moose …

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Silverton, Colorado

Zachary Kenney0 Comments

Our first stop was by far the most out-of-this world. Heading into the massive, towering San Juan mountains for the first time blew my expectations out of the water. The transition in the landscape from the desert plateau of Montrose into the tight canyon where Ouray is nestled, then up the Million Dollar Highway over Red Mountain Pass. That alone makes the trip worth it! A highway that cuts up a narrow canyon riddled with avalanche paths, it’s amazing this highway is ever open during the winter. After, what felt like, hours of searching up and down the dirt road, …

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