The question, “What should I take trail running?” often comes our way from newer runners looking to expand their range. While it’s easy to give a snarky, “as little as possible,” that word little is ... The post What to take trail running appeared first on ALPSinsight ..read more

For trail runners, no single place gets more hype than Chamonix. The list of reasons is solid. It has the name, the history, the highest peak in the Alps, the dramatic views, the UTMB, so ... The post Chamonix Trail Running appeared first on ALPSinsight ..read more

I’ve been clicking “start” on Suunto watches everyday for about 23 years. What started as a simple watch, stopwatch, altimeter, and barometer has evolved into something so much more. These days, my primary needs from ... The post Suunto 7 and Suunto 9 Peak Comparison Review appeared first on ALPSinsight ..read more

Sierra Trail Running Things have been pretty quiet here at ALPSinsight for the last year. That’s because we’ve been immersed in an all new guidebook and website for California’s Sierra Nevada. With that project wrapping ... The post Alps and Sierra Trail Running News appeared first on ALPSinsight ..read more

Designed for Adventure Running I can’t imagine limiting my running to, well, running. The more I do with trail running, the more ideas I have for projects. Running fitness opens up all kinds of opportunities, from combining running with climbing, travel, or simply exploring deeper and higher into the mountains. I hate to use the A-word, but here goes. Let’s call it like it is: “Adventure Running.” For Adventure Running, I need a bigger pack that still lets me move in the mountains efficiently. The new Patagonia Sloperunner Exploration Pack’s 18 liters of volume is pushing the limits of “runn ..read more

Oofos Review “Blah blah, Oofos, blah, so comfortable, blah blah blah.” Kim was going on and on about these things and was clearly determined that I too must own a pair. Fresh off a Zurich – San Francisco direct, I was in no mood to shop, much less think. I knew I’d forgotten my flip flops and needed comfy, airy footwear. Even though it was winter, it was still California and we’d be road tripping to the Eastern Sierra. Whatever. I dropped a pair of size 9’s into my basket on top of gas canisters and a jug of Dr. Bronners. In the following days, I discovered that I really did not want to put an ..read more

Returning to the Sierra It turns out you can go home again. And it can be even better than remembered –  especially when you return to California to trail run in the Sierra Nevada. I grew up in California and spent almost 20 years in the Eastern Sierra, ten of those living in Bishop. These are the mountains where I learned to climb, ski, run, and be a photographer. I never imagined leaving them. But at some point the desire to see other places became too strong. I moved to the Italian Dolomites for five years before settling in the Swiss Alps for another nine. All this time plus extensive ..read more

The Mutant habitat The La Sportiva Mutant is my favorite trail shoe, I announce about halfway up our morning climb. Really? That’s a pretty big statement. Dan seems a bit surprised even after I’ve gushed about them on previous runs. As we’re scouting a new running route in the Sierra and some early season ridge scrambles, I roll over 600 kilometers in them. Really. The Mutant has handled all sorts of terrain from California’s rugged central coast and rolling ranch lands to Sierra snow, talus traverses, even up to Mt Whitney. They have the stickiest sole I’ve ever run in, great for scampering o ..read more

Matt Samet pioneering the idea of Sky Running, Sierra style, way back in 2002. 20 years ago I was doing exactly what I’m doing now. Making plans for a huge project in the mountains. Back then, I’m sure I never imagined I’d spend the next 20 years doing very similar things. At that time, Janine and I were living in our VW van, milking our $62 bank account, and trying to figure out how to be professional mountain sport photographers.  Then, Rock & Ice Magazine took an idea we pitched to climb all of California’s Sierra Nevada 14ers by technical routes. It was our first big assignment. A ..read more

I Hate Running and You Can Too: How to Get Started, Keep Going, and Make Sense of an Irrational Passion by Brendan Leonard I have never reviewed a book. There have been numerous packs and shoes and various pieces of gear that have had to pass my scrutiny, but never a book. Then, my friend Brendan Leonard wrote I Hate Running and You Can Too. A book so fun and insightful, I have to share. Brendan, along with Hilary Oliver and Janine Patitucci, hating every minute of watching the sunrise from the Hardergrat Similar to Brendan, I too truly Hate Running. In my angst, I’ve produced the print g ..read more