Well, if you came here for my regular blow-by-blow trip report, unfortunately, there won’t be one for La Venta. I got about halfway done with a day by day report when I started to have this funny feeling. When I first started researching the Arrigetch Peaks in the Brooks Range, I found almost no information except some photos and a few videos to prove that it did, in fact, exist. Hours spent pouring over the old annals of the AAC gave me just enough information to rally a team and book my flights. Part of the lore of the Arrigetch is the lack of beta, guidebooks, and general information. To m ..read more

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An EXHAUSTIVE list of absolutely every piece of gear I’m taking on a 5 day jungle packrafting trip… Photo: Chris Brinlee Jr. // Four Corner Guides Paddling Gear Wolverine (Small) Self-Bailing - Alpacka Raft Werner Strike 4-Piece Paddle Astral PFD NRS “Scrappy” Paddle Helmet NRS Splash Pant NRS 55ft Throw Bag (2) Twinkies (2) Osprey UL 20L Bags (2) UL Locking Carabiners Compactor Bag (Cut Open for “clean tarp”) Bow Bag (ExPed 70L Backpack Brain) 1 Nalgene + Break Away Strap Astral River Shoes Repair Kit Hygiene + First Aid 0.5oz Dr. Bronner’s Soap Tooth Brush ..read more

It was just….time for this upgrade. Primarily, I needed a boat my size = small. My Kokopelli boats are a standard size, which works for people about 5’4” and over. I am 5’1”, and need a much shorter boat to control properly in spicy water. Secondly, after my basically brand new Kokopelli Nirvana blew a T-Zip on the Escalante last year for seemingly no reason, I just couldn’t get back in the boat. If I want to continue, its lighter, it’s more compact, and it streamlines my repair kit, etc. ….Did I mention….I got a gravel bike? : D After eighty miles with 60lbs+ on my back in the Bob Marshall ..read more

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La Venta River - Chiapas, Mexico February 2024 Class II - III 55 Miles Paddling Point - to - Point Image Source: Four Corner’s Guides (Mancos, CO) Spring Desert Season Muddy Creek Dolores River Dirty Devil River Gila Wilderness Section Salt CreekLets be real, it’s whoever runs this season. Snowpack is looking iffy. ……maybe a little bikepacking? Alatna River & Arrigetch Peaks - Brooks Range, Alaska August 2024 Class II - III 40 Miles Hiking 60 Miles Paddling Fly in - Fly Out This trip is a culmination of the last decade or so of being in the outdoors. The trip involves an airdrop, cache ..read more

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Miles Hiked: ~ 16 Miles Elevation: 2,000ft loss/gain Miles Paddled: 8 Miles Thanksgiving 2023 Temps 45-50°F Day // 30°F Night Day 1: Big Spring Canyon Overlook to Spanish Bottom Phase 1: Upper and Lower Salt Creek to Colorado River Phase 1 of this loop began with descending Upper and Lower Salt Creek Canyons to Big Spring Canyon and down to the Colorado River. I brought 4 days of food with intentions of doing the whole loop, but impending snow on Friday made me think I was only out there for a night. It was a balmy 18°F outside when I woke up, I got to the trailhead around 8:30am and was on ..read more

Paddle Gear Alpacka Raft Scout Werner 4-Piece Paddle Marmot Rain Jacket MRS Splash Pants Waterproof Socks Patch Kit Alpacka Raft Pack-A-Pump + Billow Bag PFD UL Backpacking Gear (Cold Weather Version) Western Mountaineering 15° UL Bag Thermarest UL Sleeping Pad Big Sky International UL Pillow Mountain Hardware Down Pants + Jacket Western Mountaineering Down Booties Tarptent Aeon Li Solo UL Tent Primus Stove + 4oz Fuel Leki UL Trek Poles *Not shown - MSR 8in UL skillet for permit Water Treatment Sawyer Squeeze 2L Dirty Bag Settling Bag Alum Person ..read more

Well, after a long summer living in Washington peak-bagging, an already burnt out summer romance, and oh-yeah, buying my house, I’m back on my bullshit. Got myself a new little diddy from Alpacka Raft, a 3.4lbs Scout, and I’m ready to put some miles on her. I haven’t decided on a name yet. This boat is a solid bottom, so I don’t have to get wet this time (San Juan in October without a dry-suit was brutal on my toes!). Also, my milage is somewhere between 35 - 39 miles, so who knows???? I’m getting ready to swing this little number next weekend… Route Day 1: Hike 6 Miles / Paddle 7 Miles Hik ..read more