Slot Canyon Hiking

by Erik Olsen on

I’m always on the lookout for places to shoot great
photographs and especially
panoramics. And while I’m at it, I often like to get a good workout in. For
years now I’ve had my eyes set on the slot canyons of Utah as a place to take great pictures. I haven’t gotten there
yet, but maybe this summer I’ll be heading to Zion.

When I go, I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures and will post like crazy about it. But in the meantime,
here’s a solid piece on Utah’s slot
canyons that will get you in the hiking mood. By the way, if anyone has been, I’d love to hear more. Maybe post a
comment or two about where you went and what you thought.

Farther Than the Eye Can See

by Erik Olsen on

Yesterday, I rewatched a film by a friend of mine named Mike Brown that is really stellar and deserves mention
here. The film is called Farther Than the Eye Can
see and it is about the amazing expedition of Eric Weihenmayer’s, a blind climber who summitted Everest. This historic
ascent of Everest is a real inspiration to anyone with a disability, and hell, to anyone. The cinematography is really
phenomenal and the story itself, expertly weaved, is totally compelling. Check out
Mike’s site and try to get your hands on this film.
It’s really excellent.

American Dies on Everest

by Erik Olsen on

It happens every year. People die on Everest. The worst year in recently
history, as many people remember, and as was amazingly recounted in
Into Thin Air, was 1996. But on May
1, 39-year-old Seattleite Michael Corey O’Brien
slipped while attempting to
descend the Khumbu Icefall, and fell into a crevasse to his death. O’Brien and his brother Christopher were attempting
to become the first American brothers to reach the summit together. They were also seeking to raise money and awareness
Huntington’s disease, which led to the deaths of their mother, sister and other family members. Tragic.

Photo of the Day: (5/03/05)

by Erik Olsen on

I was thinking about how great it would be to hike the Sierras and so did some poking around Flickr for a great
photo of California’s tallest mountains. I came across several great sites, including this
panoramic photography site. But
this photo seemed to capture the
place the best.

Flying Over the Alps – Sans Plane

by Erik Olsen on

Several years ago I saw a movie at an outdoor film festival about two guys
who took paragliders over the Dolomites. It was an extraordinary film, visually speaking, and planted the
seed that has made me want to try paragliding someday. (quick note: I actually did get to paraglide once, way
back when I lived in Chile, but it was a tandem flight with a friend and it didn’t last very long. Also, it wasn’t over
the Dolomites. I don’t really count that.)

 

Anyway, after seeing this site I thought again about paragliding, and how cool it would be to soar over the Alps. If
you now what you’re doing, you can go to a place like the
Verbier Summits, which offers
luxury Alpine paragliding and hang-gliding holidays. Or you can take lessons in the French Alps at a place
like this.  Very cool.