Category Archives: USA – Summer 2019

We recently found some photos and our checklist from about this time last year. It got pretty hectic before we left, so the blog we envisioned to kick off the trip never happened, but I thought you might enjoy these … Continue reading →

We had an incredible four months in Europe that were filled with adventure, but there is nothing like being home for the holidays.  It was time for the Raffs to head back to the USA to celebrate with the Mathews’ … Continue reading →

As Sarah mentioned in the last blog, Mt. Whitney was sort of the final big item on our list of stuff to do this summer. We’d actually scored one more set of permits in the Sierra, but they had been … Continue reading →

The culmination of our summer climbing plans was Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the continental United States.  All summer, we had this climb in mind. We would need high-altitude fitness, good route-finding and efficient climbing to make it successful.  … Continue reading →

Sarah and I have just finished 12 days in Tuolumne Meadows—the prettier, less crowded, more temperate portion of Yosemite National Park. As usual, we came with a giant tick list of peaks to climb, but we’ve also been going hard … Continue reading →

Maple Canyon was not on the original Raff’s Summer 2019 itinerary. After lots of discussion over happy hour wine in Jackson Hole, we decided to head there next as a stopover on our way to Tuolumne.  We were originally planning … Continue reading →

Teton National Park was the next stop on the Raff’s summer road trip itinerary.  We had a quick preview of the park at the end of June during our drive to Ten Sleep.  Based on that view of the mountains, … Continue reading →

We’re back! It’s hard to believe Devil’s Tower was three weeks ago, but we’ve managed to keep ourselves occupied; Sarah contracted a nasty stomach bug the day after climbing the tower, so we spent a few quiet days having a … Continue reading →

“Dad, I am going to climb to the top of this tower someday.”  I said this as an 8-year-old standing at the base of Devil’s tower watching the climbers.  I had never even seen rock climbers before, but I have … Continue reading →

‘Merica…a land of independence, opportunity, the pursuit of happiness, and currently a place of extremes. It seems appropriate, then, that we found ourselves in a tiny town in a big canyon full of cowboys and dirtbag climbers during a thunderstorm-filled … Continue reading →