The Great Sand Dunes, formed less than 440,000 years ago, was a destination I’ve been trying to get to since I moved to Colorado almost four years ago. For some reason or another something always seemed to get in the way whether it be work, sold out campsites, or blistering heat. So when my buddy Andy decided to fly out for a Southwest Colorado road-trip I knew we had to lump the Dunes into our route, hopefully backpacking and camping in them.

While I wallow in self-pity of sitting at work, Nathan and Tuan are off tackling new adventures. They have safely made it to Santiago, Chile before embarking on a bus ride across the Andes to Mendoza, Argentina to meet their group. Dispatchs (from newest to oldest): 12) 3/19/15 – Chatted with the guys yesterday a bit. They just got done doing a 9 day circuit through Torres Del Paine. Sadly they had to come out a day early due to some knee issues, but all seems well.

The infamous Deluge Lake hike. A simple 9.1 mile hike staring in East Vail, Colorado. Despite being steep and easily accomplished in a day, up until this attempt I had been 0-2 on this trail. The first two times that I attempted this trail was in the winter, and both times resulted in failure. Thick snow, post-holing deep down to me knees, and relatively short days of sunlight meant neither time I’d had even made it past the aspen grove.