Dog Sledding in Minnesota

The Southern Terrain recently completed a winter leadership program into the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. The group consisted of several MBA students from Kellogg School of Management. The program was staged out of Ely, Minnesota on the border of the most visited wilderness area in the entire United States.


The group arrived late Friday night and shuttled to the cabins on the shores of Gegoka Lake, MN. The following morning we had a program brief and a gear review session prior to departing for the kennel. We feasted on a large breakfast consisting of french toast, fresh fruit, muffins, bagels, eggs and hash browns to ensure we properly fueled for the upcoming adventure.

We arrived at the kennel to the sounds of over 100 dogs getting excited for their journey. Each dog an Alaskan Husky, not a bread of dog by rather a type type best known for dog sledding racing and speed competitions. We donned our insulated boots, received a instructions from our champion dog sled racing leader, and harnessed up the team. We put the lead dogs on first followed by the team dogs and finally the wheel dogs in the back. The dogs each had a very distinct personality and they knew what their roles were on the team.

As we packed up our sleds the roar of the dogs created a buzz in the yard in anticipation of getting on the trail. With a load "alright" our dogs charged own the trail pulling our sled at maximum speeds. We navigated through the forests and into open swap areas that had been frozen over for the season. The fresh snow pack provided a nice cushion for the dogs allowing the sled to glide over small roots and trees. We continued through the single track trails stopping with the occasional "whoa" to give the dogs a well deserved rest.

We concluded the day on a frozen lake where the group worked together to prepare camp, tend to the dogs, cook amazing tortillas, and build a fire on the ice. The camp was set up with nice tents but the overall consensus was to sleep out underneath the stars. It was a long 22 mile day on the trail but warm beverages and hot dinner made it easier to sink into our bags for the evening.

The following morning we proceeded to work together to break down camp, and with one leader directing the effort the camp camp down quickly. We left and led our team of dogs at a frenzied pace through the trees with numerous "haw's" and "gee's". The snow was coming down in blizzard conditions and we made it back to base in time for hot soup and scones. The team said goodbye to the dogs and drove through the elements to get to the airport on time. This unique experience created a significant amount of group cohesion, camaraderie, and opportunities for everyone to experience something outside their comfort zones.

 Stayed tuned for our next adventure update.

Kevin Jackson
www.thesouthernterrain.com I info@thesouthernterrain.com I 858.356.9411

High Altitude Training



Cerro Aconcague - Tallest Peak in the Americas


By, Kevin Jackson


From Sir Edmund Hillary to the weekend warrior we are always pushing our own personal limits by going farther, faster, and of course higher than we had even been before. Our quest to challenge ourselves is what is so fulfilling when climbing a peak, running a marathon, or sailing a long distance regatta. With all these challenges come risks, and none more dangerous than that of high altitude. Altitude is generally associated with extreme conditions such as avalanche danger, hidden crevasses, freezing temperatures, remote locations, and of course limited oxygen, and if not properly planned for can cause serious consequences. Whenever doing any hiking or climbing at altitude we always prepare ourselves to have the highest chance of success whether on Mt. Whitney at 14,505 ft. or Aconcagua at 22,841 ft. When referring to preparation we are talking about your physical training, your gear requirements, and your daily routine (fluid intake, Pulse Oximeter Readings, supplements, food consumption and understanding the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness) on the mountain to optimize your chances of success.

First of all what is high altitude? Altitude can be defined on the following scale: High (8,000 - 12,000 feet), Very High (12,000 - 18,000 feet), and Extremely High (18,000+ feet). There are no specific factors such as age, sex, or physical condition that correlate with susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some people get it and some people don't, and some people are more susceptible than others. Most people can go up to 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) with minimal effect.

Your physical training is the foundation required for any mountain climbing experience regardless of overall elevation. If you want to give yourself the best chance of reaching the summit specific training is essential. When training for altitude our programs follow that designed by Mark Twight, world renowned fitness training, mountaineer, and author of “Extreme Alpinism: Climbing Light, Fast & High”, and focus on distinct stages of preparation. The training program revolves around multiple stages with increased intensity aimed to peak at the appropriate time before departure. The goal of the program is to develop the strength and stamina for sustained physical ability over long periods of time as well as increasing your anaerobic threshold (AT) for improved performance at altitude. Your stages of training include; foundation building, power training (PT), cardiovascular power endurance (CPE) (increasing your aerobic capacity), cardiovascular extensive endurance training & muscular endurance training (CEE) (long term endurance with moderate level of physical output), tapering & rest, and peaking. Examples of recommended activities include; PT – Squats, lunges, step ups, CPE – Mountain biking, hill climbs with pack weight, hypoxic swims, CEE – Distance running, 10 + mile hikes, cycling.

Proper gear and equipment is critical to your climbing success and overall experience. You can be the best conditional individual on the mountain, but without proper equipment you will never make it. Whether you are traveling alone or with an operator always ask for specific gear lists and be certain you have a good understanding of what each items is. I recommend creating a checklist for all items you will need, specific to your equipment, and use that as a guideline for packing. Your warmth is essential and even with the highest rated down garments it is recommended to bring hand and feet warmers for summit pushes. Preparing your kit and making sure you have the right equipment, the proper pack weight, and spare necessities (batteries, sunscreen, lip balm, patch kit, laces, hand held scale etc.) is all part of the preparation process. Know your terrain and consult your guide until you are comfortable with your equipment before departure.

Your daily routine on the mountain will make sure you continue to recognize how your body is adjusting to the altitude and provide early warning signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Your daily routine should include; meals, hydration, supplements, planning and altitude illness scorecard. Your diet plays a considerable role in your acclimatization process and the nutritional balance is essential to keep energy levels high. Almost everyone going to altitude loses weight, both body fat and lean tissue, as a result of energy requirements increasing 15-50% coupled with a loss of appetite. Calorie intake should be up to 6000 per day consisting of 400 grams of carbohydrates.

Hydration is the key to reducing AMS symptoms and facilitates proper acclimatization. The bodies fluid requirements at altitude increase significantly and 4-5 liters per day is the recommended daily intake. This is mainly caused by increased water losses from the lungs due to the increased ventilation of cold, dry air, physical exertion, as well as the diuretic effects of altitude alone. Remember to treat all water on the mountain to prevent Giardia and other bacterial infections.

Supplements, planning, and understanding the symptoms of AMS will reduce anxiety on the mountain and enable preventative methods to be used as opposed to reactionary. Specifically, Acetazolamide (Diamox) is a prescription drug used to prevent altitude sickness and aid in the acclimatization process. Additional supplements include Ginkgo Biloba, an over the counter herbal extract which increases oxygenation and blood flow. Additionally, endurance supplements, such as Cytomax and Endurox, can assist in reducing muscle fatigue and soreness. Finally, understanding the symptoms of AMS (nausea, headache, fatigue at rest, mild swelling in extremities, dizziness) and having a daily routine to reduce these symptoms. It is important to remember that most climbs include several days on the mountain and it is not a race to top but rather a well planned and disciplined process that begins when you make your commitment to conquering any peak.

Key Points to Remember When at Altitude


1 Drink 4-6 liters of water per day and at least one liter every 3 hours

2 Climb high and sleep low - It is recommended to climb no more than 1,000 ft. per day and a rest day should be incorporated every 3,000 ft. of gain.

3 Eat a high carbohydrate diet (More than 70% of your calories come from carbohydrates) while at altitude. Suggested snacks are raisins and other dried fruits, yogurt-covered raisins, banana chips, fruit chews, jelly beans, Chuckles, Gummier Bears, red and black licorice, granola bars, bagels, toaster pastries, and fig bars.

4 Eat at least one hot meal per day - Potatoes, rice, couscous, and noodles are typically easier to digest.

5 Do not drink unpurified water or melted snow because at altitude water boils before it reaches 212°F (100°C), the boiling temperature at sea level, it needs to be boiled longer than the 10 minutes necessary for


Kevin Jackson is the owner of The Southern Terrain, an elite adventure training and guiding organization in San Diego, California. To learn more about their global adventures, or corporate development programs in San Diego, call (858) 356-9411 or e-mail at info@thesouthernterrain.com.

Avalanche Safety and Back-country Skills

Avalanche Safety & Back-country Skills

By, Kevin Jackson

Snow Cat Skiing & boarding in Chile

Valle Arpa

The lure of fresh powder and the chance to avoid the crowds makes backcountry skiing and boarding an ideal way to create that picture perfect day. On a recent trip to the Chilean Andes with The Southern Terrain we had the amazing opportunity to snow cat ski some of the most remote regions of the country and experience snow similar to what you would expect in Valdez, Alaska. However, with ideal conditions comes the danger of backcountry exploration. Thankfully, our team was prepared and prudent with our situation and we enjoyed possibly the greatest day of powder anyone has ever had. While our experience was surreal, all too often the results of backcountry exploration end in unfortunate situations.

Each year, avalanches claim more than 150 lives worldwide, and thousands more are caught in avalanches partly buried or injured. With the amount of snow fall we’ve had so early in the season the avalanche danger, particularly in the Eastern Sierras, can be high so please consider these important safety precautions and instructions when entering into avalanche prone areas. Particularly, how to test for avalanche conditions, what to do if you are caught in an avalanche as well as proper rescue techniques.

How to Determine a Safe Snowpack

There are numerous ways to gauge the stability of the snowpack without technical equipment. Firstly, watch for any cracks jetting across the surface or small slabs shearing off. Also, listen for "hollow" or "thumping" noises as you walk or ski across the surface. This indicates that there is a weaker layer underneath, leaving the surface layer prone to collapse. More reliable measurements, such as snow pits and shear tests, will help you predict more accurately how stable or unstable the snowpack is.

Snowpits

The most effective snowpits should be dug near potential avalanche starting zones, but without putting you or other members of your party at risk. With a shovel, dig a hole four to five feet deep and approximately three feet wide. Smooth the uphill wall until it is vertical and you can see the different layers of snow. By pressing your hand against each layer to feel its hardness, you can determine whether there are weak layers.

Shear tests

From the vertical, uphill wall of the snowpit, separate a column of snow without pulling it free from the wall. Insert a shovel at the back, uphill side, of the column and gently pull on the handle. If weak layers pull loose quite easily, the snowpack is very unstable. If it takes a few tugs on the handle before any layers pull loose, the snowpack is slightly unstable.

When conducting these tests throughout the day, pay attention to the slope angle. Most avalanches occur on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees, but can occur on any slope angles given the right conditions. You can measure the slope angle with an inclinometer, or you can "eyeball" it by dangling a ski pole by the strap and estimating the angle. Layers that seem strong on a 30-degree slope may be much weaker on a steeper slope. Also, remember that the shear test relies on the pull of a shovel, not the weight of a person. You can test this by standing or jumping on the uphill edge of the snowpit, but only if you already know the snowpack is stable after conducting a shear test.

Getting Caught in a Slide

When you realize you are caught in a slide yell and try to let go of ski poles and get out of your pack to make yourself lighter. Use "swimming" motions, driving upward to try to stay near the surface of the snow. When an avalanche comes to a stop the snow can set, and become as hard as cement, and unless you are on the surface, it is almost impossible to dig yourself out. If you are fortunate enough to end up near the surface, try to stick out an arm or a leg so that rescuers can find you quickly.

 If you are buried over your head, try to maintain an air pocket in front of your face by punching the snow with your hands and arms. Many avalanche deaths are caused by suffocation, so creating an air space is one of the most critical things you can do. When an avalanche finally stops, you may have only a few seconds before the snow sets and hardens, and it is important to hold your breath before hand as you may not be able to breathe after the snow compacts around you.

Above all, do not panic. Keeping your breathing steady will help preserve your air space and extend your survival chances. If you remain calm, your body will be better able to conserve energy.

Rescuing a Victim

If your partner, or someone you see gets caught in a slide, try to watch the victim as they are carried down the slope, paying particular attention to the point at which you last saw them. After the avalanche appears to have finished and settled, wait a minute or two and observe the slope carefully to make sure there is no further avalanche danger. If some danger does still exist, post one member of your party in a safe location away from the avalanche path to alert you if another avalanche falls.

Begin looking for clues on the surface beginning with the point where they were last seen. As you move down the slope, kick over any large chunks of snow that may reveal clues. Since equipment and items of clothing may have been pulled away from a victim during an avalanche, they may not indicate their exact location, but can help determine the direction the avalanche carried them. Mark these spots as you come across them. Once the victim is found, it is critical to unbury them as quickly as possible. Survival chances decrease rapidly depending on how long a victim remains buried. Treat them for any injuries, shock, or hypothermia if necessary.

For those using probes, begin at the point the victim was last seen at, and stand in a straight line across the slope, standing shoulder to shoulder. Repeatedly insert the probes as you move down slope in a line. Pay particular attention to shallow depressions in the slope and the uphill sides of rocks and trees, since these are terrain traps where they may have been buried.

When venturing into the backcountry be sure to have all the necessary equipment, check the local weather report, and notify the authorities of where you will be going. Above all be safe and enjoy the places you’ve worked so hard to get to. 

5 Things to Keep in Mind When Backcountry Skiing
1	Are there any signs of excessive wind loading on the slopes?
2	What have the weather conditions been like the past few days? Any large snow falls?
3	Do you have a good sense of the snow pack and have you done any snow pit or shear tests?
4	Have you noticed many fracture lines, heard "thumping" or cracking sounds, or hollow noises in the snowpack?
5	Are you keeping an eye on the orientation and steepness of the slopes as you cross them?

International Travel Planning

Stella Point with Mt. Mawenzi in the Background

The allure of far off places and remote regions of the world are what makes international travel so exciting and invigorating. We see the pictures of places so pure and so spectacular it’s almost as though we feel drawn to them. In our haste to see the world we often neglect the importance of preparation and diligence required to safely explore. When traveling internationally, your adventure does not begin when we board the plane but rather when we make the commitment to do so. Prior to departure there are four key things to consider: travel insurance and visa requirements, inoculations, currency and exchange, and most importantly the environment in which you will be exploring. For the purpose of this article we will focus on traveling to Tanzania, Africa and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or going on a safari through the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.


One of the most often asked questions by clients traveling to Africa is “will I need travel insurance?” The answer is always YES and we cannot stress the importance of obtaining adequate insurance prior to traveling. Why is travel insurance critical? For places such as Kilimanjaro, where altitude sickness is common, it is critical to have ample medical and repatriation coverage prior to departure. Further, if you are planning on traveling with an organized tour where deposits and prepayment are required, it is strongly recommended to purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance within 21 days of departure. Your visa requirements are easy to obtain but something you must not overlook. For traveling to Tanzania you will be required to obtain a visa from the local embassy by providing: an application, a valid passport, two photos, a self-addressed stamped envelope, visa fees, proof of travel, and a bank statement to prove sufficient funds. Additionally, should you make a stop into another country, such as Zambia, Uganda or Zimbabwe, be sure to check with their department of foreign affairs for the appropriate paperwork.

With Africa, inoculation requirements are higher than most parts of the world. For example, a Yellow Fever Certificate is a compulsory requirement for entry into Tanzania. Also, ensure your childhood vaccines (e.g. Tetanus/ Diphtheria) are up to date. Additional requirements for travel to Africa to climb Kilimanjaro or go on a Safari might include:

• Hepatitis A: recommended for Kilimanjaro and Safari

• Typhoid:

• Meningitis:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria: All travelers should have a booster dose within the last 10 years.

• Anti-Malarial drugs (e.g. Doxycycline or Chloroquine or Malarone): Any of these medications might be considered. In relation to altitude sickness, you may consider conversing with your doctor the approach to minimize the effects of altitude sickness. You may wish to discuss:

• Acetazolamide (Diamox) for prevention of altitude sickness

Please consult your physician prior to taking any of these medications and be sure you understand the appropriate dosages for each.

Prior to traveling to an international destination be sure to understand the local currency and the appropriate exchange rate. It is recommended that you exchange a small amount of funds prior to departure since airport rates do not offer the ideal exchange. Further, inquire about specific credit card use and whether large bills are accepted in your destination country. For example, the Tanzanian Shilling can be exchanged at any Bureaux de Exchange, rate of $1 USD = $1,303.00 TZS, with traveler’s checks and major credit cards being accepted. When traveling away from major city centers, such as to Mt. Kilimanjaro or a safari, we recommend carrying cash on hand since the use of credit or check is typically unavailable.

Finally, while these tips are general, and can apply across the board to any international destination, for seamless and safe travel I recommend checking, understanding and researching the area in which you will be exploring. Additionally, for any international adventure program I always request a copy of my clients passports, travel insurance, and drivers license to keep on hand in case of an emergency. Further, leave a list of you contact information whilst on the trip and where you will be throughout. Following these pre-trip suggestions will make your once in a lifetime climb or safari the perfect escape from your everyday life and provide a chance to immerse yourself into a new world.

5 Things To Do Before You Go

1 Obtain Travel Insurance at least 21 days out

2 Apply for appropriate visas

3 Get your inoculations early

4 Make copies of your passport and drivers license

5 Provide a list of your contact details throughout your adventure


Kevin Jackson is the owner of The Southern Terrain, an elite adventure training and guiding organization in San Diego, California. To learn more about their global adventures, or corporate development programs in San Diego, call (858) 309-2311 or e-mail at info@thesouthernterrain.com

Top 5 Hikes in the United States

The diverse nature of the U.S. landscape offers backpackers an excellent opportunity to explore its many different climates, terrains, and geographic regions. Trying to select the top hikes in the country was difficult so I decided on a series of hikes along the four major treks in the U.S. as well as one additional hike which is a favorite of many veteran hikers. The four major treks include the Appalachian Trail (AT), extending 2,170 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine; the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) covering 2,650 miles from Campo, California, to Manning Park, British Columbia; the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), spanning 3,100 miles from Glacier National Park to Antelope Wells, New Mexico; and the Colorado Trail (CT) running 483 miles from Denver to Durango, Colorado. Each of these long trails is unique and special in its own right ranging from the cultural experience of the AT to the high peaks of the Eastern Sierras. The trail sections I selected are considered to be stand outs within these great walks. They are truly worth experiencing solely because they exist.

1. John Muir Trail

Area: John Muir Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sequoia, Minarets, Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks
Location: Yosemite Valley to Lone Pine, CA
Distance: 211 miles
Best Time to Explore: July – September



Mt Whitney



What makes This Hike Unique: This spectacular section of the PCT mesmerizes hikers with its stunning view. The John Muir Trail is quite possibly the most famous trail in America and blessed with the mildest and sunniest climate of any major mountain range in the world. The John Muir Trail is a wonderful rollercoaster, rising and falling through the incredible variety of scenery of the incomparable High Sierra, a glorious mountain world of glacier-sculpted, granite domes and peaks, pristine conifer forests, timberline lakes, high waterfalls, and tumbling creeks. The trail passes through a land of 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks on your way to the highest point in the lower 48, Mt. Whitney at 14,505. The trail is named in honor of John Muir, the Scots-born environmentalist and mountaineer who explored these mountains from 1869 onward and whose campaign for their preservation resulted in the formation of the Sierra Club and the creation of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.

2. 100 Mile Wilderness



100 Mile Wilderness



Area: Maine Woods

 Location: Monson, ME
Distance: 100 miles
Best Time to Explore: May - October

What Makes This Hike Unique: The final miles of the Appalachian Trail weave through a wild landscape flush with the diversity of northern Maine, through some of the most remote-feeling mountains and forest traversed by the Trail. The spectacular "100 Mile Wilderness" of the Maine Woods represents the longest stretch of uninterrupted wilderness along the entire Appalachian Trail. Here, intrepid hikers can visit meandering rivers, reflecting lakes, monster trees, and airy viewpoints. Approximately half way through this spectacular hike and 0.8 miles off the Trail you can summon a pickup by boat across Lake Pemadumcook with an air horn to take you to White House Landing Wilderness Camp for an opportunity to shower, sleep in a bed, and have a burger and ice cream.

3. Elk Park/Chicago Basin Shuttle Hike

Area: Weminuche Wilderness
Location: Durango, CO
 Distance: 40 miles from Elk Creek Trailhead to Needleton train stop.
Best Time to Explore: June - September



Weminuche Wilderness



What Makes This Trail Unique: Boarding an old steam train in Durango and riding through the spectacular mountainous scenery of the Animas River to the Elk Creek Trailhead. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad provides one of the more popular access routes to the Chicago Basin in the Weminuche Wilderness. The CDT and the CT are part of this 40 mile hike where your reward will be stunning vistas, abundant wildlife, colorful wildflowers, and waterfalls. From the Chicago Basin you can summit three of the most remote fourteen thousand foot peaks in Colorado; Windom Peak (14,087Ft), Sunlight Peak (14,059Ft) and Mt Eolus (14,084Ft).

4. Maroon Bells Four Pass Circuit

Area: Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness
Lcations: Aspen, Colorado
Distance: 30 miles
Best Time to Explore: August - September

Snowmass Lake

What Makes This Hike Unique: Located only a few minutes out of Aspen, CO, the Maroon Bells four pass circuits is a wonderful mix of rugged mountains, beautiful lakes, flower-filled meadows, and forested valleys. The peaks are high and steep, six rise above 14,000 feet, and the valleys are narrow and deep. The most dramatic and well-known peaks are the Maroon Bells, North Maroon and Maroon Peak, named for their bands of dark red sedimentary rock. Snowmass Lake is a beautiful timberline lake with Snowmass Mountain and Hagerman Peak rising above. It's also very popular as the base camp for the ascent of Snowmass Mountain. The four passes; West Maroon(12,500ft), Frigid Air, Trail Rider and Buckskin(12,500ft) make this a very challenging and unforgiving 30 miles of Colorado wilderness.

5. Highline Trail

Area: Wind River Range
Location: Pinedale, Wyoming
Distance: 90 Miles from Green River Bridge to Big Sandy River
Best Time to Explore: July - September

Wind River Range

What Makes This Trail Unique: The Highline Trail winds through the Wind River Mountains which make up the south-eastern end of the northern Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide runs down the crest of the range; the highest peak, 13,804ft Gannett Peak, is the highest in Wyoming. Beautiful cirques, 1,300 or more lakes, hanging valleys, rushing streams, and cool forests make this wonderful country for the wilderness-lover and backpacker. Much of the hiking is on or above timberline, with spacious views of the peaks. Excellent views of the jumble of spires, cliffs, and peaks around the Titcomb Basin make the trail to Island Lake and Lester Pass a mountain-lover's delight. The Cirque of the Towers was first visited in the early 20th century. With the spectacular scenery in the Cirque of the Towers, this area attracts many hikers and climbers. The Cirque is a wonderful climbing Mecca and should be on everyone's tic list.

Kevin Jackson is the owner of The Southern Terrain (http://www.thesouthernterrain.com/), an elite adventure guiding organization in San Diego, California. To learn more about their global adventures, or corporate development programs, call (858) 356-9411 or e-mail at info@thesouthernterrain.com.

Canyoneering with Kellogg LEX

Canyoneering in Arizona

The Southern Terrain has been offering canyoneering in northern Arizona for several years and this past program with the Kellogg LEX team was one of the best. This group of future leaders are all studying at the prestigious Kellogg School of Management. Each fall this group travels to the southwest to enjoy a weekend in the canyons to push their boundaries by trying something outside their comfort zone.

Rappelling at the Overlook in Sedona

The team arrived into Phoenix late on Friday night and made it to an already set up camp in the wonderful town of Sedona. The following morning the guides at The Southern Terrain prepared a hot breakfast before departing to the spectacular overlook in Oak Creek Canyon. It was very windy at the overlook which made this training day challenging yet effective for the LEX team.  After several rappels and climbs the group loaded up in the vans and began the drive up to the Grand Canyon. The drive gave everyone a chance to catch up on sleep before we began our next day of adventure.

The Famous Horseshoe Bend

Can You See the Person Rappelling?

As we arrived to camp we were greeted by our guides who had camp all set up and amazing snacks ready for us. After an hour of relaxing at camp we were wowed by the magic of the Dutch Oven and fabulous cooking by Josh. We all had a great night's sleep underneath the Vermillion Cliffs with thoughts of what was to come the following day. The next morning we woke up to spectacular weather, and while it took a little to get going, the entire team was up and out of camp by 7:30 AM. As we ventured out of the region we had the chance to look at the famous Horseshoe Bend which is certainly one of nature's true natural wonders.

The hike into the canyon is almost as amazing as the canyon itself. Once we arrived to our canyon everyone was glad we had the opportunity the previous day to practice our technique and be more comfortable being on the rope. The first person down had an uninterrupted view of the canyon and the images we saw were something out of a story book.

Our first rappel was almost 200 feet and the guides at The Southern Terrain were patient and helpful in trying to encourage the group to enjoy the experience.

Final Section of the 200 ft. rappel

After the group was in the canyon we began navigating through the slot with several rappels of various lengths. There is one section where we had to jump into the cold water up to our waist and wade through before making it out to the other end. There is a section just after the water that is extremely picturesque with all the rappels lined up in a row. All this while surrounded by an amazing streaked wall of sandstone soaring a thousand feet up above. 

Tapestry Wall

As we moved through the canyon each person was becoming more and more comfortable with the rappels. The final rappel was special, and even though it was over 150 ft., it is so smooth and fun it was one of the best of the day. 

The final day of the program was a great hike down to the River. The hike traveled through a narrow slot canyon, without any rappels, and made its way out to the River. 

The trip was fantastic and we wanted to thank all the participants for an amazing effort throughout each day. We are looking forward to seeing you all again on a future program.

If you are interested in canyoneering in Los Angeles or canyoneering in the remote canyons of northern Arizona, The Southern Terrain would love to share their passion for this region with you. Please visit our website at www.thesouthernterrain.com or give is a call on our office line + 1 (858) 356-9411. You can also e-mail is directly at info@thesouthernterrain.com. 

Until next time this is TST signing off.

Last Rap

The Kellogg LEX Team

LA County Canyoneering

The Southern Terrain and Epic USA just spent an incredible weekend Canyoneering for two days with a group of great friends from the travel industry.  The most amazing part of the adventure was that we only had to commute less than two hours from our office to have all this fun in some canyons that are located in Southern California just 20 minutes East of Los Angeles.  


We began the adventure on Saturday morning with a group of 7 of us on a beautiful Southern California day with plenty of sunshine.  The steep 2 mile hike up into the canyon quickly rewards us with a view of the surrounding hills and canyons and a glimpse at the city.  As we hike on we begin to see the canyon we will navigate today and the sound of it's many waterfalls.


About an hour into our adventure we cross the main ridge and begin heading down into the canyon and towards the creek that cuts through it.  Everyone is very excited as we put on our harnesses and helmets and begin wading and sliding down through the canyon.  The cool water feels great after working up a sweat hiking to the top of the canyon.  After a bit of hiking, wading, sliding and down climbing we begin the first of many rappels of the day down a running water fall and into a nice pool.



It's great to hear the joyful screams and yells as people slide into pools and lower themselves off of the top of 50 foot drops on a rope descending towards the next obstacle in the canyon.  Everyone is amazed by how beautiful the trees, rocks and water is and even more stunned that we're just a stone's throw from the most popluated area in the U.S.  After about a mile of rappels, waterfalls and pools we find a nice sunny spot to have a great picnic lunch and warm up a bit.

We move on and tackle the second half of this canyon which rewards us with 3 more tall waterfalls and several smaller rappels along with plenty of sliding, splashing and wading.  The day ends with a bit of boulder hopping and a short walk back to our cars.  It certainly was a day full of friends, fun and lots of adventure and now we're ready to tackle the next canyon.   There are many more canyons to explore in this area and we can't wait to have more fun in them.


Thanks for following our adventures,


The Southern Terrain
info@tstadventures.com
858-356-9411

Catalina Island Hike & Kayak Adventure

 

View from the Trans Catalina Trail

The Southern Terrain recently returned from as three day two night hiking and kayaking adventure to Catalina Island. This Island getaway was highlighted with great people, plenty of buffalo, amazing weather and a close encounter with a pod of dolphin.



Catalina Island Kayaking

 

Departing on the helicopter from Long Beach for a short scenic 15 minute ride is a great way to start the trip. This particular crossing was enhanced with two Grey whale sightings along the way. The group arrived into Catalina Island ready to tackle the 7 miles of hiking beginning high on the island's peaks. The Island boats a peak elevation of 2,103 feet with Mt. Orizaba looking over the airport in the sky. We began hiking from Blackjack Campground and traversed the mountain ridge along the spectacular Trans Catalina Trail.

Along the hike we came across several buffalo graving in the fields. These giant animals were left behind when filming the movie "The Vanishing American" and now call Catalina Island home. We made it to camp with plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine of Little Harbor Beach and concluded the evening with an amazing chicken burrito dinner with a nice glass of wine.





Campsite at Rippers Cover



The following morning we set off on the Trans Catalina Trail towards Two Harbors, which was hosting the annual beer festival, on a 4.5 mile hike across Catalina Island's coastal trails. We arrived to Two Harbors for lunch and loaded into our kayaks to begin the second leg of our journey. Paddling down the coast we were offered amazing views of the island and it was clear enough to see all the way to the mainland. When we arrived at camp we had our tents set up and enjoyed the afternoon on the beach with snacks, swimming and plenty of great stories from the kayaking.






Rippers Cove



Our final day started at 8:45 am as we began out paddle further down the coast back to Avalon.  We stopped over at Long Point Beach for a chance to relax and enjoy the warm weather. The sun came out early on our last day and just as it broke a pod of over 50 dolphins playing in the water were breaching directly in front of the kayak. We paddled the remaining few miles back to Avalon with a stopover at Willow Cove for lunch.



This was an amazing expedition with a great group of people. We enjoyed spending time with you and look forward to seeing you again in the future.



If you are interested in our Catalina Island Hike and Kayak adventure please give us a call on (858) 356-9411 or send us an e-mail at info@thesouthernterrain.com. You can also view this program on our website at: Catalina Hike & Kayak.

Thanks for following our adventures!

The Southern Terrain

Fall Rock Climbing Promotion

Get outside this fall and come climbing with The Southern Terrain, great special for a 4 hour session only $45.00!!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Fall-Rock-Climbing-Special.html?soid=1103577314891&aid=yo5WPq_T5a4

Catalina Island

Have you always wanted to get out and explore the magnificent Catalina island? Now's your chance to spend 3 days kayaking and navigating the island at a excellent discount. Check out the link below.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Last-Minute-Catalina-Island-Deal.html?soid=1103577314891&aid=0atnZ3UHe18

Mt Rainier Climb 2011

The Southern Terrain recently completed a climb of Mt Rainier just outside of Seattle, WA. It was a great trip with a n even better team. the trip began out of Seattle, WA when we all met at the airport Starbucks to talk shop and exchange information on our newest piece of gear. 

We loaded up our gear into a 12 passenger van and made our way to the mountain. we stopped off at a great diner just before the park and talked about the climb and what was in store for us over the next 24 hours. 

Our first day on the trail had us winding up past White River all the way to Glacier Basin camp where we had the lunch. We continued up through the glacial moraine and found ourselves at our first camp called Inter Glacier Camp. we dug out the snow and built shelter for the night.
The following morning we had coffee made from a french press to go with bagels, cream cheese, and MRE's. We proceeded up the glacier to Camp Curtis for lunch before we traversed across Steamboat Prowl and down into camp Sherman. We prepped for the night and ate a hearty dinner as we all looked up at the summit in anticipation of what was to come.

Summit through John's eyes

3 AM came and we boiled hot water and ate oats before leaving at 5:00 AM for the summit. The sky was clear and everyone was feeling good as we pushed through the corridor and on up into the Emmons Glacier. We slowed gained elevation and by 1:00 PM everyone stepped up to the summit with plenty of cheers, photos, and congratulations. We slowly meandered our way back to camp Sherman for a well deserved meal and small glass of wine.

Once we made it back to Seattle we cleaned up and had an amazing dinner. The night was capped off with awards handed out to each person.

Check out our website to find out more about our adventure programs at www.thesouthernterrain.com.

Kevin

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-The-Southern-Terrain.html?soid=1103577314891&aid=FQ1uOVw99NQ

February news from The Southern Terrain

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-The-Southern-Terrain.html?soid=1103577314891&aid=FQ1uOVw99NQ

Climbing To The Roof of The Americas

We always strive to provide the highest level of service and technology for our clients and in doing this we have recently begun carrying a real time online computer that updates via text and pictures of our status on our expeditions. 

To see how the group is progression or just to check in on the weather click the link below starting January 9th for hourly updates.  You can even fly in and see the route we're taking to the summit.

http://www.thesouthernterrain.com/mysite/Contacrt5%20Trip%20Link.htm

Climbing Higher on Aconcagua, follow us daily

Follow us as we summit the roof of the Americas, Aconcagua.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Southern-Terrain-Climbs-Aconcagua.html?soid=1103577314891&aid=-DDQCCNljig

TST Promotes Rock Climbing

Today marks the day that we officially (courtesy of GroupOn) begin the promotion of our Inland Empire (Riverside County) rock climbing site.  We are really excited as a company to continue growing our rock climbing program and now be able to extend it outside of San Diego County.  If you live in Southern California but possibly outside of San Diego County you definitely need to check out this site that has amazing rock, long moderate routes and incredible views of Lake Perris and bald eagles.  Climbing at Big Rock


We thank all of our clients locally, domestically and internationally for supporting us and allowing our business to experience growth.  

The Southern Terrain

info@thesouthernterrain.com

858-356-9411

Good Morning Southern Californians,


First off thanks to all our wonderful clients out there that have climbed with us over the Summer and Fall and for those that purchased more climbing through promotions over the past few months.  


Our long awaited and slightly delayed launch of the Inland Empire Rock climbing GroupOn promotion is finally set to launch on Friday December 10th and run straight through the weekend.  Check it out here http://bit.ly/aVkOWo as early as 12 am on Friday to climb at the impressive Big Rock.  We will be offering our 4 hour session for $55 which is over 50% off.  For those of you in San Diego it may be a bit of a drive (close to an hour) but if you're up for something new it's an awesome place to climb for all ability levels.

Big Rock is also one of the closest and best places to climb for those that live in Orange County and the LA area so keep that in mind.  We will be scheduling sessions there as early as next weekend so book now.  

Publish Post

Till Next time

Andrew Roberts

andrew.roberts@thesouthernterrain.com

858.880.5220

TST Rock Climbing Promotions

Yup so we've gotten kind of slack with the blogger posts but we've had an abnormally busy fall season and we're not about to complain about it.  Rock climbing has been busy every weekend, we've run several Canyoneering trips and Kevin and myself spent 3 days in Joshua Tree updating all of our AMGA qualifications to keep our skills top notch.  Plus it was a great excuse to do some climbing in the amazing climbing mecca of J-Tree with one of the rock legends Bob Gaines.

We've got an extremely busy few weeks coming up to close out 2010 with a bang and provide our clients excuses to get off their couches during the winter and spring of 2011 and spend some time with TST on local crags in Southern California.  Starting on Tuesday November 30th we will run a 3 day promotion with Groupon on their holiday website (Groupalicious) for climbing in Mission Trails and Dixon Lake for $55 (Groupalicious Link).  If you've climbed with us before come out again and we'll take you on different routes or use this as a good excuse to climb at a new area in North County on the beautiful Dixon Lake.  

We will also officially debut our newest climbing site in the Inland Empire at Big Rock on Lake Perris on December 13th.  We'll be offering the same deal there on the Inland Empire Groupon so check it out if you're interested.  Also keep in mind a TST gift certificate is a great Christmas present so inquire about one today.

Ok that's the end of my marketing spiel I promise I'll lace the next blog with some extra exciting adventure that we are in the middle of.  Till then take care

Andrew

andrew.roberts@thesouthernterrain.com

858.880.5220

www.thesouthernterrain.com