Jeffrey Donenfeld

Tag: camping

Climbing Grays and Torreys Peaks in Early Season Snow – 14,278 feet

Fall colors in Colorado are beautiful – and what better vantage point than the top of 2 Colorado 14ers. This weekend, I did the Fall 14er adventure and climbed with a group of friends to the tops of Grays and Torreys Peaks. (USGS Topo Quad)

Wikipedia:

“Grays Peak is the tenth highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the U.S. state of Colorado. The prominent 14,278-foot (4,352 m) fourteener is the highest summit of the Front Range and the highest point on the Continental Divide in North America. (There are higher summits, such as Mount Elbert, which are near, but not on, the Divide.) Grays Peak is located in Arapahoe National Forest, 3.9 miles (6.2 km) southeast by east (bearing 122°) of Loveland Pass on the Continental Divide between Clear Creek and Summit counties. The peak is the highest point in both counties.”

Cooking and lighting with the Biolite, with the rest of our camping toys strewn about

Fresh coffee in the morning.

Kevin enjoying fresh morning coffee from the Stanley Stacking Vacuum Pint before a late-fall ascent of Grays and Torreys peaks.

Fueling up for our climb..

Our first de-layering stop. Things heat up as soon as the sun comes over the mountain.

Morning light…

Kevin taking a quick break…

Selfies!

As we ascended higher, the snow began to creep in a little…

Approaching the summit ridge of Grays Peak

Lunch at the top

We made it to the top!

Jumping for joy at the top of Torreys

Jumping for joy at the top of Torreys

Shooting mountain photos with the Lytro Illum

Descending Torreys in the light snow.

On our descent, we encountered a beautiful white mountain goat.

2015-10-20
Apple Picking and Camping Weekend 2013
The annual Apple Picking Trip. This is a new year tradition that originally started in my family when I was a kid – my family would go with another family over to Kentucky to pick apples and hang out on the farm. Since I moved to NYC, I’ve been keeping the tradition up with an ever growing group of good friends.

This year we headed up to New Paltz for the fun. Everybody drove separately, instead of in a big van like last year. This made planning for me much easier. Our first stop of the day was lunch on the back patio of Bacchus Restaurant in New Paltz – always a great place to go, with a large menu of both food and beer, and a super friendly and fun local staff. They always treat us right!

Next stop, Minard Farms, and the requisite Apple Cider Donuts to start off.

A quick hay ride gets us out to the orchard.

And then we pick apples.

Every year, Nick and I take this same picture of us juggling apples.
https://instagram.com/p/fGNc0YBRbv/

After apples, we go down the road to the pumpkin patch.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/10164511384/in/set-72157636343566885

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/10164797053/in/set-72157636343566885
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/10164761306/in/set-72157636343566885

Dinner was at The Gilded Otter Brewpub, the defacto place to go for dinner with friends in New Paltz. They serve great flights of beers brewed on site, and have tasty pub food.

And then for camping. This year it was raining a little bit, but we still had a great time playing games around the campfire in the rain. We camped at the Multi Use Area, always a favorite.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/10164830376/in/set-72157636343566885

Past apple picking trips:
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2005
- 2001
2013-10-09
Trekking Into The Laotian Mountains To Live With The Hmong Hilltribes

While in Laos, I also did a bit of trekking in the mountains. Luang Prabang is a beautiful town, and is situated on the edge of the northern Laotian mountains, making it an excellent starting point for incredible trekking. I joined up with two friends, and together the three of us, as well as our local Hmong guide from White Elephant Adventures trekked up into the mountains.

View Larger Map

On the first day, the four of us hopped in the back of a covered pickup truck in Luang Prabang, and set off on the road to the mountains. About an hour into the drive, we were stopped temporarily by Laos

Finally walking after our truck ride. The walk into the mountains was beautiful, and we got to cross a few hand made, seasonal bamboo bridges. The bridges are only present during the dry season, and are swept away every year by the monsoon season floods.

As we passed through villages, we met lots of villagers and their kids. Although the people are very poor, they

Continuing on, we passed through a number of large rubber tree plantations.

The bark of the tree is cut in a diagonal pattern, and a tap is inserted at the base of the cut, funneling the rubber sap into a cup.

We passed through beautiful and rugged jungles, with steep cliffs looming overhead. The scenery here is incredible.

After an easy 7 hour hike, we made it to our stopping point for the evening, and immediately fell in with meeting the locals and relaxing.

I also helped feed the pigs!

In the evening, we sat around a single candle and discussed the locals way of life, and listened to the sounds of the surrounding jungle.

The next morning, an early wakeup in a beautiful setting, and then a quick 4 hour hike to the river.

At the river, we loaded our backpacks into kayaks, and set off down the river for a smooth arrival back in Luang Prabang.

At the river, we loaded our backpacks into kayaks, and set off down the river for a smooth arrival back in Luang Prabang.

Overal, the trip was way too short, but a great intro to the hill tribe life, given the time I had. White Elephant Tours did a great jobs, and I’d certainly recommend them for future travelers. Additionally, it’s worth noting that I took a few hours upon my return to sit with the White Elephant guide staff and give them a quick field medicine overview. I was happy to be teaching some of my W-EMT skills in Laos!

Next… Hanoi

2013-05-29
Tramping at Arthurs Pass, New Zealand

After returning from work in Antarctica, I immediately started the off-ice adventuring. Despite needing a bit of a break back in civilization, I decided to go with astrophysiscists Eric Leitch and Kyle Story on a quick 3 day backpacking trip up at Arthurs Pass, a short distance away from Christchurch.

Figuring out our driving route from in front of the United States Antarctic Program Clothing Distrubution Center up to Arthurs Pass

Getting outta town, on our way up to the mountains.

Strangely, we found a giant donut on the side of the road.

Driving up…

Photocopies of the tramping guide from lonely planet. We also has proper topo maps.

Day one

The late summer growth was amazing, lots of hues of green and brown set against the crumbling piles of rock.

Our first night, arriving at Hamilton Hut.

Dinner at Hamilton Hut – pasta, peperoni, veggies, cheese, “drinking chocolate”.

Dinner.. so good.

Making a double boiler for the drinking chocolate, and the chocolate covered cherries.

“drinking chocolate”, me,

Morning, tooth brushing and reading interesting magazines about the big bang.

Hamilton Hut, our home for one night.

Wire Brige

Descending back down to the valley.

Our final night’s hut, which we shared with two through-hikers and a biker.

Bouldering at Castle Hill

Kyle Story bouldering at Castle Hill.

Dinner at Burgers and Beers in Christchurch with friends

A few pics of our tramping…

Outside the United States Antarctic Program CDC building, Kyle and Erik figure out where we’re going..

Finally, in the mountains

Finding a giant Donut. Strangely, I know where another one of these is, on top of a donut shop right outside of the Burbank Airport.

Setting off

For our night out in the field, we slept at Hamilton Hut, which is very well maintained and comfy. Map Link.

The second day, we hiked back out of the park, and stayed at another hut just near the road.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8506556288/in/set-72157632847822861

Day three, Bouldering at Castle Hill

And of course, burgers and fries in the evening.

2013-02-27
Camping at Black Bridge, Delaware River, Pennsylvania

This friday, Dana, Victor and I decided to get out of NYC and go for a quick camping trip at Black Bridge, a secret location we know at the Delaware River. A few pics and videos shot on my great Sony RX100.

2012-09-15
Sunset at Alta Lakes

Videoblog today, from Alta Lakes, outside of Telluride, Colorado.

Alta Lakes Videoblog on YouTube

2011-09-24