The Southern Terrain Blog

Avalanche Safety and Back-country Skills

2012-01-23T16:47:00.000-08:00

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 crowdsmakes backcountry skiing and boarding an ideal way to create that pictureperfect day. On a recent trip to the Chilean Andes with The Southern Terrain we had the amazingopportunity to snow cat ski some of the most remote regions of the country andexperience 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 possiblythe greatest day of powder anyone has ever had. While our experience wassurreal, all too often the results of backcountry exploration end inunfortunate situations.

Each year, avalanches claim more than 150 lives worldwide, andthousands more are caught in avalanches partly buried or injured. With theamount 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 theseimportant safety precautions and instructions when entering into avalancheprone areas. Particularly, how to test for avalanche conditions, what to do ifyou are caught in an avalanche as well as proper rescue techniques.

How to Determine a SafeSnowpack

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

Snowpits

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

Shear tests

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

When conducting these tests throughout the day, payattention to the slope angle. Most avalanches occur on slopes between 30 and 45degrees, but can occur on any slope angles given the right conditions. You canmeasure the slope angle with an inclinometer, or you can "eyeball" itby dangling a ski pole by the strap and estimating the angle. Layers that seemstrong 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 ofa person. You can test this by standing or jumping on the uphill edge of thesnowpit, but only if you already know the snowpack is stable after conducting ashear test.

Getting Caught in aSlide

When you realize you are caught in a slide yell and try to letgo 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 ofthe snow. When an avalanche comes to a stop the snow can set, and become ashard as cement, and unless you are on the surface, it is almost impossible todig yourself out. If you are fortunate enough to end up near the surface, tryto 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 airpocket 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 isone 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 isimportant to hold your breath before hand as you may not be able to breatheafter the snow compacts around you.

Above all, do not panic. Keeping your breathing steady willhelp preserve your air space and extend your survival chances. If you remaincalm, 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 particularattention to the point at which you last saw them. After the avalanche appearsto have finished and settled, wait a minute or two and observe the slopecarefully to make sure there is no further avalanche danger. If some dangerdoes still exist, post one member of your party in a safe location away fromthe avalanche path to alert you if another avalanche falls.

Begin looking for clues on the surface beginning with thepoint where they were last seen. As you move down the slope, kick over anylarge chunks of snow that may reveal clues. Since equipment and items ofclothing may have been pulled away from a victim during an avalanche, they maynot indicate their exact location, but can help determine the direction theavalanche carried them. Mark these spots as you come across them. Once thevictim is found, it is critical to unbury them as quickly as possible. Survivalchances decrease rapidly depending on how long a victim remains buried. Treatthem for any injuries, shock, or hypothermia if necessary.

For those using probes, begin at the point the victim waslast seen at, and stand in a straight line across the slope, standing shoulderto shoulder. Repeatedly insert the probes as you move down slope in a line. Payparticular attention to shallow depressions in the slope and the uphill sidesof rocks and trees, since these are terrain traps where they may have beenburied.

When venturing into the backcountry be sure to have all thenecessary equipment, check the local weather report, and notify the authoritiesof where you will be going. Above all be safe and enjoy the places you’veworked 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

2011-12-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-19T11:59:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-25T13:42:00.001-08:00

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

2011-10-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-15T23:22:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-31T10:50:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

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

2011-02-18T17:40:00.000-08:00

February news from The Southern Terrain

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

2011-01-13T20:56:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

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

TST Promotes Rock Climbing

2010-12-10T17:42:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-29T19:29:00.000-08:00

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

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Happy-Thanksgiving-from-The-Southern-Terrain.html?soid=1103577314891&aid=CLhuWHRGgaY

2010-11-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from The Southern Terrain

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Happy-Thanksgiving-from-The-Southern-Terrain.html?soid=1103577314891&aid=CLhuWHRGgaY

Inland Empire Rock Climbing Promotion November 20th

2010-11-15T21:54:00.001-08:00

****UPDATE, GROUPON HAS CHANGED THE PROMOTION DATE STAYED TUNED, SHOULD BE THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER****

First off I'd like to tell everyone to check out our newly redesigned rock climbing web pages that we have up that now include the sites of Lake Dixon in North County San Diego and Big Rock in the Inland Empire on Lake Perris. So on a slow day at work go here and tool around a little http://bit.ly/afXqWy also read about our two newest rock guides.

In addition to offering 20% off if you mention reading this post on climbing at both of these new sites we are also launching another Groupon Rock Climbing promotion on November 19th that will run for 3 days. This first promotion will be on the Inland Empire page http://bit.ly/aVkOWo and will be for 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.

Also keep an eye out for Groupon's holiday specials that will begin running after Thanksgiving, we will be featured the first week of December for a week with rock climbing deals for both Mission Trails and Dixon Lake. Stay tuned I'll post more information as the date comes closer.

So check out our pages, buy some climbing sessions and attack the Groupon offer and we'll be seeing you on the rock soon.

+Andrew

andrew.roberts@thesouthernterrain.com

858-880-5220

The Ring of Fire Volcanoes via #constantcontact

2010-11-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

Volcanoes, Canyons and Rock yup it's all in there, check out the news.

The Ring of Fire Volcanoes via #constantcontact

Mt. Kilimanjaro 201

2010-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

To all of you devote followers, there's probably only 2 or 3, here is an incredible video from one of our summit teams in September up Mount Kilimanjaro. It's hard to say what's more exhilarating the feeling of being on top of Africa, the 3 different ecosystems you travel through to summit or the culture and people you meet and are exposed to on the way.

Our luxury and base adventure trips up Kili are the best in the business, with our training plans and guide to client ratio we give you the best chance of making it to the summit. The best part is you'll have great meals, facilities and entertaining all the way up. Enjoy the video and when you decide you want to summit one of the great 7 summits just think about The Southern Terrain.

San Diego County Canyoneering

2010-11-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

After some careful reading, heavy analysis of topo maps, looking at pictures and trip reports I planned a two day excursion out into the deserts of Northeastern San Diego County to scout for some local Canyoneering. Everything in the Anza-Borrego desert East of Julian looked pretty intense and some of the canyons looked very tempting so I talked Joshua into jumping in the car with me and heading out for some exploring.

I'm not sure how many of you have been to this area but wow what a change you see as you leave the forested mountain ecosystem of Julian and descend into the desert of Anza-Borrego park. It's a great drive on the 78 and I highly recommend it as a great 1 or 2 day get away from city life. You immediate feel very desolate but at the same time you're surrounded by mountains, valleys cliffs and lots and lots of sand. It's amazing that all of this used to be the ocean floor and if you look in the right areas you can even find seashells and some of the most preserved fossils in the world.


Elephants Knees

So after a short drive out of Julian we headed to our first site we wanted to scout out and were very impressed at what there is to offer. What's a better way to start your day then a 150 foot rappel off a sandstone cliff?

After a couple mile drive up a very impressive wash where you're passing wind caves, hills and mud cliffs you come to a canyon that was as awesome as we had hoped. This unnamed canyon is going to offer us to build an incredible trip with several rappels down into it and a very exciting hike through and out the end.

This was just our first day and I was pretty excited about what this region has to offer. We explored several more canyons on the second day and will be finalizing this trip by the end of this year. Beginning in the Spring of 2011 TST will begin offering 1 and 2 day Canyoneering trips to Anza-Borrego Canyons. We will also be offering an overnight backpacking trip that will start in the highlands near Julian and Lake Cuyamaca and descend into a stunning canyon on the backside of the desert.

Stay tuned to the website for updates, the Canyoneering of San Diego County will be a great warm up trip for anyone wanting to explore the Grand Canyon with us. Fun times ahead

-Andrew
andrew.roberts@thesouthernterrain.com
858.880.5220

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings" John Muir

Out of The Office in Big Rock Lake Perris

2010-10-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

In the day to day hustle of running a company things continuously come up and it seems like you never have time to sit back and enjoy what you're doing. Over the past few months Kevin and myself have tried to start spending at least one day away from the office and guiding to go out and explore something new, something exciting and something that has potential to offer to our clients.

This is very difficult to do at times but we've been successful over the past few weeks at finding some pretty sweet climbing spots to take clients and even corporate groups for team building activities. This past Friday we took a hunch from one of our guides Joshua and headed up to Riverside County to an amazing area that looks out over Lake Perris. We walked the 3/4 of a mile to the site and the clouds had everything socked in pretty good as we began getting gear sorted and putting on harnesses. As we began climbing so did the clouds and the sun poked out revealing an amazing view of the lake and a lone bald eagle keeping a watch on us as we ascended the 200 foot high rock face.

After a few warm up climbs, Joshua and Josh (yup confusing huh?) began up on a multi-pitch climb followed by Kevin and myself. This was my first time back climbing since having major hip re-constructive surgery so I was slightly hesitant but extremely happy with the results by the end of the day. We had a killer climb up with a nice traverse followed by another awesome crack climb. We ended the day with a sweet 120 foot rappel down.

So enough about all the fun we had at Big Rock on Friday and on to what all you guys want to hear about. After our exploratory climbing session we've decided to move forward and establish a program here. This will be a great opportunity for anyone from North County San Diego, Orange County, LA County and Riverside County to do some amazing climbing. Big Rock offers very long but moderate routes that will be great for every skill level. Within the next two weeks look for this to show up on our website (http://bit.ly/a50ASC) for climbing sessions and also private instruction will be offered. The same rates will apply as for the other sites we climb at and we will provide all necessary equipment and instruction.

On a side note, we're going to make a commitment to blog at least once a week so stay tuned......

Andrew

andrew.roberts@thesouthernterrain.com

858.880.5220

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via #constantcontact

2010-10-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

Follow what's going on with The Southern Terrain in October. Read our Adventure news,

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via #constantcontact

Rock Climbing San Diego Promotion

2010-09-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

On Thursday September 23rd make sure to visit Living Social San Diego (www.livingsocial.com) to catch an incredible deal for a 4 hour rock climbing session from The Southern Terrain. You can grab a place in a group for half the price ($50) of a normal session so grab one on Thursday and meet us on the rock.

Grand Canyoneering in Arizona

2010-09-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

After a really busy summer for The Southern Terrain with multiple summits of Mt. Whitney, Mt. Kilimanjaro and lots of local rock climbing in San Diego we are all back and ready for a busy Fall. Our Fall season brings on trips to Catalina Island for kayaking and hiking and trips to Northern Arizona for Canyoneering adventures.

Since it's a good time to go Canyoneering Adventure 16 has once again graciously invited us into their stores for presentations on this great sport and also to talk about the trips we run. We've developed an exciting program where we will go through the sport of Canyoneering. This presentation will highlight several of the great areas in California, Utah and Arizona that are excellent places for canyon exploring.

The most critical part of Canyoneering is knowing what equipment is required and how to use it safely. We will go through all the equipment and have a hands on session involved various knots that are used where the audience can learn and practice these knots on pieces of cord and webbing. The final section of our presentation will go through the itinerary we've created for our trips and conclude with a short video showing the incredible canyons that we are set up to take you to.

If this sounds like something you'd like to learn more about or if you just want to see some awesome pictures and videos of the amazing canyons in the U.S. clear your schedule next week depending on which store is most convenient for you. The Southern Terrain will be presenting in the West LA store on Tuesday September 21st at 7 pm, the Oceanside store on Wednesday September 22 at 7 pm and the San Diego store on Thursday September 23 at 7 pm. The presentation will last about an hour with plenty of time to ask questions and learn everything you want to know about this exciting sport. For more information visit A16's website page for the event here
Hope to see you guys there!!

To The Summit of Aconcagua via #constantcontact

2010-09-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Make sure to read our September Adventure news, there's a lot going on for The Southern Terrain so join in on the action.

To The Summit of Aconcagua via #constantcontact

Grand Canyoneering via @constantcontact

2010-08-03T23:28:00.000-07:00

Check out our August Newsletter, lot's of good stuff in there.

Grand Canyoneering via @constantcontact

The Southern Terrain Teams up With Adventure 16

2010-06-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

The Southern Terrain has recently began working in a partnership with the locally based San Diego company Adventure 16 (www.adventure16.com), a leader in providing outdoor clothing and equipment to adventure enthusiasts. One of the goals of A16 is to provide their customers with opportunities to learn about local, domestic and international adventure tours and this is where TST comes into the picture.

Starting in the month of July Kevin and Andrew will visit several Adventure 16 stores to do informative presentations on different adventure locations that we have experienced. These are informative sessions that go over the history of the area, tips on how to get there, and information on "must dos" when you do arrive at your destination. With our experience in taking clients to these locations we have learned all the details and the best way to make your trip worthwhile whether you use us as your guide or go on your own.

The first dates that we have lined up with Adventure 16 are July 6th and July 8th. On Tuesday our presentation will be at the San Diego A16 and on Thursday we will be presenting at the Oceanside location. All presentations in July are about Catalina Island and will start at 6:30 pm with a happy hour hosted by Redwood Creek followed by our presentation at 7:00 pm. This is a great opportunity to come into the store relax with a glass of wine and find out more about the amazing Catalina Island and the Trans Catalina Trail.

After the presentation there will be plenty of time available to ask questions about Catalina and also how TST can help get you there. If you have any questions or comments about other trips that we can offer this is also an opportunity to ask. We really look forward to strengthening this alliance with A16 and each month stay tuned for more presentations in their stores.

To see all the details and directions to A16 look HERE
To find out more about our Catalina Trips look HERE

Grand Canyoneering

2010-04-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

The Southern Terrain recently returned from an amazing adventure through the canyons of northern Arizona. We have some great images to share with everyone. The group enjoyed a beautiful day through Tapestry Canyon with a 200 foot rappel into the heart of the canyon. We continued through the canyon reaching the water section. The group, being very athletic, was able to avoid all the water except for the final section when everyone dipped in and experienced the chill of canyon water.

After making it through the canyon we reached the Colorado River where we had a great lunch set up on the banks in the sand. We loaded into the kayaks and started on our 10 mile paddle. We paddled through the canyon enjoying the scenery aiming to make it all the way back to Lee's Ferry before sunset. The group was strong and paddled the entire length in a record time of 2.5 hours.

We concluded the day with ribs and baked potatoes for dinner at the Cliff Dweller Lodge. The following morning we packed up our gear and headed cross country to South Canyon and the less travelled "UPS" route. This remote trail is the ideal way to see the canyon and find yourself in complete solitude. Congratulations to a wonderful group.

To learn more about this program click on the link below:

Grand Canyoneering Experience

Aconcagua 2010

2010-03-08T10:15:00.000-08:00

The Southern Terrain recently returned from a world class expedition to Cerro Aconcagua. The climb started in Mendoza, Argentina a fabulous city renowned for its malbec wines and cuts of beef it offers a perfect launching pad for climbing the highest peak in North and South America. Our climb took us from Mendoza to Penitentes to stage our equipment and begin acclimatizing. The team ascended to Confluencia Camp where our mountain experience started with first class service and spectacular views. We were welcomed with a full moon on our second night and perfect weather for viewing the awe inspiring south Face.

We made the long trek to base camp, Plaza de Mulas, and spent the next four days continueing to acclimatize by hiking the 16,000 ft. Cerro Bonete.

We made our first camp at Canada and used one of our weather days there due to extremely high winds and snow. The following day we hiked too Nido de Condores and spent the next day resting there. With a limited weather window we decided to make our summit bid from Nido de Condores and left at 4:00am. The day gave us perfect weather and we made our summit at 3:00pm. We slowly descended back to base camp where we enjoyed dinner and a well deserved rest.

This was a great expedition with amazing people!!!!

Check out the trip here:

http://www.thesouthernterrain.com/mysite/Adventure%20Details/Aconcagua%20Flyer.html

Article on Race Raiser

2010-01-11T14:14:00.000-08:00

How can I help raise money for charities by participating in athletic events or competitions? This was the question on the mind of Johnny Lincoln, founder of Race Raiser, before he created a unique way for athletes to support both local and national charitable organizations. During a long training run for the Carlsbad Half Marathon the concept of race Raiser was developed whereby creating a forum connecting athletes with nonprofits that would enable them to raise funds any time they race. Eight months later the concept has spawned into an online community of racers with the goal of supporting their chosen charity. As an avid racer himself Johnny understood the importance of having goals that can be worked towards and the impact of a uniting experience such as a marathon, mud run or a triathlon can provide........

READ THE FULL ARTCLE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

http://www.thesouthernterrain.com/mysite/Media/Green%20Articles%20Competitor/Sept%202009.pdf

January 2010 Newsletter

2010-01-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! The Southern Terrain has introduced several new and exciting programs for 2010 including hiking and kayaking on Catalina Island and kayaking with Killer Whales in British Columbia.

Check out our January newsletter for upcoming programs and photo galleries. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter please e-mail info@thesouthernterrain.com.

http://www.dtownproductions.com/TST/jan2010slices/Jan2010.html

http://www.thesouthernterrain.com/
p. 858.356.9411
e. info@thesouthernterrain.com

Grand Canyoneering October 2009

2009-11-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

We just returned from a great weekend up in the canyons with superb weathern and an even better group of people. Here are a few of the images from the trip:

This program is three days two nights in the remote canyons of northern Arizona. We will hike, kayak, rappel and canyoneer through spectacular slot canyons only few have ever travelled before. This is a great trip for all ages and is great for long weekend getaways with family and friends.

The Southern Terrain's Grand Canyoneering program will be run in the spring for 2010 from late April to early June. These programs are all inclusive from the moment you arrive in Page, AZ and you are escorted with the highest quality guides in the area. The camping on the river's edge is comfortable and accomodating with bathrooms and plenty of space to relax and enjoy the view.

Please check out our website http://www.thesouthernterrain.com/ for specific 2010 program dates.

Kilimanjaro 2009

2009-10-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

The Southern Terrain offers privately guided luxury climbs up Mt. Kilimanjaro. We take the conservative Machame route allowing ample acclimating time as well as a more scenic approach. We take your safety and security on the mountain as our top priority by checking daily oxygen saturation levels as well as provide doctors on specific climbs. Please check out our recent video from our June 2009 climb or go to our website at http://www.thesouthernterrain.com/.

Grand Canyoneering September 2009

2009-10-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Southern Terrain recently completed a Grand Canyoneering program exploring the remote canyons of northern Arizona. The program stages out of Page, AZ where The Southern Terrain's guides meet you before beginning the program in Matchbox Canyon.

The second day begins with a hike to Horseshoe Bend before heading off the beaten path into an exclusive canyon known as Tapestry Canyon. Our first rappel drops us 200 feet into the canyon beginning our full day of rappelling all the way to the Colorado River. Our final rappel drops us onto the sand of the river where our kayaks are ready for a short paddle to camp.

Our final day involves a 9 mile float / paddle down the Colorado River with a brief stop for lunch on the beach. It was a privilege to have 3 wonderful ladies who were excited and enthusiastic the entire time. To see the video from this program please go to http://www.thesouthernterrain.com/.

Mt Whitney July 2009

2009-07-20T04:32:00.000-07:00

Hello,

We just completed a 4 day hike of Mt. Whitney with a group through the Cottonwood Pass. It was a great hike with a fantastic group. The images posted are from various days on the trail.

Kevin

Mt Whitney July 2009

2009-07-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

After a tough hike from Cottonwood we continued to Timberline Lake.