TheAlterBridgeNation.com

I really want to go get into the sport of climbing, although I don't have a rock-climbing gym close to where I live at the moment... so this is a bit of an issue, haha.

I love taking challenging hikes in the Alps on a regular basis though. Just this past weekend I completed a 10.4 km hike of the Rigi-Kulm (technically not a part of the Alps) with 1358 meters gained in altitude to at the summit at 1798 meters in just over 4 hours as my first hike this season.

My goal for this season is to do more single day 1000+ meter gains over long distances and hopefully find a course on Alpine safety so that I can eventually attack some glacial hikes/high-altitude treks where basic Alpine skills are needed (crevasse rescue, self-arrest, ice-pick technique, etc etc).

I've always been fascinated by climbing, and loved it when I've gotten the chance to do a tiny bit. I live in rural Iowa, so my trails are pretty flat - which is great for biking, but makes for somewhat boring hikes. Ah well, someday.

My family and I hike around state parks a lot.