Author Archives: kaylene

Visiting Mount Rushmore with Kids

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Family visit to Mount Rushmore Our summer trip to Wyoming and South Dakota was amazing.  We combined climbing with family time, history, geography, science and more.  When we planned the trip, climbing was the main focus, but hitting some of the National Parks and National Monuments were also a must.  Mount Rushmore is one of those locations that combines both.  There are amazing climbing opportunities in the shadow of the National Monument.  There are also a number of tourist destinations to explore with the kids including the Mt. Rushmore Alpine Slide, gold mines, zip lines, and more.  We opted for … Continue reading →

Hiking New River Gorge with Kids

Twin On Tour Posted on by

We finally made our way back to the New River Gorge in West Virginia for a weekend of climbing.  It has been years (pre kids) since we had been to this area as it seemed to be a bit less kid friendly than other areas that we had been to.  Our ClimbingWeather.com app was showing predictions of snow on Friday night – and it wasn’t far off.  The drive took us eons, especially in the Appalachians with the travel trailer.  We finally arrived at the campsite (Rifrafters.com) at 1:30 in the morning. We parked the travel trailer and worked on … Continue reading →

Tulum, Mexico

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Tulum = Paradise. Think pure white sand, warm turquoise water, good food, and some Mayan ruins thrown in the mix. It’s the complete opposite to the mega-resort of Cancun with it’s eco-friendly and low impact approach – most accommodation is in small cabañas made from local materials with no air conditioning, surrounded by sand and palm trees. It’s just lovely. We spent three days in Tulum and stayed at Playa Mambo, a small collection of cabañas right on the beach. Our room, Cabaña Verde, had a beautiful view to the beach which was just ten steps away. The owners, Natalia … Continue reading →

Hola México! Experiencing an all-inclusive resort in Cozumel.

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Mexico has been on our bucket list for some time. It started a few years ago when a couple of delicious Mexican restaurants opened up in our hometown, and we have been keen to visit ever since. We had a brain wave that we totally needed a beach holiday before heading into the Canadian winter, and Mexico is just so close and cheap to get to from the US! So we decided to head to Cozumel, Tulum, and Isla Mujeres – all on the Yucatan Peninsula (and just off the coast) and easily accessible from the cheap entry/exit point of … Continue reading →

5 Different Methods of Starting a Fire without Wood

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Some survivalists would say the ability to make a fire is right behind water, food, and shelter when it comes to the most important things in a survival situation. Knowing how to properly build a fire is an essential necessity for survivalists and camping enthusiasts alike, but what if you had to build a fire without wood – would you know how? Is it even possible to build a fire without wood? Yes, it is entirely possible and there are actually quite a few ways to achieve this. Read on to learn the top five ways to build a fire … Continue reading →

Safety Tips for Camping Alone

Twin On Tour Posted on by

We all know that relieving ourselves from the pressure and stress of urban living is an essential thing if we want to live a happy life. Now there are a lot of ways to do that. We can meet with your friends and hang out with them or perhaps bond with our family and go to the movie house. Yes, they’re all good ways to be happy. But nothing compares to the experience of camping all by yourself. Not only does this make you a more confident person, but this also helps you know yourself more. However, doing so comes … Continue reading →

Survive A Thunderstorm When Camping

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Thunderstorms are part of nature testing our grit in the wild. Thunderstorms range from being mild to severe and they have the ability to definitely ruin a camping experience and set you back on backpacking trips as well. Many people have even found themselves stranded in these storms and this could keep them stuck in the location for days at ends. One of the main problems with camping storms is the floods and lightning that is associated with them and most people might not be prepared for dealing with these types of storms. However, with the right skills and tips, … Continue reading →

Top 10 Sights in Asia and the South Pacific

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Angkor Wat Angkor Wat bas relief by Randy Kerr. Cambodia’s Khmer kings dominated things in Cambodia until the early 15th century. Under their aegis, something like 600 Hindu temple complexes were constructed; but as Khmer rule declined, most became hidden beneath thick jungle growth. Rediscovered in 1860, they became a rewarding visit for the ardent traveler – particularly the largest site, Angkor Wat. From 1975 onward, Communist dictator Pol Pot declared Angkor Wat off limits to tourists. That bamboo curtain has since lifted and one of the world’s great prizes is again available to travelers. Ayers Rock Soaring about as … Continue reading →

Climbing Devils Tower and Oregon’s Big Dunes

Twin On Tour Posted on by

CLAW DEVILS TOWER, WYOMING Frank Sanders delivers climbers a true skin-on-rock close encounter when he leads them up Devils Tower, the stumplike rock pillar that vaults 1,267 feet above the prairie in northeastern Wyoming. Half the people who rope up with Sanders have never climbed before; most top out. A weekend climbing package at the Devils Tower Lodge Bed & Breakfast and Wilderness Climbing Retreat ($525 for two nights, including all meals and equipment; www.devilstowerclimbing.com) begins Saturday on the lodge’s indoor climbing wall and progresses to warm-up routes of 50 to 200 feet on the monolith itself. Climbs range from … Continue reading →

Climbing Joshua Tree

Twin On Tour Posted on by

An April journey to Joshua Tree National Park is an annual rite of spring for most West Coast climbers. I just returned from this year’s pilgrimage to southern California’s climbing mecca, and I’m happy to report that J-Tree is still the preeminent church for those who worship at the altar of rock and rope. With great weather most of the year, a myriad of routes and awesome desert scenery, Joshua Tree National Park is the land of milk and honey for crag rats who thrive on great climbing. And April is the most sacred month here. The desert air is … Continue reading →

Antelope Canyon Slot Tours Arizona

Twin On Tour Posted on by

The small crack twisted like a snake on the ground ahead of me, growing a little wider with each wiggling curve. Idly curious, I followed the narrow channel until it widened enough so that I could see into the inky blackness below. My eyes began to adjust to the darkness and I discerned the smooth walls of a narrow sandstone passage. I continued to move forward until the slit in the rock was almost 2 1/2 feet wide. I peered breathlessly into a dazzling underground chamber where seemingly liquid rock flowed downhill, cascading 20 feet into another chamber that was … Continue reading →

Rafting Idaho’s Salmon River

Twin On Tour Posted on by

As I drop into scary looking Half and Half Rapid, the inflatable kayak lurches in the whitewater, forcing me to paddle hard to keep the “rubber ducky” head-on to the bigger standing waves. The Salmon River pummels the little boat with unexpected violence and soaks me with wave after wave, but I manage to keep it upright and more or less going in the right direction, paddling nonstop to maintain control. Focus is the name of the game here. The effort is both challenging and exhilarating, and when suddenly you’re through into calmer water, a lot of fun. There’s whooping … Continue reading →

Climbing the Pacific Northwest

Twin On Tour Posted on by

One of my favorite ways to get in shape is to plan my own Triple Crown. Sometimes there is a theme – such as crack climbing or bouldering. Other times, the Big Three is based on the best a geographic location has to offer. If I want to get into awesome crack shape, the ideal trip is Devils Tower (Wyoming), Veedawoo (Wyoming), and Canyonlands (Utah). In New England, my favorite circuit is the New York Gunks, followed by Cathedral and White Horse Ledges (New Hampshire), and Mt. Rumney (New Hampshire). For bouldering, I’d pick Horsetooth Reservoir (Fort Collins, Colorado), Hueco … Continue reading →

Climbing on California’s Lost Coast

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Northern California Climbing Three day weekends seem to have an air of importance and a sense of urgency. They are long enough to get out on a trip; yet still to short to cover much ground. With a three day weekend quickly approaching plans were laid for a relaxed trip to the Northern California Coast for a sampling of some bouldering on the beach and clipping bolts on beautiful sweeping limestone cliffs. Most climbing trips begin with days of thumbing through guide books, checking weather reports, and compiling a list of climbs you’d like to do. The start to this … Continue reading →

Heaps Canyon: Climbing Southern Utah

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Slot canyons exist all over the world, but there’s nowhere on earth that can match the quantity and quality of the classic slots of Southern Utah. There are two reasons for this – millions of acres of soft sand stone and flowing water. Unlike water flowing over dirt which creates a wider and wider river, when water flows over sandstone it gets deeper and deeper. The classic Zion Narrows slot canyon is one of the easiest and most famous of them all. Cutting through 15 miles of sandstone, the surrounding vertical walls tower hundreds of feet overhead and there are … Continue reading →

Climbing in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Moving through the sandpaper textured holds on the long, steep route called The Return of Chris Snyder; I manage to secure a solid foot placement in a nook the size of a small garbage can on the dramatically overhanging face. Wiggling my legs into the small space, I find a way to rest my arms before the final 40 feet of pocketed climbing. As I hang there and try to catch my breath, I hear echoes of support from my climbing crew on the ground, encouraging me the entire way on my journey upward. The weather here is extremely hot, … Continue reading →

Winter Camping Survival

Twin On Tour Posted on by

In many areas of the US, including much of the Southeast, Southwest and Pacific coast, winter camping is not a drastic departure from camping at any other time of the year. But, in the high country and mountains where snow is bountiful there are a few things you can do to make sure you are comfortable and safe while traveling over and camping on snow. Navigation When going into the field in snowy conditions you must first consider how you are going to travel. If it’s early spring and the snowpack is shallow or hardpacked you might consider just hiking … Continue reading →

Low-Altitude Training for High-Altitude Climbing

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Altitude and Performance Recently, as climbing gyms have boomed, more and more climbers from low elevation areas, are seeking higher grounds and traveling to much higher elevations to climb. Mountains like Orizaba (18,404ft) in Mexico and Mount Rainier (14,411ft) in Washington state are at altitudes where the oxygen pressure is low enough to limit aerobic performance, which is necessary in climbing. Training methods and the problems associated with this type of altitude are of great importance for climbers in these areas because they have to train at such low elevations. Fortunately, there are ways to prepare for this type of … Continue reading →

Best Climbing Gear

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Eagle Creek Load Warrior 30 with Sport Companion When traveling internationally for backcountry adventures, I used to take a 36 inch rolling duffle, and bob’s your uncle: everything you needed in one bag. That won’t work with airline size regulations, so now I use the Eagle Creek Load Warrior 30 inch (that’s the max allowable size for most airlines) wheeled duffel. This rig is so light it gives me substantially more weight for my own gear. I simply put my fully packed backpack right in there, and fill in around with things like hiking boots and trekking poles, and Eagle … Continue reading →

Sunburn-free Climbing

Twin On Tour Posted on by

Indoor climbing gyms are probably the best places to learn to climb, especially when you’re working long days, or battling fickle weather. There’s no worry of falling rock, poison oak, or getting lost, leaving you to concentrate on developing strength, technique and rope work. Later, you can take those basic skills outdoors and apply them to real rock. Artificial climbing walls aren’t quite as abundant as Starbucks, but at last count there are 400 to 500 in the U.S. Look for indoor walls at climbing gyms, health clubs, and schools, as well as cruise ships, amusement parks and fairs. Many … Continue reading →