USA
Why we don’t mourn for daredevil adventurers | Atlas & Boots
In May 2024, I heard news that two hypothermic, frostbitten climbers were stranded near the summit of Denali, North America’s highest mountain. I scanned the reports for detail, but rangers would not release any information other than to say that the climbers were not from the United States. Why my interest? Because Peter, my partner of 14 years, was attempting to summit Denali at that exact same time. The summit rate at that point was a mere 15%, so even if Peter was okay, there was very little chance that he had reached the summit. The post Why we don’t mourn for daredevil adventurers appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
US national parks were created at a cost to Native Americans | Atlas & Boots
Abraham Lincoln has an almost saintly place in US history: the 'Great Emancipator' whose leadership during the Civil War preserved the Union and abolished slavery. Often overlooked among his achievements is legislation he signed in 1864, during the thick of the war, but only marginally related to the conflict. The Yosemite Valley Grant Act preserved the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove in California as a park “held for public use, resort, and recreation … for all time.” The post US national parks were created at a cost to Native Americans appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Bill Bryson’s best books – ranked | Atlas & Boots
There's a part in Notes from a Small Island where Bill Bryson describes a painful train journey to Milton Keynes. He is sat facing a "bleating woman" and her 10-year-old son, who keeps picking his nose, kicking Bryson's shins and staring at him with his "piggy eyes". Bryson tries to ignore the child but is irritated by his smug stare and "busy finger". When the train finally pulls into Milton Keynes, Bryson takes great pleasure in getting his rucksack from the overhead rack and dragging it across the boy's head The post Bill Bryson’s best books – ranked appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
10 climate photographs that changed the way we see the world | Atlas & Boots
There are certain photographs that have changed the course of history. Usually, they are political: Tank Man in Tiananmen Square, Iraqi soldier on the Highway of Death, Napalm Girl in Vietnam. These photos are chilling but powerful. Climate photographs are less celebrated but often just as powerful. Below, we chart 10 climate photographs that have brought the primary crisis of our times into sharp relief. The post 10 climate photographs that changed the way we see the world appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
23 US national parks you can visit for free | Atlas & Boots
From a plethora of weird and wonderful sights to some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, the US is rich with natural beauty. Of course, not everyone can afford to access that beauty given national park entrance fees, not to mention the cost of gear and transport. Thankfully, there are nearly two dozen US national parks you can visit for free. The post 23 US national parks you can visit for free appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Why mountains like Denali should keep their native names
The high point of my year was (literally) my summit of Denali, the highest peak in North America. It was my fourth mountain of the seven summits – arguably my fifth if you count Kosciuszko – leaving me Vinson in Antarctica and Everest in Asia. I said at the time that whether or not I climb any more of the seven is almost irrelevant. I will always have Denali, my ‘tall one’. The post 10,000 years a mountain: why Denali should keep its name appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Atlas & Boots’ top 10 posts of 2024
This year, we celebrated 10 years of Atlas & Boots. When we first started the blog in 2014, it was mainly a way to stay employable so that when we returned to London after our big trip, it wouldn’t be impossible to find new jobs. We didn’t know then that our little blog would grow to a quarter of a million readers per month. Sadly, we lost about half of them when the pandemic hit and never quite recovered them, but we’re still ticking along thanks to our loyal audience. The post Atlas & Boots’ top 10 posts of 2024 appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
10 remarkable international borders | Atlas & Boots
From mountains to libraries, we take a look at some of the most extraordinary international borders to be found across the globe. Over the last few years, we’ve seen an impressive collection of new websites, blogs and social media accounts dedicated to ‘travel porn’. They’re filled with big, sweeping images of fairytale lands and precarious precipices. The post 10 remarkable international borders appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
11 best day trips from Anchorage, Alaska | Atlas & Boots
The word 'epic' does not do Alaska justice. The state is home to North America's largest mammals, national parks the size of countries and glaciers bigger than some US states. It is the least densely populated state in the USA; has 17 of North America’s highest mountains, 100 volcanoes, 3,000 rivers and over three million lakes. The post 11 best day trips from Anchorage, Alaska appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
21 interesting facts about Denali | Atlas & Boots
I was planning my climb of Denali, in Alaska, USA, for over 18 months. Between training sessions, I spent swathes of time pouring over maps of the route and reading reports on previous expeditions, all in an attempt to absorb as much information about the mountain as I could. The post 21 interesting facts about Denali appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
How to climb Denali: all your questions answered | Atlas & Boots
Whenever I get back from a big climb, I invariably receive an array of questions about the expedition via email and social media. As usual, I’ve collated them all below in a detailed Q&A that includes all my tips on how to climb Denali. If I've missed anything, please do get in touch. The post How to climb Denali: all your questions answered appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Denali gear list: the kit that got me to the top | Atlas & Boots
Denali in Alaska, USA, at 6,190m (20,310ft), is North America’s highest mountain and one of the seven summits (the seven peaks that make up the highest point on every continent). I recently returned from climbing Denali with American Alpine Institute (AAI). Any good guiding company will issue you a detailed kit list, but I always like to see what others have used. As such, I thought it would be helpful to share my complete Denali gear list for future climbers to reference. The post Denali gear list: the kit that got me to the top appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
