Lucas Boland

Being one of the lucky recipients of an Enchantments overnight permit can't happen for everybody. So, for the rest of us, taking to the mountains in the winter is an awesome way to bypass this system and experience the central Cascades in a completely different, colder way. The suffering is almost always worth it. From Seattle, you simply head north out of the city on I-5, hang a right on WA-5...

This 150 km long Rakaia River starts in the Southern Alps and continues east to be an awesome feature of the Canterbury Plains. The track isn't too long - a great day trip. You'll start where the river opens up and begins to braid, and hike to the gorge, where it narrows. Getting There: The trail is easy to access off of State Highway 72, only an hour away from Christchurch. Google Maps will ta...

Maybe you've seen the photos a million times before - it's for good reason. Maroon Bells is just stunning. Watching the first rays of sunlight scratch the very top of Maroon Bells and slowly crawl their way down the massive slabs of granite is simply a must for the checklist. Taking in the sunrise is great, no doubt, but you won't be alone. Chances are you will be on the shores of the lake thro...

Florida receives plenty of attention from tourists, but rarely is it for its outdoor recreation. However, the intercoastal waterways that run up and down much of the state are fantastic places to grab a kayak and hit the water on a sunny afternoon (they get a lot of those). Round Island Beach Park is one of these places - accessible and offering plenty of fun. It's less than 2 hours from Tampa ...

The Granstaff Canyon is a beautiful, red rock canyon just outside of Moab, nestled up against the Colorado River. For those with canyoneering or climbing experience, this canyon is simple enough to run. After an initial one hour (ish) hike in from the parking spot, the rappels are close together and easy to set up, and are followed by a 2.4 hike out. In all, it’s a half day adventure that will ...

It's always a good idea to check the weather, but when it comes to getting a peak at Mt. Rainier you might be better off just showing up and hoping for a miracle. To do this from Seattle, you'll have a 2 hour 20 minute drive down I-5 and WA-167. After a couple turns here and there (you can follow the directions for the google maps directions) you'll hit Paradise Road E, which will take you dire...

With peaks rising thousands of meters on every side of you and a wide-open valley to tramp in, the hike to Carrington Hut does feel quite like you're walking in a movie set. After walking a day up the Waimakariri Valley you'll reach this 36-bunk DOC hut, which requires a DOC hut pass to stay the night. To purchase a pass you can stop by the Arthur's Pass visitor center just 10 kilometers farthe...

The Welcome Flat Hut is more of a local destination than a tourist one. Franz Josef and Fox Glacier both see heaps of visitors on any given day, mainly for small-scale adventures. But, if you're looking to get away from some of the crowds and experience the Westland area at a slightly more intense level, consider hiking up the Copland Valley to the Welcome Flat Hut. It's a long, but really acce...

The Kaumira Canyon is a deep, narrow gorge in the mid-Canterbury plains. Although not covering a very large distance, the array of technical features will take a while to navigate. We had a large party of nine people, and it took us nearly four hours to complete the canyon. There are two rappels, one of 20+ meters and one of 16+ meters, a jump of 10+ meters (if you're comfortable with that), an...

Flathead Lake is huge, and gorgeous. It's the biggest lake in Montana and certainly one worth spending some time on. The water is surprisingly warm, and the views are amazing. If you are passing through the area, find a place to rent some paddleboards and hit the water around golden hour in the evening.  A great place to explore on the lake is the northern part. It's the closest area to Kalispe...