After I (slowly) ran a 19 mile race with only 1 week of training, I figured with 5 more weeks, I could run an ultramarathon. This was obviously a terrible plan, but we all know that I don't always make the best decisions when it comes to outdoor adventuring. With the overwhelming emptiness that filled … Continue reading Adventure Running
Category: Peak Performance
Adding To My Medal Collection
After wasting a whole bunch of money on fees for races I couldn't run in 2021, I decided it was wise to dial it back this year. But I did well on the week of running in Patagonia, and I didn't want to not run any races in 2022. Plus, I have no motivation to … Continue reading Adding To My Medal Collection
Cordillera Occidental – The Volcano
After the Illimani near disaster, I started heavily rethinking my idea to attempt a summit of Sajama, the highest peak in Bolivia. Well, truth be told, I had started rethinking it the week before on Huayna Potosà when all the guides were talking about how miserable the conditions were. Not because of snow, but because … Continue reading Cordillera Occidental – The Volcano
Cordillera Real – The Failed Expedition
Having come just shy of 20,000 ft the previous weekend, I planned to surpass that magic number the following weekend with Illimani, the mystical guardian of La Paz, at 21,122 feet. Base camp is a mere 50 miles outside La Paz, but due to the road conditions, it takes about 3.5 hours to get there. … Continue reading Cordillera Real – The Failed Expedition
Cordillera Real – The Second Chance
At 19,974 feet, Huayna Potosà (19,974 feet) was a chance to avenge my Cotopaxi (19,347 feet) failure in Ecuador in December 2021. I put a lot of pressure on myself last year to summit that volcano, but I shouldn't have. It was 3,000 feet higher than I'd ever gone before, plus I'd never done serious … Continue reading Cordillera Real – The Second Chance
Cordillera Real – The Warm Up Peaks
If you've been following this blog this summer, you know that all the summits I bagged, all the hiking I did, and all gym time and running was aimed at one goal - Bolivian summits. And so, a mere one day after I switched from sea level in Washington DC to a city that sits … Continue reading Cordillera Real – The Warm Up Peaks
Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 36-38)
With my first three summits in the Sangre de Cristos, my 14er season in Colorado comes to an end. I've been on top of the world ten times this year and tackled tougher summits than in years past. I love the feeling when I get to the summit. I love the feeling when I pass … Continue reading Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 36-38)
Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 33 – 35)
I'm a little behind on my peak plans for the summer. After Longs and Meeker, I had planned to hike another that Saturday, but my body was still pretty wrecked and I was running a 10k at 10,000 feet on Sunday, so I opted for a rest day. The following weekend, it rained and rained … Continue reading Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 33 – 35)
Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 29 – 32)
My 2022 mountains started with Mt. Rundle in Banff, which while not a 14er, had more gain and was more challenging than anything I plan to do in Colorado this summer. It was terrifying and difficult, but when I had completed it, I knew that I was Colorado ready. I have seven weekends in Colorado … Continue reading Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 29 – 32)
Mountain Season Arrived, and How!
My trip to Banff was planned with many stunning, wild, and booty-busting hikes in mind, but nonetheless hikes that an averagely fit person could handle, given enough time. Somehow it ended with a hike that is currently in my top three most difficult summits. I had no plans to do a big peak in Banff … Continue reading Mountain Season Arrived, and How!
Jennifer A Swallow 