Steve Graepel
To Hell and Back Across North America’s Deepest Canyon
Posted by Steve Graepel on February 15, 2013 
42 miles, 18,000 feet of climbing, and a swim across the Snake make North America’s deepest canyon a lofty goal. The Grand Canyon gets all the attention: it’s dramatic, beautiful … a natural wonder. It’s well deserved. But here in Idaho, we know that Hells Canyon is steeper and deeper, taking home the prize for…
Risky Business: Life Insurance for Climbers
Posted by Steve Graepel on December 4, 2012 
With contributions from Doug Colwell Nothing shouts middle age quite like shopping for life insurance. But there I was, answering questions about my height, weight, smoking … and then came the dreaded question: “Have you climbed in the last three years…?” I quickly try to run the numbers. “In the last three years…?” Stalling, I…
Gear Review: Meet the Quilt, a Lighweight Sleeping Bag Alternative
Posted by Steve Graepel on July 16, 2012 
My first sleeping bag was liberated from my dad’s musty military kit. With incisor-sized zipper teeth and a jumar for a slider, the M-1949 was more of a feather bed than a mummy bag. Weighing in just under eight pounds, it had the deadweight of a futon mattress and siphoned moisture like ShamWow®. Fortunately I…
Field Tested: “Skishoes” – Altai’s Snowshoe + Cross-Country Ski Combo
Posted by Steve Graepel on May 17, 2012 
I’m lazy. That is, I’d rather run 50k than ski it. The simplicity of lacing up and heading out has always been my bias. The rub? I like to play in my sandbox all year long. So I’ve got a small army of skis ranging from AT to Nordic to touring that help me cope…
Outdoor Gear and Thermodynamics: How to Layer For Optimal Comfort … Even on Everest
Posted by Steve Graepel on April 10, 2012 
While on their way to the summit, the National Geographic Everest team will contend with many expeditious foils, including lack of appetite, decreasing atmospheric pressure, dubious weather, and no doubt the big chill. But regardless if you are chopping steps at 8,000 meters or kicking glides on spring snow, the laws of thermodynamics universally apply.…
What’s Your Adventure Personality Type? Artisan, Rational, Guardian, or Idealist?
Posted by Steve Graepel on January 24, 2012 
By Steve Graepel; Photographs from top courtesy Steve Graepel, Andrew Skurka, Rebecca Rusch, Michael Tobin The zodiac, your horoscope, tea leaves…people have been trying to make sense of human attributes since the dawn of dirt. Corporations pay big money to navigate these muddied waters and will train employees to better understand personality types to harness…
Running: What the Fell? An Introduction to Hill Running
Posted by Steve Graepel on December 6, 2011 
Ready for a lung buster? The southern Idaho foothills make perfect fell running terrain for our author. Text and photos by Steve Graepel I had just moved to Boise and was training to climb Mount Fairweather in Alaska’s notorious Fairweather Range. Hardened legs and deep lungs are de rigueur for alpine climbing; the rolling Idaho…
