- Certifications & Awards
- Wilderness Medicine Institute / NOLS - Wilderness First Aid (Dec 2011)
- Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
- Round-trip Yellowstone Expedition to Old Faithful from South Entrance, 85 miles ski, Dec 24-Jan 3, 2011-2012
- Distance: 82 miles, -20 degrees F, elev. +/- ~7k ft (est)
In this latest trek through Yellowstone, several critical pieces of equipment were changed in order to improve speed, reduce weight, and, ultimately, to prepare for Antarctica. The Wilderness Engineering sled was swapped for two Paris expedition sleds, cutting several pounds out. The Rossignol patterned skis were dropped in favor of the preferred Antarctic Asnes Nansen skis with half-length skins, and the tent was upgraded to a Hilleberg Nammatj 2. The biggest problem faced this year was the lack of snow. The park service would not issue me a permit for ski travel north of either Lake or Old Faithful, as wheeled vehicles were still traveling on the road. I forged on to Old Faithful and enjoyed the time there, getting three mountain passes in both going in and coming out. More than once, I ran across fresh grizzly tracks. This was scarier than any bad weather I ever have run into. Countless hours of night travel were required for this trek.
- Golden Trout Wilderness, Central Wilderness Grand Tour 80 miles, Sep 2-6, 2011
- Distance: 79 miles, summer conditions, elev. +/- 10,690 ft
Considered a week-long trek, I was able to enjoy vast swaths of the Golden Trout Wilderness in four days using ultra-light backpacking equipment. The base pack weight was 13 pounds, with 1.75 pounds of food per day. The Redrock Creek section was chest-high overgrown with thorny bramble for nearly 2 miles.
- Hike up San Gorgonio, heavy snow, light storm, Apr 23, 2011
- Cross country ski up Mount San Jacinto, Apr 2, 2011
- Round-trip Yellowstone Expedition to Lake from South Entrance, 92 miles ski, Jan 5-11, 2011
-
Distance: 92 miles, -20 degrees F, elev. +/- ~7k ft (?)
After learning last year about mounting the sled on skis for easier soft-snow travel, this year's expedition into Yellowstone was less difficult with respect to equipment. Also, the correct skis were acquired, making travel far easier than with snow shoes. There was significant snow this year as well. As I was warned, the ascent from Flagg Ranch to the Continental Divide was exceedingly strenuous but never the less enjoyable. Several hours were spent traveling every night. - Eastern Sierra, Symmes Creek trailhead over Shepherd pass, Forrester pass, Kearsarge Pass, 28 miles, 13,000 foot gain, 26 hours straight, Aug 28-29, 2010
- Distance: 28 miles, 13,000 foot gain, 26 hours straight through
This was an overnight "getting ugly session". The goal was to see how my body and mind would react to fatigue, overnight travel and high altitude. - Sequoia, Mineral King, Mosquito Lakes, 6 miles, Aug 14-16, 2010
- Cross Yellowstone Expedition, 105 miles snowshoe, Dec 28, 2009 - Jan 3, 2010
-
Distance: 105 miles, -45 degrees F, elev. +/- ~10k ft (?)
Trekking across Yellowstone on skis is not easy. Having the wrong skis and a sled with horrible drag makes it all the more interesting. I was not able to test my ski and sled rig until I made it to Jackson, WY (from San Diego, CA). The skis were the wrong size and the sled cut into the soft snow, creating unbelievable drag. It was too late to make changes, so I went anyway. I was reduced to using snow shoes to cross the entire park. It was an excellent test to see if I could suffer through grueling weather and pitiful progress. Traveling at night for hours also toughened my mental resolve. - Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park, Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2009
- Sequoia National Park, Dead Man Canyon via Silliman Pass to Elizabeth Pass, 52 miles, Sep 5-7, 2009
- Kings Canyon, Granite Pass to Kennedy Pass, 38 miles, July 18-20, 2009
- San Gorgonio snow backpack, April 18-19, 2009
- Greenland, Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut, Arctic Circle Trail, Denmark, Sweden, Sep 23, 2008 to Oct 8, 2008
-
Distance: 102 miles, -25 degrees F, elev. +/- ~7k ft (?)
My first major trek into the Arctic was in Greenland. I arrived to do this trip nearly a month later than normal. This afforded me the experience of being alone in the Arctic tundra for 9 days, slogging through days of post-holing thigh-deep snow, making multiple semi-frozen river crossings, and navigating in unfamiliar geography with dramatic compass declinations. Experiencing an almost complete soaking of all my gear during a blizzard on day two, I was able to recover and complete the trip. - Sequoia National Park, cold weather gear testing, April 4-6, 2008
- Argentina and Chile, Patagonia, Buenos Aires, Tierra Del Fuego, Dec 30, 2007 to Jan 13, 2008
- Kings Canyon National Park, 44 mile backpack, August 25-26, 2007
- Sequoia cross country ski and snow/ice stock photo trip, March 9-11, 2007
- Mt. Whitney (14,496 ft) summit, September 18, 2006
- Sequoia National Park Hocket Meadow backpack, July 1 - July 3, 2006
- Grand Canyon National Park, Rim-Rim-Rim 49 mile hike, South Rim on Bright Angel Trail to North Rim and back again in 24 hours straight without sleeping, Apr 17, 2006
- Mt. Whitney (14,496 ft) single-day summit bid, failed (again!) due to snow, Lone Pine, CA, Dec 23, 2005
- Sequoia National Park, Bear Paw Loop over Timber Gap, Mineral King, September 2-4, 2005
- Mineral King, Sequoia 30 mile backpack, July 3-5, 2004
- Mt. Whitney (14,496 ft) summit bid, failed due to snow/weather, Lone Pine, CA, Nov 15, 2003
©2012 Aaron Linsdau
Support Aaron in becoming the first American to ski solo from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and
back. All donations welcome.