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Josh Brown

@moo5e_tracks

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Teacher, outdoor enthusiast, DJ.
PCT 2018, GDT 2021, CDT 2022

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Knocked another Cascade Volcano off the list. Mt. Hood was a great one, though the lack of sleep did make for an interesting ascent. by @moo5e_tracks

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a year ago

June had some pretty sunsets by @moo5e_tracks

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a year ago

Alta Via 2 - Day 4
Total Distance: 31.4 km
Elevation gain: 1946 m
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I wake up to the sunrise, as I have pretty much every day of this trip, but allow myself to sleep in a bit as I know that today is going to be an easier day elevation-wise. So I get up an hour later and pack up my stuff when the sun is fully shining on my tent, and I can dry it out. It's a bit of a rollercoaster towards Forcella Venegia, and I call Ronja at several points as the cell service drifts in and out of existence. I also pass by quite a cows and horses.
At Passo Valles, I stop for an espresso, and I leave there with a bit more pep in my step. As I begin the next climb, a tiny hunger grows in my stomach, so I quell it with snacks as I hope to get to the other side of this section before stopping for lunch. This section passes through a ski area that's partially under construction, but the grade is perfect for hiking quickly, and I do just that. Before I know it, I'm already heading down towards Passo San Pellogrino.
At Lago di Pozze, I stop for lunch in the shade of a larch tree. Today I finally enjoy the pistachio crème that I've been carrying since Feltre (in a glass container, no less).
After lunch, I get to another very tourist-y section of the trail, and at one point,I pass a horse-drawn carriage as it stops for one of them to clean up the poop of the horses. I appreciate that touch, as I can only imagine what the road would be like without it. As I leave the forest and turn around a corner where there are a couple of simple houses, I finally see what all the fuss is about. The valley is wide and green, but sits at the base of several large and looming mountains, partially obstructed by clouds. It is picturesque and perfect.
I quickly hike through the densely packed area and back to solitude as I climb to the next pass. From there, I drop down to the valley far below, and my stomach growls with hunger again. I search for a restaurant near the base of the ski area, but end up hiking another 5 km to Pizzaria Bar Ristorante La Cianel; when I finally arrive, I order one of the best pizzas I've ever had with an egg, sausage, and French fries on it. taken in Dolomites, Italian Alps by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Alta Via 2 - Day 3
Total distance: 18.4 km
Elevation Gain: 2676 m
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I had a visitor last night, a medium-size canine that I later learned was a golden jackal. It was very curious, and I initially thought it was a fox, but it was much bigger and not as timid, as it approached my tent with me inside, despite me talking at it. I eventually had to grab a rock and throw it in its direction before it left, but it never returned.
I wake up, and my tent is damp, but that's to be expected sleeping in the dry wash of a river. I pack my things and eat some breakfast, determined to get to the first climb before the sun does. While I make it to the base just before 9, I know that the sun is on its way and I'm in for a hot climb once I break out of the trees. Even in the trees it's hot, and quite steep, so I'm thankful to cross a stream and filter some more water.
I stop at Bivacco Minazio for lunch, unsure if the 1 L of water I have will be enough to the other side of the pass. Regardless, I drink until my body feels satiated, going for the best. I'm lucky, however, and there's a snowmelt stream around half a km from the top of the pass. I refill my water and continue on, tired but thankful.
The other side looks like the moon, and I choose an alternate that stays high in the alpine instead of dropping down to a rifugio. My hope is to get to Rifugio Mulaz before the evening when there's the potential for a thunderstorm, but it's still 12 km away. I hike quickly through this section, keen to make up for some of the time it took to climb up here.
It's not long before I'm dropping down and starting the next climb, and I reach a wash that I walk through before the ascent begins. I love this section, but I can see off in the distance a dark cloud and hear thunder. After some short sections of via ferrata, the trail turns towards Passo delle Farangole and the clouds sweep in, hiding the view on this side. It's oddly quiet, and I see a family of ibexes heading down from the pass.
The via ferrata on the other side of the pass is the spiciest so far, but I take it slow and descend with ease. From here, it's a breeze to the rifugio where I stop eventually decide to pitch my tent. by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Alta Via 2 - Day 2
Total distance: 35 km
Elevation Gain: 3795 m
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I wake up before sunrise to do the most exposed section of hiking in the morning just in case the storm that was forecast for noon shows up. One of the rifugio workers offers me an espresso just before I head out, and I couldn't think of a better way to start today off. I'm treated to the beautiful start of a sunrise before I dip behind a mountain, but it's not too long until I'm at the top of the little rise and in the warm morning sunlight. I see 3 ibexes and they're extremely skittish, but I enjoy watching them run away from me. After the next little climb, I stop to enjoy some breakfast and a view.
I get to the steeper and sketcher section, and the clouds roll in, obstructing my view and also my awareness of the consequences of a fall. I slow down after I trip, reminding myself to be careful, but keep up a good pace. The first hiker from the other direction passes by, but they don't say anything as we pass in silence. I stop at the skinny trail heading towards the large rock and admire the view on my left.
I arrive at the rifugio nearly out of water, and ready for lunch around 11:30. Instead of buying lunch, I eat the cheese and sausage I've packed out to save money. I do order another espresso, however, and fill my water there. After lunch, I hike through the cow pasture to Passo di Mura; on the other side, I misplace my right foot and fall to the ground, but catch myself before sliding any further. I remind myself to slow down, then continue on, enjoying the clouds and the cool temperatures.
By the time I reach Bivacco Bodo, I'm ready to stop for the day, but I know if I can do one more climb, then it's all downhill to Passo Cereda.
I push on, bribing myself with sour candy each time I feel like I need a break, and eventually reach the top. The wind is intense here, so I drop down a bit and give Ronja a call to update her. Then it's a long descent to Passo Cereda with some easy via ferrata. At the pass, I eat dinner and debate my options. I eventually settle on taking an alternate through the valley to give myself enough time to stick to my plans for tomorrow. taken in Dolomites, Italian Alps by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Alta Via 2 - Day 1(6 overall)
Total distance: 13 km
Elevation gain: 1874 m
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Hard to believe it's been a month since I was in the Dolomites. Time to play catch-up. No real views for the day, but plenty of interesting carvings.
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I take down the clothes that I washed in the sink lsst night, and they're mostly dry before I finish packing up the rest of my things; I head to the grocery store to get some breakfast and a few other supplies. Outside, I eat my yogurt and granola, along with a couple of chicken and veggie skewers outside of the front of the grocery store, and feel like I'm thru hiking again.
Afterwards, I catch the bus to Feltre and walk to Lidl and Aldi to grab pistachio creme and some noodles since I didn't find the ones I wanted at the Super W. I stop at a bar and have a massive sandwich for lunch before starting the hike from there instead of waiting 45 minutes for the bus; this way, I can see some of Feltre before leaving.
It's hot AF in the sun, and the umbrella is both necessary and helpful. The initial water sources I had hoped for before leaving town are not accessible, and I passed the last shop long ago. Thankfully, there's a fountain in both Norcen and Croce D'Aune, the last community before Alta Via 2 truly begins; they save the day, and I satiate my thirst before filling up my water bottles
My pack feels heavy, and with no wind I sweat up a storm. The path is steep in places, but I continue up without any real breaks. Soon enough, the sun gives way to clouds, and I ascend into them, all the while hoping to get to the top before dark. The whole time, I listen to Red Rising by Pierce Brown, enjoying the voice acting immensely. What a great story.
Once I reach Rifugio Dal Piaz, I decide that I didn't really want to hike any further, instead hoping to get up early enough to dodge the storm that was forecast for tomorrow by 11. With luck, (and by being ready to hike by 4:30-5), I'd arrive at Rifugio Boz just before it. I pay a staggering €2 for 500 mL of water, then decide that I am totally okay with filtering the non-potable water at all the rifugi that have water; paying for water is the worst and grinds my Canadian gears. by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Alta Via 1 - Day 5
Total distance: 24.5 km
Elevation gain: 1769 m
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I wake up feeling very refreshed, and can hear people passing by on the main trail so I quickly pack up and then eat some breakfast before heading out. It takes a little while to get to the first views of the day, and I'm eager to be out of the trees and into the alpine. It's hot in the direct sun, but it's not long before I'm in the open and a cool wind blasts me, chilling my sweat-soaked clothing and providing some relief. I realize as I near Forcella del Zita Sud that I might have underestimated my water needs and overestimated the amount of available water.
I meet a couple of hikers from Colorado, and one of them, Sexy Betty, had hiked the PCT in 2018 as well. We stop and chat about our experiences for a bit, but I leave them and finish the climb to the pass where I stop for lunch. I have less than a litre, and my next source is unknown; I hope it's not at the bottom of the climb, but I don't have much hope for the water sources I've marked. One thing about hiking this trail, is that I couldn't find reliable data for the water sources, so I just marked them on Gaia GPS and hoped for the best.
After lunch, I move much quicker, jogging down the steep trail when there's scree. I run out of water a km from Rifugio Pian de Fontana, passing by two spots I had hoped to find water. My next source is 5 km away, and I hope there's some water at the rifugiom my luck holds out and there's a piped spring that I fill up at. I order an espresso here and it's delicious.
One more climb rewards my favorite views of the day. Then it's all downhill to the road 16 km away. I don't take any breaks and pass through the lower canyon, loving the feeling of being in this trail's bowels. The creek and river has carved deeply into the stone here, and it reminds of the area near Granite Creek in the Gros Ventre Wilderness.
Near the bottom, I pass an older guy and think nothing of it, but when he comes out and walks to his car, I'm hopeful of a ride to Sedico. Instead, he drives me to the bus stop just down the road and I catch the bus that is running 10 minutes late. Woo! taken in Dolomites, Italian Alps by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Alta Via 1 - Day 4
Total distance: 27.7 km
Elevation Gain: 2075 m
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I wake up after hearing my neighbor from the night before rustling in their tent. I deflate my mattress and sink to the ground, mentally preparing myself for the day ahead. It doesn't take long before I've packed up everything, eaten breakfast, and start hiking.
The first real climb of the day heads up to Rifugio Coldai; it's an enjoyable climb in the morning sun. As soon as I get there, I order an espresso and then head on to the lake just over a tiny climb. Here, I dry all of my gear from last night's condensation and eat a snack. A bunch of trail runners pass by, and I think that it'd probably be a fun trail to run if I wasn't so committed to carrying all my things.
As I near the next pass, I hike past a horde of people, easily 40 or more, as I descend into the next valley. The clouds are moody, but it doesn't quite feel like rain. The trail is a bit of a rollercoaster as it circles around Punta Civetta. I eventually arrive in a nice grassy meadow and find a flowing creek, so I stop for lunch and water.
After lunch, it's a long descent to the next valley bottom; I debate stopping at Rifugio Vazzoler, but there's the potential for a storm later so I continue on, hoping to get to the next one before anything arrives. I hike through the heat of the day, listening to a podcast about wildfires and think of home.
The afternoon drags on in the heat, and I climb continuously up toward Forcella del Camp. It's slow, and I relish the breaks when the breeze cools my sweat-soaked clothing. After reaching the pass, it's a fairly easy traverse to Rifugio Vazzoler, where I stop for a longer break, watching it rain in the valley below. It doesn't head my way, and so I leave around 8:00 pm; the spot I had hoped for turns out to be incredibly boulder-y, so I hike on. After another 5ish km and a tiny climb, I find a spot an hour and a half later near Forcella Dagarei. It's not ideal, but it's flat enough, I guess. by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Alta Via 1 - Day 3
Total distance: 28 km
Elevation Gain : 1289 m
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After talking with the owner of the rifugio last night, I slept in instead of heading to summit Monte Antelao. Since I was solo and didn't have my mountaineering equipment, it would've been reckless and dangerous to attempt with the amount of snow still up there. Though I wish I had known before heading over, I enjoyed the sleep in and my time at the rifguio.
After breakfast, I make my way down to the bus stop in San Vito di Cadore. It's much quicker on the descent, and I pass a few other people. At the bus stop I eat a second breakfast and wait for the bus back to Cortina. It's an enjoyable ride and once in Cortina, I find a bar to have a sandwich and an espresso; I'm by no means a coffee enthusiast, but espresso in Italy is the bee's knees.
I get back to the Alta Via around 1:30 pm and hike up into the clouds, hoping that the forecasted storm will wait until I'm down and on the other side. I'm half lucky, as it does wait for me to get down the sketchier part, but I still have a few km to go until the next rifugio; my umbrella keeps me dry in the pounding rain, and thunder crashes in the adjacent mountains. I jog towards the rifugio as the rain intensifies, but it stops just before I reach it.
At the rifugio, I debate going on as I don't want to be caught in the upper alpine ahead if the storm returns. It seems like it won't, though, so I head on to the next climb. It's not as long or as steep as the previous, but the rain returns and it's slippery.
As I reach the top, the clouds part and I have a view of the pass behind me and the mountains ahead; my luck holds out and though it's slippery, the trail is magnificent. I eventually drop out of the alpine, passing plenty of cows and after a long descent, find a nice stream and a spot to have dinner. I wish I had stayed at that spot to watch the sunset, but I was too focused on finding a spot to setup my tent for the night and passed on by in a rush. Next time, I promise myself. taken in Dolomites, Italian Alps by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Alta Via 1 - Day 2
Total Distance: 26 km
Elevation Gain: 2768 m
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I wake up to a very wet tent, as expected, and pack my things up; as usual, I make some breakfast and an instant tea before I start to hike. The others around me are in the process of packing up as well, and I manage to leave in the middle of them, and just before a bunch of people from the rifugio just down trail. It's a grey morning, but I can feel like the sun wants to come out later.
After some climbing, I stop near a bridge to filter some water and half-dry my tent out; it's better than it was, but still not fully dry. Others look at me as they pass me and my tent, but I'm not super concerned by it. I soon pass Rifugio Fanes and continue past as well, determined to get to the next valley over and up the following pass before the sun comes out. There are many cows, and even more people, and I strive to be away from the crowds.
The climb to Forcella di Lago is pleasant since it's cloudy, but I can imagine how hot it could get as I'm heading up. I chew some caffeinated gum and eat some sour candies on the way. When I reach the top, I continue past the families and others stopped for a break, and go all the way to the lake at the bottom where I filter more water. The sun still hides behind the clouds, but it's almost ready.
A quarter of the way up the next climb, the sun comes out so I stop and immediately spread all of my things like a yard sale. I take the time to eat lunch and enjoy the sun against my skin while my rain gear and tent dry out from yesterday. 2 women from Wehnatchee stop, and we chat about how we're enjoying the trail so far. I love the climb up to Forcella Lagazuoi; it's wonderful in the alpine, but the best comes just on the other side when the clouds lift again and I'm rewarded with incredible views of the green valley below.
At Falzarego Pass I catch a bus to Cortina so I can catch another bus to take me closer to Monte Antelao; I have a reservation at Rifugio Galassi for that night, and the climb takes me almost 3 hours. I hate how heavy my food is, and never want to do this climb again with as much food as I have. I reach the rifugio just before nightfall. taken in Dolomites, Italian Alps by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Alta Via 1 - Day 1
Total distance: 14.8 km
Elevation Gain: 1318 m
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On July 21, I started the Alta Via 1 through the Dolomites. Lago di Braies, the northern starting point, reminds me of Lake Louise with all the tourists flocking around the shoreline; I quickly pass by, eager to escape the crowds and get into the alpine. Dark clouds loom in the distance as a storm begins to blow in. My pack is heavy, with nearly 9 days of food for the coming days, and I sweat profusely as I begin the climb.
When I reach the alpine, the first drops of rain begins, and thunder cracks overhead; I'm wary, but the trail is fairly protected so I continue on, always looking ahead for the next sheltered area in case the storm settles overhead. I walk past large boulders, continuing towards the pass and the rain intensifies. As I get to the top, I'm soaked through and hike quickly to a hut to wait out the worst of the storm.
There are others inside doing the same as I do, and I meet a guy who hiked the PCT in 2018 as I did. What are the odds? After the storm eases up, I head back out, hoping to drop down into the next valley before the storm returns. I eat dinner beside a particularly stout tree beside the road on the descent; it's sheltered from the rain and it's nice to relax a little. When I make it to the valley, the rain has picked up again, and I setup my tent in a meadow dotted with other tents and other hikers. by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago

Westweg - Day 9
Total distance: 17 km
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The highlight of the final day of this trail was walking past this castle. Afterwards, I walked along the river to the train station in Basel and caught a series of trains back to Marburg. by @moo5e_tracks

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2 years ago