Adventure Talks

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to climb Everest the right way, now is your chance to find out from the IFMGA Mountain Guide with three decades of extreme adventuring experience. In this webinar, you’ll get a window into Willie’s first hand experiences with Everest, and hear from his long-time client who summited in 2017. This is a unique opportunity to hear from a guide who is passionate about protecting Everest and the local community through sustainable adventuring. During the hour, Willie will talk about how to manage the crowds and set the right expectations, focusing on embracing the journey and avoiding summit tunnel vision. His client, Reagan Rick, will share his experiences, from training in Ecuador and the US to summiting the famous peak. If you want to know more about what the sustainable future of Mount Everest looks like, Willie will discuss the changes he’s seen happen and what he’s doing to honor and protect this world-famous climbing destination. There’s no denying Mount Everest’s popularity, but if you tune into Willie’s presentation, you’ll see why there’s still magic in this majestic mountain. Join us Thursday, December 17th and find out what it takes to climb Everest from the guide who’s stood on the summit over a dozen times. From choosing the right training ground to setting micro-goals, learn how you can do your homework and prepare for an adventure like this.

A perfect pyramid straddling the Swiss border, Matterhorn might just be the most recognizable peak in the world. Everyone’s seen the snow caps and striking faces — but do you know what it takes to reach the top? Summiting Matterhorn is every aspiring alpinist’s life-long dream. However, overcoming the mountain’s steep and unforgiving flanks requires excellent physical fitness, technical finesse, and sure-footedness. Plus, even if you’re comfortable in your crampons and you can scramble like a spidermonkey, the high exposure, navigational complexities, and pitfalls riddling the routes make the climb a formidable challenge. That’s exactly why you should tune in to our free hour-long webinar! Learn what it takes to scale the most iconic summit in Europe — from fitness and skill requirements to gear and logistics —- from a seasoned guide with years of experience on the mountain.

Welcome to Patagonia—the heart and soul of outdoor adventure in Argentina. Enveloped by oceans and dominated by the Andes, this rugged region in the south of the country boasts some of the wildest landscapes in the world. Local UIMLA Guide Julián López has spent his entire life exploring and guiding in Patagonia— and now he’s here to show us the full splendor of its hiking trails. Tune in to find out all about the primeval forests, icy lagoons, and vast glaciers gathered under the striking spires of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre! If the photos aren’t enough to fuel your daydreams about experiencing the untamed wilderness of Patagonia, tune in to this webinar and learn how to plan your own trip.

When it comes to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, the journey matters just as much as the destination. There are numerous paths leading to this ancient citadel hidden in the clouds—so which one should you take? The coveted Inca Trail winds across the Andean Mountains through jungles and embanked ruins of the Sacred Valley before taking you through the Sun Gate. The Salkantay Trek is a rich smorgasbord of Peru’s lush environments and ecosystems, while the Lares Trek provides an inside look into the lives of locals, letting you stay in their villages, sampling the cuisine and bathing in the hot springs. And who doesn’t like a good easy option? The short and sweet Huchuy Qosqo Trek will take you to Machu Picchu in under three days of light walking. Plus, here’s a secret: if you’re really strapped for time, you can even take the train! If you want to hear about all these epic hikes from a local guide, make sure to tune in to our free one-hour webinar. Roland will share everything you need to know for your very own trip to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Out of all the natural features in the rugged Kingdom of Norway, none are more iconic than fjords. These outstretched arms of the seas beckon adventurers to journey inland and find the majestic walls of rock hidden within. And for the avid outdoor adventurer, this heavily indented coastline represents a world of possibilities for exploration. As you scale the plateaus and jagged cliffs overlooking the placid fjords below, you’re treated to some of the most magnificent views on Earth. Skipper and adventurer Ulrik Møller leads unique sailing expeditions along the Norwegian coast that feature such activities as hiking, kayaking, and surfing. He’s traveled up and down these fantastic landscapes many times—and now he’s here to tell us all about it! In this one-hour session, you’ll hear all about the fantastic beauty of this far-flung Nordic nation and learn how you can embark on your own soul-stirring journey in the Land of Fjords.

Porters are the unsung heroes of the travel industry. Treks like the Inca Trail and expeditions in the Himalayas and Kilimanjaro are inconceivable without their strong backs and helping hands. The trekking industry has long been plagued by issues of inequity, mistreatment, and gender inequality. For porters, the essential workers of the business, the stories of this backbreaking work—and the unfavorable working conditions they are carried out under—has rarely been shared. Thankfully, this is beginning to change. Marinel de Jesus, a former civil rights attorney, has traded the courtroom for the mountains after years of hiking in Peru, Nepal & Tanzania. With this webinar, Marinel aims to shed light on the lives and stories of the porters in Tanzania, Nepal, and Peru. Through first-hand accounts and Marinel’s own experiences, uncover the issues and injustices plaguing these communities, and learn how you can contribute to workforce equity in the trekking industry. This is one of our most important webinars to date. If you want to hear the voices that have been silenced for years and help make the world a better place, don’t miss this!

Skiers of the world, rejoice! After two years, Japan is finally opening its borders and the island of Hokkaido is ready to share its iconic powder with the rest of us. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to earn your turns on the mountains of Japan, and whether Japow really lives up to the hype, this is just the webinar for you. All of your burning questions and more will be answered by our two expert hosts, Rob Coppolillo and Pawel Kunachowicz, as they discuss preparations for their upcoming adventure in the northernmost province of Japan. No topic will be left untouched. Hot springs, the food, cozy huts, and of course—the deepest snow on Earth! For Pawel, this will be his 12th season in Japan, while Rob will be guiding there for the first time. Rob will have a lot of questions, so tune in to this one-hour session to hear all about ski touring in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Straddling the craggy border between Italy and France, Mont Blanc’s iconic peak has been the candescent dream of budding mountaineers the world over. Since it was first summited in 1786, many have accomplished the feat—but who could possibly boast of bagging it a whopping 50 times? Believe it or not, Mark Puleio has been there and done that, and this is the perfect chance to hear all about it. Join Mark, an IFMGA-licensed mountain guide, as he shares tales from Mont Blanc over his 30-year climbing career and offers invaluable advice on how to elevate your experience in and around Chamonix, France. Find out why so many aspiring alpinists still come to hone their craft here with Mountain Guides, on this 200 year anniversary of guiding. In this one-hour session, Mark will pay special attention to one of the most sought-after adventures in the area—climbing Mont Blanc via the Gouter route. If you’re itching to follow in the footsteps of history and become a part of Mont Blanc’s long-standing legend, consider this webinar the very first step of your trip. After his presentation, Mark will hold a Q&A session to answer any of your eager questions.