Mapping Possibilities
Maps are an important part of my life. As a former graphic designer, I have a special place in my heart for a good map. Metro maps, letter press world…Read more
Articles Written By: menso
This author has written 18 articles
The Marathon Protagonists
Sunday, December 8, 2019 was one of the most fulfilling days of my athletic career. Instead of chasing my own goal, I was a pacer at the California International Marathon…Read more
Cerro Noroeste and Quatal Canyon Summer and Winter Exploration
File this one under "things to do on the way to L.A.". I've eyed the taller peaks in Los Padres for many years, but few people have documented their visits,…Read more
Dirty Kanza – It Doesn’t Get Any Easier
Observations from a day spent clinging to the lead group in the Dirty Kanza 200. What I ate, what I would have done differently, and will I be back? I…Read more
A Tale of a 10k and a Pie Eating Contest
The last 10k run I raced, I was unmarried, thirty pounds lighter, and ten years younger. I also considered myself a runner then. But when an injury prevented me from…Read more
Unexpected Alpine Trails of SoCal, Part 1: Transverse Ranges
Growing up in NorCal, I always pictured the region south of Monterey as one big desert wasteland. The Mojave and San Joaquin Valley are certainly two vast areas I try…Read more
Stoker, Engage!
The engagement wasn’t a surprise, but it is a good story, which, in the end, seems more appropriate for us. Biking to the top of the Santa Barbara front range…Read more
How to Lose a Girl in 5,280 Vertical Feet
The Grand Canyon is a mile deep from the rim to the Colorado River far below, and that's how deep of a hole I dug for myself in a day…Read more
Not Every Big Ride is Blog-Worthy. McKinley Peak Was.
Some days check all the boxes for a story worth telling. Most don't. I spend many a day biking, hiking, or running, and inhale a couple thousand calories during and…Read more
White Mountain – The Biggest Climb in the USA?
After a failed attempt three years ago, B-Funk and I returned to conquer White Mountain Peak via Silver Canyon. Climbing from 4000' to the third highest peak in California at…Read more
Trail Guide: Santa Barbara Front Country
A comprehensive compilation of hiking and biking trails in Santa Barbara County. After moving to SB in December 2014, it has taken me many hours of going the wrong way…Read more
Reno to Mendocino – A California Odyssey
Join me on a photo-essay transect of the great state of California, via Forest Service roads on my RLT9 adventure-bike, with beer hand-ups by the inimitable Murphy Mack of Super…Read more