LOWA BLOG

Last October, I had the chance to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park, the geological phenomenon wedged between the San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado.

At the entrance to the main dunefield, I excitedly laced up my Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid’s, anticipating a hike to the top of Star Dune (8,617 feet), the tallest dune in the park and thus the tallest dune in North America.

In the fall of 2019, LOWA athlete Sunny Stroeer spent seven weeks in the Himalayas - first, to lead a team in the Everest region through her women-focused high altitude expedition business AWExpeditions, and second, to complete a new line on the east side of rarely climbed 20,889 ft Kusum Kangru. 

With a full day to kill in Cusco, Peru before flying back to the U.S., Alpaca Expeditions set up a hike for me to the top of Mount Winikunka in the Rainbow Mountains.

The what?

After a quick Google search, I knew I had to see this unique mountain range.

Having never been to the Karakorum before, I really had to take the opportunity to lead a trek up to K2 Base Camp. At least once in life, a bit like Everest, you should at least see the Baltoro and K2.

In 2008, I traveled to the Cordillera Blanca region of the Peruvian Andes to go trekking. When I returned home, my family thought it a sacrilege that I had gone to Peru but had not seen Machu Picchu, the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Incas during the 15th century.

Remote places in the world, not tourist meccas, have always drawn me. While trekking to Machu Picchu had appeal, back then, an average of 15,000 people per day visited the ruins, not only on foot, but also by train and bus. Not exactly a backcountry experience!