#24 It’s Not How You Start

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It’s How You Finish  By John P. DeGrazio  I was up at the plate with a runner on second base and one out. I hit the ball pretty well but lined out to the right center fielder for the second out. Our cleanup hitter followed with a fly out to right. It was the first time […]

Cloudless Days in Yosemite Valley: Yosemite Panorama Photos 2015.02.18

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Looking on the Bright Side  By John P. DeGrazio  Last week it rained for a couple days, and then it stopped. Soccer practice ended, and we were off. Making it to OMG Point is quite an adventure for a 4 year old who was up to the challenge. Sure, we hiked back with the aid of […]

#50 Always Celebrate Achievements

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Enjoy Every Milestone By John P. DeGrazio  I was leading a group of explorers who were all close friends when one of the hikers looked at the others and said “Well, we all made it here, what’s our next trip?” This seemed a bit odd since they were beginning the first day of a three day adventure in Yosemite. There was an […]

Another Half Dome Ascent on Youtube

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A Winter Celebration on Yosemite Valley’s Highest Peak  By John P. DeGrazio  Lasting friendships are built through wilderness adventures. Last week I hiked to the top of Half Dome with a group of three other friends. Some in our group had never met which always makes for fun times of sharing many great stories and lots of […]

Views from Half Dome Summit in Winter: Yosemite Panorama Photos 2015.2.7

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A February Ascent of Yosemite’s Most Famous Dome  By John P. DeGrazio  On Thursday I had an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before in Yosemite, summit Half Dome in February. After carefully selecting a group of friends, we set off on our journey from the trailhead parking lot. We were so confident we’d […]

Summer Night Skies in Yosemite

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Have you every captured the night sky in a photo? I have always enjoyed looking at images of the Milky Way, and last July I had the unique opportunity to join Jesse Summers for a night skies workshop in Yosemite National Park. Jesse and I hiked, camped, and photographed together for 3 summer days and nights. It’s always […]

#48 The It Factor

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This is What “It” is all About  By John P. DeGrazio  The “It” factor is a concept that there are certain intangible characteristics individuals possess that set them aside from other peers. It’s a widely used phrase in our daily lexicon whose meaning is often implied, yet it is never fully explained. It’s often used in […]

#11 Gotta Have Heart

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The Glow of Half Dome  By John P. DeGrazio  Every story worth telling is crafted from an experience replete with highs and lows that are accompanied by the pain and triumph that ultimately go along with them. Humility will let you remember but not dwell on the negatives while relishing but not overstating the positives. It will also teach you that no matter how […]

True Colours From a Fall Visit

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Yosemite in Fall with a Visiting Tour Operator We hosted a travel writer from the UK this past November on a FAM tour. Camilla was an adventuring spirit, and she wrote a blog post about her eye opening experience on a visit to Yosemite in Fall. The post was filled with details from our hike together on the John Muir Trail. We […]

Ask Glen Young About Everest Base Camp Question 2

Everest Base Camp Mailbag Part 2  This week’s question for Glen Young is from a person wanting to know the cultural makeup of the guide team on our Mt. Everest Base Camp Trek September 19 – October 10, 2015. Q: “How many Sherpas will be on the expedition? A (Glen Young): “how many Sherpas will be on […]

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