This post was originally written for, and published by, Oars and Alps. Matt Walker spends 100 days a year in a tent. As a psychologist and international mountain guide, he spends much of that time leading men on climbing expeditions, helping them reconnect with a sense of adventure. While nearly all of his clients find these […]

Four days in the wilderness. The freedom of taking a long walk. Last October I took a four day walk with a man who was looking for a hard reset in his life. Time to step away from the burdens and demands of his everyday and take stock of where he was headed, realign his […]

Gratitude is the clearest transmission of you. Gratitude may be the most profoundly potent emotional state within the human experience. It serves as a catalyst, evoking a positive and curious perspective, while also synchronizing the multitude of facets of our lives. And gratitude is the greatest equalizer when pain, suffering, and overwhelm cast a long […]

Last week was exactly what I needed.  I had the honor of guiding a client on his first trip to Potrero Chico—a magnificent climbing destination nestled into the mountains of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Potrero Chico, located a short drive from Monterrey (which is a short flight from Houston) is considered one of the best climbing […]

I remember with absolute clarity the first time I went on expedition in Alaska.  Arriving in late April, my partner and I drove from Anchorage to the hamlet of Talkeetna, packed our three weeks of food and gear into a small plane with skis for landing gear, took off into Denali National Park and landed […]

The moment you have an idea, you identify a goal, or you encounter a new desire, you have already been set on an adventure. When Joseph Campbell mapped out the Hero’s Journey, he began with the Ordinary World—this is the status quo, the known, the predictable, the life you have lived for many years. This […]

Leadership is a funny thing. To pull from the infamous question to define porn: you know it when you see it – leadership is the same thing. You know it when you see it. Or to be even more opaque about it: you know it when you feel it. To further muddy the waters, leadership […]

I have blood streaming down my arm and into my jacket. My hands are jammed into the crack above my head, my legs are stretched out as wide as I can manage with my feet pressing against small divots on the granite wall, I am sweating bullets, and breathing so rapidly I fear that I […]

The patriarchy is a load of shit and it’s time to dismantle it. I’m saying this from my perch of privilege and you’re probably rolling your eyes. “Someone shut this white guy up.” “Matt, it is not your time to speak, here.” “Man, you better be quiet before you put your foot in your mouth.” […]

A fast and challenging single-track mountain bike descent. The crux moves of a rock climb with wild and disorienting exposure. Climbing a windy ridgeline trail in the driving rain. The sunrise on a still lake as loons fly overhead. Each of these experiences involuntarily creates an experience of mindfulness. The focus, novelty, and environment bring […]