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Home
About
Adventures
- International Adventures
- U.S. Adventures
  - Alabama
  - Arizona
  - California
  - Montana
  - National Parks
  - Nevada
  - Oregon
  - Utah
  - Wyoming
VanLife
Contact

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FEELING ADVENTUROUS?

Kayaking down Black Canyon

U.S. Adventures

Sunrise on Top of Mt. Shasta

International Adventures

Operation Adventure was born with one single concept in mind – live life to the fullest and never look back! Adventure is always a priority in this household.. or should i say, vanhold? We are constantly looking for new and exciting places to explore and our hope with this space is to inspire you to explore them as well! We have created these guides with as much detail possible, but would kindly as that you follow the principles of LEAVE NO TRACE when exploring. If we all work together to respect the outdoors, we will get to share them with many generations to come!

Let's Explore!

United States

Alabama
Arizona
California
Montana
National Parks
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Wyoming

International

Banff, Canada
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Patagonia
Southeast Asia

Need Some Inspiration?

Torres del Paine, Patagonia

Patagonia in ONE Week; Three Unique Travel Itineraries

Patagonia in one week is going to be tough. Patagonia is a region that spans

Glacier National Park Travel Guide, Grinnel Glacier Hike

Glacier National Park Guide: Plan Your Trip to Glacier!

Glacier National Park is easily one of the most underrated parks in the United States.

Angkor Wat at Sunrise

Angkor Wat in Three Days: What to See and How to See it!

Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious structure and is one of the most important

Half Dome Trail,Yosemite National Park

How to Climb Half Dome with the Cables Down

To climb half dome with the cables down is a once in a life bucket-list

Geothermal Features, Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park Ultimate Travel Guide!

What the hell even is Yellowstone National Park? – have you ever asked yourself this

Mt. Kilimanjaro Summit

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, Everything You Need to Know!

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of my most prominent memories to date. There is something

Backpacking in Grand Teton National Park

The 10 BEST Hikes in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park hiking is WORLD CLASS! There is not a single hike that

cirque of the towers backpacking loop

Backpacking Cirque of the Towers in the Wind River Range

The Wind River Range is a unique piece of the Rocky Mountains that encompasses an

Kayaking down Black Canyon

Kayaking Black Canyon, An Epic Trip Launching at Hoover Dam!

Kayaking Black Canyon is hands down one of the coolest trips we have ever done.

Isabel and Sentry from Operation Adventure

Operation Adventure

Adventure | VanLife

Find Your Adventure

Adventure Resources

Outdoor Gift Ideas for your outdoorsy friend

Outdoor Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Adventurer

the best eSIM for iphone

The Best eSIM for International Travel 2025

Winter Camping in the Snow

10 Winter Camping Tips to Keep You Warm for the Season

Glacier National Park Travel Guide, Van Camping

How to Find Fresh Water Sources While on the Road

passport, flag, travel-2642172.jpg

Must Have Travel Essentials for International Travel

DEAL OF THE DAY!

Operation.Adventure

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I wish I knew these sooner 👇🏼 (ad) We’ve

I wish I knew these sooner 👇🏼 (ad)

We’ve been snowboarding for years now & every year we change things up a little bit in order to optimize our time and experience while riding. This year there are 3 items that we have been LOVING having on the slopes & that truly make our snowboarding day so much better.

🔥 Heated socks

I didn’t know heated socks existed until last year and now we NEVER go snowboarding without them! I don’t know about you, but when my toes start to get cold, I am SO miserable.

Heated socks have been such a game-changer for me especially on those colder or deep pow days! We wear ones that have 3 different heat settings so we can turn them up or down as the day gets warmer or colder!

⌚️ @garminoutdoor fenix 8

I am OBSESSED with the snowboarding activity on our Garmin watches! We like to use the auto run feature which automatically detects ski runs and tracks alllll the metrics like speed, distance, vertical descent, and the number of runs without having to do anything other than start the activity.

We’ve even gotten a little competitive with our max speed - trying to see who can go the fastest on that day 👀🙃

I’ve also never seen a watch that offers an interactive resort map like our Garmin does!! Having a map of the resort that pinpoints where I am at all times on the mountain ON MY WRIST is literally soooo helpful when navigating the resorts!

📞 Radios

OKAY this one might be controversial, but we like to bring our radios with us on the slopes ESPECIALLY on a powder day!

It’s nice to have quick way to check in with each other when we get separated or are taking different runs down the mountain! A lot of ski resorts have pretty spotty cell service so this is a great alternative way to get in touch w one another!

#garminsponsored #garminambassador #snowboarding #snowboarders #skiresort

Don’t miss this one 👇🏼 The “O” Circui

Don’t miss this one 👇🏼

The “O” Circuit is an 85 mile backpacking trek in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. It’s a loop trek that runs counterclockwise around the Cordillera del Paine mountains aka “The Towers”. There are TWO backpacking routes you can take in the park- the “W” or the “O” and we HIGHLY suggest doing the full “O” loop if you have the time!

The “W”
-40 miles one way route
-can hike clockwise or counterclockwise
-takes 4-5 days
-GREAT if you’re limited on time!

The “O”
-85 mi loop
-counterclockwise ONLY
-takes 7-10 days
-WORTH IT if you have the time!

With either trek in Torres del Paine National Park, you can choose to do them as supported or unsupported as you like. We went the cheaper route and carried all of our own camping gear + meals for all 8 days of the “O” trek. BUT- at each Refugio you have the option to rent a tent that’s pre set up for you, a sleeping bag, pad, and/or you can choose half or full board and have your meals taken care of too!

Tips for either trek:
-BOOK CAMPSITES EARLY (like months in adv)! They fill up fast
-bring guy lines & heavy duty stakes, those Patagonia winds are no joke
-pack a book or deck of cards for evenings at the Refugios
-you don’t need a water filter! You can drink straight from the rivers and streams along the way
-some of the Refugios have little camp stores where you can buy supplies or snacks. Bring some money!
-a lot of Refugios have hot showers- pack a quick dry towel if you plan to partake!

Let us know if you have any questions!

#patagonia #torresdelpaine #torresdelpainenationalpark #patagoniatravel

Dream Big 🥹👇🏼 If you had told me 5 years

Dream Big 🥹👇🏼

If you had told me 5 years ago that we would be in Switzerland, drinking a beer while staring up at THE Matterhorn after successfully climbing it- completely on our own -I would have laughed and called you the biggest liar in the world 😮‍💨

We both grew up in Alabama- where the tallest mountain is 2,413 ft tall. Neither of us really travelled out of the state until we were adults. And our weekends consisted of soccer games or dirt-bike races. We didn’t stand on top of our first 14,000 ft mountain until age 24 and even then we had no clue what we were doing & got caught in a hail storm on the way down! 🙃

Climbing mountains has never come easy to us. No one in either of our families has ever done anything like it before so every time we did something new it felt like this HUGE accomplishment! & every mountain we climbed we got just a little bit stronger, a little bit smarter, a little bit more intuitive and LOT hungrier for the next one.

So when we floated the idea of climbing the Matterhorn it started out as most conversations about new objectives do- HELL NO that seems crazy.

But then we researched… aaaand the convo became more like - okay maybe?? - and before you know it we had flown across the world, hiked a bunch of heavy gear up to the Matterhorn Mountain hut (hornli hut), and had alarms set for the middle of the night in order to make our summit push the next morning.

And after all of that- we completely FAILED on our first attempt! But tbh there is NOTHING in this world that motivates us more than failure… so after a few days of rest we went up for another attempt and this time were successful!!

All this to say… DREAM BIG YALL bc you might just find yourself standing on top of a mountain that 5 years earlier you thought was “impossible” to climb!!!

#matterhorn #climbmountains #mountains

The ULTIMATE polar plunge! ⬇️ Next month we a

The ULTIMATE polar plunge! ⬇️

Next month we are going on the biggest bucket-list adventure trip TO ANTARCTICA and I can’t wait to finally experience one of the most pristine, remote, and beautiful places on Earth!

We’ve always said if we’re going to Antarctica; we’re going to do it the right way which is why we chose to book with @whoatravel on a @polarlatitudes expedition!!

@whoatravel : the group!

If adventure travel has taught us anything- it’s that the destination is always cool, but the people you share it with is what makes a lasting impression. Antarctica will be one of the biggest adventures of our lives and we wanted to go with a group of fun adventurous people to share the journey with!

We booked with WHOA so we would be traveling with a group that we can connect with BEFORE the trip and let me tell you- it has been SO NICE to already have our expedition family before we even get there!

WHOA also does group calls months before we leave to answer any questions we have & gives travel & packing advice and just tons of info that has been super helpful on the front end!

@polarlatitudes : The ship and operations!

Polar Latitudes is WHOA’s partner company and who we will be sailing with! It is SO IMPORTANT to choose an expedition company that cares about the fragile environment we’re traveling to and Polar Latitudes goes above and beyond.

We LOVE that the ship is on the smaller side and built for Antarctic waters. Other Antarctica ships are so big that you have to request a dinner time slot or you have to take turns for landings, but because PL runs a smaller operation everyone gets to do everything- like one big family! A smaller ship also means we can go to places that the bigger ships can’t + it has the highest ice rating! 🫡

Another HUGE reason we chose PL is because they offer their Citizen Science Program which means we get the chance to participate with their Antarctic Ecosystem Projects while on board! Some of the past projects have been identifying whales, seabird surveys, and cloud observations- we can’t wait! 🐧🐋

Antarctica here we come!

#antarctica #polarplunge #adventuretravel #antarcticaexpedition

Early season reminders: -it’s only December -h

Early season reminders:

-it’s only December
-helmets are cool
-if you’re not falling, you’re not trying
-ice is slippery
-zip all pockets
-apres ski helps with recovery

Did I miss anything? 😂

#snowboarding #snowboard #skifail #skiday

A little life lately 👇🏼 Around this time ev

A little life lately 👇🏼

Around this time every year we usually start to slow down on adventuring and begin settling into the winter season.

Most years this time can get a little dark for me … with seasonal depression sneaking its way in to the short, cold days and my will to go outside pretty much disappearing 😮‍💨

But this year has been our first winter transition as official Tahoe residents and it’s felt SO much lighter. Being surrounded by a community of people who embrace every season no matter weather is has been so refreshing. Going on a run in the dark? Normal. Hiking in sub freezing temps? Duh. Sleeping in your car in a blizzard to catch the first line of pow in the AM? JACKPOT.

This has been such a huge reminder that life is all about who you surround yourself with that we are exactly where we’re supposed to be right now.

Some fav moments ⬇️

1. Hiking one of Tahoe’s most famous trails and not seeing another soul - another perk to slow season :)

2-3. Tailgating opening weekend!!! The views at @skiheavenly NEVER GET OLD

4-5. Weekly routine- cold plunge + sauna… we’re training for something really exciting in Jan!!! Can’t wait to share SOON!

6. I made an entire thanksgiving dinner with boxed/instant ingredients. It took a total of like 2 hr and was DELICIOUS!! Easy cooking FTW 🫡

7. Post food coma back cracks

8. I will NEVER… I repeat… NEVER get over seeing bears from our back porch 🐻🥹

9-11. “I can’t believe we live here, I can’t believe we live here”

12-13. Angel updates! Fitz is LOVING the cold weather & snow and Oliver is loving the warmth of the loft 😂

14. Winter hiking is underrated pt 10,000!!!!

#mountainlife #mountainliving #outdoorlovers

Camp Coffee!! ⬇️ Did you know that there was

Camp Coffee!! ⬇️

Did you know that there was a study that was conducted showing that coffee tastes 10000% better when you drink it outdoors (it’s us- we did the study 😂😂)

We loooove mixing up our coffee game when camping and these are our favorite 3 ways to make it ranging from easiest to most luxurious!! (ofc using our @colemanusa camp stove)

☕️ @kujucoffee Instant coffee
-instant coffee is just noooot the vibe usually, but @kujucoffee makes it bearable with their pour-over packs! It makes a waaaay cleaner cup of coffee than the “stir in” instant packs and tastes so yummy for minimal effort!! With any instant coffee - we like to add some hot chocolate & make it a “mocha” for extra flavor!

☕️ @aeropress coffee
-The Aeropress is just elite when it comes to camp coffee (and coffee in general). It’s lightweight, compact and makes a delicious cup of coffee that tastes like a mix between a French press & espresso 😮‍💨 its a HUGE step up (taste wise) from instant coffee without having to pack too much extra (just add hot water, stir, & press!)

☕️ @bellmanespresso Expresso
-this is the camp coffee maker that we never knew we needed!! It’s a stovetop espresso maker that has an attached steamer where we can make the most DELICIOUS cappuccino/latte while camping. I never knew fancy cappuccinos were even POSSIBLE while camping so this has been an epic game changer for us! FAIR WARNING: this might ruin any other cup of camp coffee that you ever have from now on 🙈 ITS SO GOOD!

How do you make your camp coffee??

#coffee #campcoffee #coffelover #camping

No more smelly feet! ⬇️ (a d) Wearing climbin

No more smelly feet! ⬇️ (a d)

Wearing climbing shoes without socks might be normal, but what shouldn’t be normal is how BAD they smell after a few wears 😅

Your shoes will actually start to grow BACTERIA AND FUNGI from the sweat & dead skin cells left in them 🤢 once I realized that I knew we had to do something about it.

Cleaning any performance gear always makes us super nervous because activewear is expensive and we definitely don’t want to mess up the material or de-sensitize the shoe.

We have been using @nikwaxna products on our outdoor apparel for years now and have been very satisfied with how gentle and effective their products are our performance wear. I never knew they had a specific shoe cleanser so finding their deodorizing footwear refresh was such a game changer!

It’s a powerful deodorizing cleanser that’s made to clean, freshen and prevent odor build-up in all non-waterproof footwear including insoles and footbeds!! and the best part is that its SO easy to use.

Steps:

1. Remove laces and insoles, if applicable
2. Rinse with clean water to remove excess dirt and dampen surface
3. Apply @nikwaxna deodorizing footwear refresh generously
4. Scrub w clean brush
5. Rinse well with clean water
6. Allow to dry naturally before use!

We’ve started to use this on our insoles of our hiking boots too and it has made SUCH a big difference w the smell!

From Sentry: “I can’t be the only person out there with smelly feet” 😂😂😂

#outdoorgear #athleticgear #outdoorwear

Is it worth it? ⬇️ Since we moved to Tahoe we

Is it worth it? ⬇️

Since we moved to Tahoe we get this question ALL the time…

“Is it worth the money”
“Is it worth the extreme weather”
“Is it worth the remoteness”
“Is it worth the dry air”
“Is it worth the lack of infrastructure”

& so many iterations of this.

I usually just ignore the noise because living here makes us happy and that’s all that matters :) - but I figured it would be fun to answer those questions with a few of our own…

so IS IT worth it?

Is it worth it to have world class hiking, backpacking, snowboarding, mountain biking, & climbing right outside your door?

Is it worth it to wake up to a blanket of snow & a sunrise full of 5 different colors?

Is it worth it to open your back door to crisp mountain air every day?

Is it worth it to have stunning views of the mountains every which way you look?

Is it worth it to be surrounded by a community of like minded people that inspire and motivate you to be your best self?

I’d say HELL YEAH it’s worth it 🙂 would you?

#mountainlife #mountainliving #mountainlovers #laketahoe

Details 👇🏼

We usually determine a trip is “bucket-list worthy” when we get done with it and immediately say we would do it again! These backpacking trips are some of the best multi-day backpacking trips in the world and ones you should try to do do before you die!

OKOK in no particular order ⬇️

1. Patagonia “W” trek

50 miles trekking through Torres del Paine National park! The W trek highlights the best “easy access” mountains in Patagonia! It is INCREDIBLY beginner friendly bc you stay at Refugio’s along the trail and can opt to have all meals and gear (tent/sleeping pad/bag/etc.) taken care of for you OR you can go totally self supported!

2. Cirque of the Towers

The Wind River Range in Wyoming has some of the most beautiful landscapes we’ve ever seen. This trip is less beginner friendly than the others, but with a little backpacking experience you’d be totally fine! It’s a 25 loop trail that is usually done in 3 days and 2 nights and is one heck of an epic adventure!

3. The Lost Coast Trail

The Lost Coast Trail is the most UNIQUE backpacking trip we’ve ever done. You’re hiking on beaches, through boulder fields, across meadows, and over hills and every day you have to time your hike with the ocean tides as to not get stuck in one of the “impassable zones”. This is a great trip to book with a group because the permits are hard to get & timing the tides can get tricky!

4. Tour du Mont Blanc

The TMB is a trail where you hike through THREE European countries- France, Switzerland, & Italy! It’s a multi-day loop trail that passes through quaint little mountain towns. You can either choose to stay in mountain huts or cute little mountain town chalets (hotels) along the way- making to as bougie or rugged as you prefer!

5. Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro might be one of the seven summits, but it’s also a NON TECHNICAL summit- only requiring strong hiking skills to reach the summit! The typical and most scenic route is the Machame 7 day Route which passes through 5 different climate zones-making each day one to remember!

So… which one would you do first?!

#backpackingtrip #bucketlist #bucketlistadventures

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