Founder & Lead Expedition Guide
Valdran Tornhaven is the founder and guiding force behind Yiganlawi, based in Milwaukie, Oregon. With years of hands-on experience exploring diverse terrains, Valdran brings deep insight into wilderness navigation, survival planning, and responsible outdoor exploration. His vision is to connect adventurers with authentic knowledge, practical strategies, and the hidden natural gems that make every journey meaningful. Through Yiganlawi, he aims to inspire confidence, curiosity, and respect for the natural world in every explorer.
Why Trek After Dark? Most treks are planned with daylight in mind. But sometimes, night movement isn’t optional it’s survival. Delays, wrong turns, busted gear, injuries… any number of things can push your itinerary into moonlight territory. And in more controlled situations, trekking at night might even be the point: some adventurers chase the quiet […]
Nighttime Navigation Tips Every Trekker Should Know Read More »
Why Go Remote in 2026 Not every adventure has to come with elbow to elbow crowds, inflated prices, or a dozen smartphones pointed at the same waterfall. In 2026, remote islands aren’t just optional they’re necessary. As overtourism turns popular spots into noisy backdrops, a new kind of traveler is steering clear. If your goal
Remote Islands for Adventurous Hikers and Nature Lovers Read More »
Why Skip the Crowds in 2026 The country’s most iconic national parks think Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon are only getting more packed. Year after year, record setting crowds are turning serene landscapes into parking lots with scenery. Campsites book out months in advance. Hiking trails start to feel like city sidewalks. For travelers chasing peace,
Underrated National Parks Worth Visiting This Year Read More »
What You Need When Flames Aren’t Optional Fire isn’t just comfort it’s survival. When you’re facing bone deep cold, soaked through from a river crossing, or waiting out a windstorm with dropping temps, that little spark means the difference between making it through the night or not. And when conditions go sideways, gear that’s merely
Fire-Starting Tools That Work in All Conditions Read More »
Why Water Filtration Still Matters in 2026 Tech has advanced, sure. But when you’re miles from the nearest road and staring down a cloudy stream or sketchy alpine runoff, the risks haven’t gone anywhere. Bacteria, protozoa, microplastics they’re still out there, invisible but real. Giardia doesn’t care how smart your phone is. The unpredictability of
Top Water Filtration Systems for Safe Drinking on the Trail Read More »
Why Layering Matters in 2026 Step into the wild in 2026 and you’re stepping into chaos. Weather changes faster than apps update clear skies one hour, sideways sleet the next. Layering isn’t just good practice anymore; it’s your first and most reliable line of defense. Whether you’re hiking ridgelines or hunkering down at basecamp, what
Layering for the Outdoors: Clothing Essentials for Survival Read More »
Knowing the Terrain Yiganlawi is no walk up mountain range. Its core peak zones tower between 4,200 and 5,700 meters, with snaking ridgelines and sudden weather shifts that make planning essential. The western face steep, jagged, wind battered is harder to access but draws purists. The eastern basin has more structured basecamps and gradual elevation
How to Prepare for High-Altitude Treks in Yiganlawi’s Peaks Read More »
Overreliance on GPS Tech Trusting your life to a battery powered device in the middle of nowhere? That’s a gamble. GPS gadgets whether standalone or smartphone based fail more than most hikers expect. Batteries die faster in cold environments. Dense canopies and canyons kill signal. One unfortunate drop in a stream, and your entire navigation
Common Mistakes in Wilderness Navigation and How to Avoid Them Read More »
Why Old School Navigation Still Matters in 2026 Digital tools dominate modern navigation but when battery life ends or signals vanish, old school methods take the lead. Relying solely on GPS can leave hikers stranded in remote terrain with no backup plan. That’s where traditional navigation comes in. When GPS Fails Even the most advanced
How to Use a Compass and Map in Remote Locations Read More »
Set Clear Goals for Your Trek Start with the data. What’s the actual length of your trek? Are you looking at rolling hills or lung punching elevation gain? Is the terrain rocky, muddy, sandy or all three within a mile? These aren’t trivia questions they define the physical and mental demands of your route and
How to Prepare Physically and Mentally for Trekking Read More »