This is my go-to backpacking packing list for three-season trips in the Sierras (spring to fall) and with some minor tweaks works in other settings as well. My end goal is to have my pack be no more than 40 pounds (preferably less) including all food, bear canister and a full hydration reservoir of water. …
The High Sierras, especially in the more remote backcountry of Yosemite National Park and Inyo National Forest, are without a doubt my favorite outdoor destination. With peaks and passes above 10,000 feet, the granite rocky terrain of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range meets the sky with oft-snow-covered peaks and pristine alpine lakes. It is also …
It was September 2011. Three friends and I decided to do something we’d never done before: backpack a segment of one of the United States’ quintessential thru-hikes, the John Muir Trail. It had been a very snowy winter and even at the end of September as we embarked on our planned nearly 60 miles of …
The High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National Park are a much-sought after way to see the park’s mountainous backcountry without the trouble of carrying all your food and gear. An annual lottery is in place for tent cabin accommodations, dinner, breakfast and an optional packed lunch each day for the 7-camp circuit. If you aren’t …
When packing for a backpacking trip, the potential weather is a key factor in what to bring. But if you are visiting the backcountry, standard weather web sites aren’t always helpful with their city- or zip-driven forecast searches. The elevation changes in the backcountry can have a lot of influence on the weather, and the …
