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 …
For regular readers of this blog, you probably already know the name James Temple (@jtemple). He’s one of my backpacking buddies and a hobbyist documentary filmmaker. His backpack is also his kryptonite. There’s something to be said for having a friend along on your outdoor adventures who can capture the beauty of it in a …
A year ago I was training for an epic adventure: Backpacking the northernmost approximately 60 miles of the John Muir Trail. It was a 6-day backpack with epic elevation gain (we climbed from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows in a mere 2 days, not to mention hiking over Donahue Pass). And it was an experience …
The Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve is a wonder of nature. It’s a saltwater lake that is 2-1/2 times as salty as the ocean and very alkaline. It’s the birthplace of 90% of all California seagulls with more than 50,000 of them returning here annually to nest. An estimated 1.5 million eared grebes stop …
The Mammoth high country in the Eastern Sierras (just to the east of Yosemite) offers great camping and hiking away from the national park crowds. This easy hike southwest of the winter ski town of Mammoth Lakes gives you a taste of what the high Sierras have to offer – pristine lakes, amazing oft-snowcapped mountain …
