The most popular hiking trails in Yosemite Valley can also be the most confusing! This short guide will help you make a good decision on your route choosing. The Mist Trail Yosemite's famous Mist Trail (sort of) takes hikers from Happy Isles to the top of Nevada Fall. The Mist Trail proper is actually a … Continue reading Navigating the Mist Trail / John Muir Trails in Yosemite
It's here (and I'm in it)! Get "268 Mistakes Hikers Make: And How to Avoid Looking Like a Total Newbie in the Woods" by Ben McMillen here: https://amzn.to/3UF4BJB
Yes, You Need a Permit to Backpack in Yosemite Yosemite is an incredible place to backpack - and with over 750 miles of trail, you won't see many of its beautiful features without spending a night or two in the wilderness. Doing so, however, is not as easy as throwing on a pack and walking … Continue reading How to Get a Wilderness Permit to Backpack in Yosemite (2023)
Click for Video I took my girlie up to Knight's Ferry, CA to hike, swim, and explore / climb the ruins. Along the way we participated once again in the #GallonBagChallenge.
Click for Video How do we keep our food safe from bears (and bears safe from our food)? In the first of this two-part series, I look at one of the most popular backcountry methods: hanging bear bags.
Click Image for Full Video! On my last California backpacking trip before moving out of state for 15 years, I saw Lake Aloha in Desolation Wilderness for the first time. I was 1,500' above the valley, and Aloha was like a magnificent series of gems set in granite. Little did I know that it would … Continue reading Desolation Wilderness: Bucket List Hike to Lake Aloha
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VIDEO! Shopping for hikers or backpackers is often difficult because their gear is so specialized. Unless you are told precisely what to get, you stand a good chance of making a mistake. Here I go over some gift ideas that most any hiker or backpacker will like - but more importantly … Continue reading Christmas Gift Guide 2020: Shopping for Hikers and Backpackers
Leavitt Meadows is just to one side of Sonora Pass California. It's a wild and beautiful area with several stunning mountain lakes. But - as I discovered - its trail system is sketchy in places. But if you're going to get "lost," this is a great place to do it! Join me on this fun … Continue reading Getting “Lost” in Leavitt Meadows
FREE CHECKLIST! Forgetting things on the trail can be frustrating and even dangerous. In this video I go over my planning strategy and provide you with a FREE backpacking / hiking checklist that you can download and modify to suit your needs. FULL VIDEO AND CHECKLIST HERE!
Kennedy Meadows (North) is a popular stop on the Tahoe-Yosemite trail (and for PCT hikers just up the road). This trail is one of the longest sections that does not cross over a major road and the Relief Reservoir hike has creeks, rivers, bridges and offers some cool old machinery, a cave, and an explorable … Continue reading Kennedy Meadows to Relief Reservoir Hike
Backcountry Pilgrim 