(Almost) California's First Long Trail The Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (hereafter, “TYT”) is California’s first long trail. Or it would have been, had it ever been officially completed. Long before the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) absorbed / replaced much of the TYT, the 180-mile route connected several national forest wilderness areas and parks stretching from Meeks Bay … Continue reading Rediscovering the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail
LINK I am a big fan of Hetch Hetchy - the flooded valley in Yosemite that many miss due to its location north of the more famous valley. For this hike I went way off trail in an attempt to reach the top of Wapama Falls before the gate closed at 5pm. It was a … Continue reading Hetch Hetchy Off Trail to the Top of Wapama Falls and Race to the Gate!
Click Image for Full Video! Hiking Yosemite with the Fall colors is amazing! Hiking Yosemite in the Winter snow is amazing! Hiking both in one day is . . . AMAZING! This trip connected Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point to the Panorama Trail to the John Muir Trail above Nevada Falls to Happy Isles … Continue reading Incredible Yosemite Loop Hike During First Snow!
Cleo's Bath is a fantastic side trip off of the Pinecrest Lake loop trail. While the lake loop is relatively straightforward, the trail to Cleo's Bath is easy to lose. To make things more interesting, rather than take the already-challenging final trail segment, I decided to go off trail and climb up the Stanislaus River … Continue reading The Dangerous Path to Cleo’s Bath
Mt. Dana is the northernmost summit in the Sierra Nevada which is over 13,000 feet. At an elevation of 13,057', Dana is the second highest mountain in Yosemite (after Mount Lyell which is only about 55' higher and generally requires an overnight to reach). Having never climbed higher than 10,845 (Mt. Hoffman), I was excited … Continue reading My First 13er! Mt. Dana, Yosemite
Along Hwy 120 heading into Yosemite National park there are a series of tunnels, one of which has a side tunnel within. This "tunnel tunnel" goes right to the edge of the cliff above the Merced River. It is a fun, short hike that you can see here!
One of the best distance-to-views ratio hikes in Yosemite is the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop. For only 5 miles (and 1,100' of elevation gain) you can stand nearly as high as Half Dome and above El Capitan. Along the way you'll see narrow fissures with thousand foot drops, trees, creeks, boulders, and breathtaking … Continue reading Hiking Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop in Yosemite National Park
Often hailed as the most popular trail in Yosemite National Park, the Mist Trail / John Muir Trail loop includes beautiful views of Happy Isles, Illilouette Falls and cascades, close encounters with both Vernal and Nevada Falls, the idyllic Emerald Pool and Silver Apron, a vertical look from the base of Liberty Cap, Merced River … Continue reading Yosemite’s Mist / John Muir Trail Loop
Like many hikers, Half Dome has been on my bucket list for some time. The first problem is that it requires a 17+ mile hike in addition to the climb - and if you don't get a wilderness permit on top of your Half Dome permit, you can't make it an overnight. The second problem … Continue reading Half Dome in a Whole Day
My hike on the Pioneer Express Trail along the American River (18 miles, 1,350') included a canal, a hydro-electric plant, and a bear. A BEAR! Guess he was tired of the lockdown too! Full video HERE!
Backcountry Pilgrim 