TYT SECTION 4 My friend Greg joined me on the next section of the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail beginning at Lake Alpine and ending at Clark Fork Campground. We took the 3rd edition route past Duck Lake through the "Christmas Tree Farm" to Rock Lake, then did some serious route finding to Spicer Reservoir and then camped … Continue reading Rediscovering the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (Days 10-11): Lake Alpine to Arnot Creek
After a few iterations and the help from a buddy of mine I think the final "official" TYT logo is ready to go! It's a contrast to "National Scenic Trail" moniker on established long trails. The TYT was never adopted by the government so I went with "California" instead of "national" and since it is … Continue reading “Official” TYT Logo
In this episode of Papa Bear Hikes, host Martin welcomes Doug Beaumont, the California-based adventurer behind the popular YouTube channel, Backcountry Pilgrim. With decades of experience exploring the backcountry, Doug shares insights from his hiking journeys and the stories that inspire his content.Doug discusses his passion for hiking, his experiences on various trails, and the … Continue reading Walking the Camino of California with Backcountry Pilgrim
Full Video: https://youtu.be/dkzPR7t6pzs Death on Half Dome You might have heard of the 20-year-old woman, Grace Rolhoff who died recently on Half Dome during her descent of the cable system with her dad. Both were extremely fit and experienced hikers, but Grace slipped on the wet granite after a storm had come in and forced … Continue reading Is It Safe to Climb Half Dome?
Not sure how to start planning a backpacking trip with your kids? A lot of dads, even if they’re experienced backpackers themselves, feel like complete newbies when they first decide to plan a trip with their kids. And that’s not to mention dads who aren’t already experienced themselves. That's why I am a part of the … Continue reading FREE SUMMIT: Bonding Through Backpacking for Dads!
Today marks 5 years since I uploaded my first video, and to celebrate I have updated the Backcountry Pilgrim logo and channel art plus I released a new video revealing the gear I actually use after five years of reviews. Thank you all for your support! https://youtu.be/xyXTXgu5cS8
SEE THE VIDEO HERE! So Here's What Happened.... For months I had been planning what I believe to be the most difficult section of the TYT: Days 6-8 from Carson Pass to Lake Alpine. I'll save the difficulty description for when I actually hike it, but so far my research had indicated it involved a … Continue reading Hiking The Original Tahoe-Yosemite Trail: Recon Trip to Clark’s Fork Meadow from St. Mary’s Pass
WATCH VIDEO HERE! As beautiful as last night's sunset was, it was rivaled by the sunrise! This view greeted us in the morning as we ate up the last of our backpacker meals and packed up for the final leg of this section of the TYT. Dominion did not have a great night sleep and … Continue reading Hiking The Original Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (Day 4): Lake Aloha to Echo Chalet
In conjunction with my Go Bag Video, here is a list to help you plan what packs to use and gear to bring as you create your EDC / Emergency bag system. Note that this is a additive modular system. It is assumed that items from the one bag will be added to items in … Continue reading Go Bag Gear List
To All the Packs I've Loved Before… OK, I must admit to owning a large number of backpacks over the years. But I have VERY good excuses for . . . nearly . . . all of them. Some were necessary for the greater good. Some (most, actually) were packs I only bought to try … Continue reading My Backpacks (1995-2021)
Backcountry Pilgrim 