Calipidder

The passes are open but the high country isn’t yet melted out. Where to go on a weekend overnight that will give me my Sierra fix, but avoid the unknown conditions and snow/mud hybrid trails that are common at this time of year? The answer occurred to me last Wednesday - an easy, low [...]

It’s here! It’s here! Sonora Pass is now officially open, and the Half Dome cables opened for the season today. Rumor is that Tioga Pass will be open by the upcoming holiday weekend. 
Me, I’m sticking to the lowlands around Cache Creek this weekend, hoping to catch some wildflower stragglers. I’ll be off to the mountains [...]

Even though I’ve gotten out on some good dayhikes, I’ve spent the past few weekends stuck in the Bay Area and the cabin fever has really set in. I was determined to head to the mountains this weekend, and the siren call of the Yosemite Horsetail Firefall window called my name. Many who are familiar [...]

I love autumn in the mountains - the crisp air and fall colors along with the relatively light crowds always make for a wonderful experience. Paige had the lovely idea of heading to Yosemite Valley in early November and a few of us jumped in on the party. It turns out it was big weekend [...]

Over Labor Day weekend we once again headed into the Sierra for a backpacking trip. This trip was built around my desire to see Benson Lake (the picture in this entry) with its giant sandy beach and trout fishing. We started off from Twin Lakes (out of Bridgeport), headed through Hoover Wilderness, down Matterhorn Canyon, [...]