Years of Sierra backpacking with experienced friends has helped me dial into a core set of gear that works really well for me. That said, things change, innovations come to market, and materials improve. There is always a ‘better faster lighter cheaper whatever’ option that is incrementally better than what we have. As happy as [...]
We headed up to Emigrant Wilderness for an overnighter last weekend. Conditions are still rapidly changing with snow in the high country causing both difficult travel and dangerous creek crossings. This meant we ended up at Bear Lake, a short 4.5 mile hike from the Crabtree Trailhead (Gianelli is still snowed in). Although we would [...]
Once a year Henry Coe State Park opens the gate at Bell’s Station on Highway 152 for a weekend, allowing access to the more remote areas of the backcountry. With over 87000 acres, Henry Coe is difficult to see in its entirety by dayhiking or even overnight backpacking, so this weekend is a great opportunity [...]
The wind had gusted all night, and at some point I put in ear plugs so I could get some sleep. When it started getting light out I popped them out and was extremely disappointed to hear that the wind was still blasting. I reluctantly poked my head out of my tent, expecting to see [...]
This year’s big trip was not the John Muir Trail (again) or the High Sierra Trail (again), or any other big-mileage trip. Instead, I decided to join my friend Sooz on a cross-country adventure out of Pine Creek on the east side of the Sierra. While the mileage was low, the majority of the travel [...]
The Sierra summer backpacking season is coming to a close which means I am home again and can focus on the thousands of photos taken, hundreds of miles hiked and GPS-tracked, and long list of peaks summited. I’ll start with a report on a classic loop out of Mineral King featuring Timber Gap, Black Rock [...]
I just got back from a four day trip out of Mineral King. It took us over Timber Gap, then Black Rock Pass, past Little and Big Five Lakes, up Lost Canyon, by Columbine Lake, and then out over Sawtooth Pass. I’ll write up a proper trip report later since I am heading out the [...]
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