Darwin, California

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” ― Louisa May Alcott Exploring the Hoover Wilderness: Saddlebag Lake, Conness Lake and 20 Lakes Basin This past summer, I ...

The other day, my neighbor told me she was buying all new summer backcountry gear and was wondering if I had any suggestions…. “Oh yes, I have tons!” Most of my gear is a few years old and it is not Ultra light, by any means. Although I do love my current gear, of course I dream about upgrading...

Wow, all I can say is 2020 was a year I will never forget. This past year was unprecedented and full of so many challenges, heartaches, blessings, and learning lessons. I feel so incredibly fortunate to come out of 2020 stronger than I came into it, although let's be honest, I still have a ton ...

Getting ready to nix Death Valley from your road trip because you only have one day? Don't! This National Park is well worth seeing even if 15 hours is all you've got. Leaving in the morning, it takes roughly 5.5 hours from Los Angeles to Death Valley National Park, and 4.5 hours on the way back,...

As a woman who grew up just outside NYC, road tripping and camping solo was super intimidating. Def not in my wheelhouse. I found myself wanting to visit Death Valley, just with no one to go with. So I channeled my inner Queen Bey, took a page out of Nike's book and just did it. And let me tell y...

In Death Valley National Park wildflowers are so rare that they are actually called ephemerals because of how quickly they bloom and die. Witnessing a super bloom here is incredibly powerful. Life begins and ends in the desert with water. This past winter has been one of the wettest on record wh...

One of my girlfriend's favorite movies is Tremors. Yes, 1990 Kevin Bacon. For her birthday weekend we decided it would be fun to visit the area where Tremors was filmed, the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine. In the weeks leading up to the trip we started getting more ideas and expanded the idea to do...

Panamint Valley might just be the last place you want to run out of gas. There ain’t nothin’ around for miles. No people, no cell service, no roadside assistance, no water…and no gas!I was riding my ’84 BMW motorcycle, and I had just passed through a rundown mining town called Trona on my way to ...

I have to admit, driving into Death Valley had me a bit discouraged. The long flat roads and the barren desert along the I-90 seemed boring on the way in, and I couldn't imagine it would get much better. Trust me, that all changed once I finally entered the park. The lowest point in the western h...

14,505ft above sea level, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, and a book end of the famous John Muir Trail – Mt. Whitney is a gem that every Californian should experience. Permits You will need a permit in order to do this hike. This is the parks service’s way of keeping crowds to...

Standing at 14,497 feet, Mt. Whitney is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. It’s a long arduous trip to the summit that begins with securing coveted permits and ends after six thousand feet of elevation gain from the starting point at Whitney Portal. Since you typically get one shot to s...

Though you might not be able to travel far from home right now, just planning a trip can boost your mood and give you something to look forward to. One thing the pandemic has taught me is a greater appreciation for local adventure. It reminds me that some of the most exciting and beautiful parts ...