Mount Whitney, California

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...

While less famous than its neighbor Yosemite, Sequoia National Park should not be overlooked. Jointly administered with Kings Canyon National Park since World War II, Sequoia stretches more than 630 square miles and features remote wilderness, pristine lakes and the largest tree in the world. Whi...

The Giant Sequoias and the views of King's Canyon. These are both a must-see if you're in California for any period of time! We drove down Friday night. It's about a five hour drive from us. We got in at 10:30pm or so and managed to snag the last site in the campground we were at. It was COLD, so...

The temptation to open with a John Muir quote is very strong.I'll resist.I hadn't spent much time in the Sequoias or Kings Canyon as a kid, most of my time was on the other side of the mountains. But when August/September rolls around I get an unbearable itch to get upwards. Somewhere I can get a...

Kings Canyon National Park is often forgotten in the shadow of its more famous neighbor to the north, Yosemite National Park, but Gavin Heffernan shows us in his epic timelapse video that this place is a force to be reckoned with. Heffernan covered 1,353 square miles searching for the ideal vanta...

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 ...

I met Summer a few months back, and I was instantly inspired by her, both on and off the trail. So when she asked me if I wanted to join her group to spend three nights and four days on trail backpacking through the Evolution Valley and Basin, I jumped at the chance. I love being invited on trips...

“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 ...

We Have Landed on Mars Unsettling. That is the one word I often use to describe the Devil's Punchbowl. It's a landscape that seems like it shouldn't be where it is, reminiscent of extra-terrestrial terrain, and paradoxically both in the desert and in the mountains. Oh, and it's named Devil's Pun...