Wishon, California

I gave myself a personal assignment to chase a storm heading toward Yosemite Valley. Leading up to the trip, the weather was changing daily and I wasn’t sure if I was going to score. The night before we left, a high weather advisory was rolled out for snow up to 13 inches. The roads slowly becam...

Tucked into the eastern corner of Yosemite Valley, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly known as the Ahwahnee Hotel) offers a chance for you to explore some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and experience all the comforts that come with a stay in a luxury hotel.  Known for its stunnin...

“Our deepest fears are like dragons guarding our deepest treasures.” - Rainer Maria Rilke Finally, I am a figure of those Ansel Adams’ Yosemite pictures that I obsessed over as a kid. Finally, I’m on a Yosemite peak... ...But the sides of the mountain drop hundreds of feet on either side. Normal...

It's hard not to love Yosemite National Park. It is one of those places that breeds awe in adventurers and casual travelers alike. Families love it, solo explorers love it, and everyone in-between loves it, too. With all this admiration, it's easy to see why Yosemite is such a popular destination...

Wildlife in Yosemite Valley is vastly different according to seasons. Bears will be in hibernation, antlers will have been shed for the season, but there are a few stars to keep your eyes peeled for. Most notably, the hunting coyotes.  Coyotes spend most of their time avoiding humans (we have tha...

This past week, Starbucks opened a Yosemite Valley location, much to the dismay of the 25,000 people who signed a petition protesting it. It's located at what is now the remodeled Base Camp Eatery at Yosemite Lodge. The location is LEED certified (the first retail location in Yosemite to achieve ...

I've spent hours watching climbers make their way up El Cap from the Meadow, but from thousands of feet below, you can just barely make out the climbers heading up the wall. They basically look like ants. That is unless you've got a nice pair of binoculars. Enter the Maven C.1. The general cons...

I consider Yosemite National Park a formidable backdrop to my personal growth. I’ve conquered many fears within its 1,169 square miles, from climbing Half Dome by myself to comfortably skinny dipping with friends for the first time in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne to hiking more miles in a day...

In Yosemite, you can see some of America’s most impressive scenery without stepping foot out of your car. That said, you’ll be sharing the view with thousands of other people and the line of cars ahead doesn’t exactly satisfy the need for wide open space and fresh mountain air. Of course, there i...

Yosemite is one of the most well-known national parks in the world. Granite domes, alpine lakes, climbing routes, waterfalls, acres of backcountry, and maybe even moonbows come to mind. Well, those and Alex Honnold free-soloing El Capitan in an insanely short amount of time. In addition to many ...

My legs ached and my breath was short but I concentrated my effort and trudged onward and upward. Above me were only a few more switchbacks before the rocky trail gave way to blue skies and fluffy clouds. A few glute burning moments later I was standing on the top of Selden Pass, breathlessly exc...

Did you know that California is home to over 14 million acres of wilderness. You read that correctly. Over 14 million! Even the most driven explorer with all the time in the world couldn’t hike every trail in California in a single lifetime. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try. If you’re able to ...

California’s highway 395, running from the Mojave desert to desolate Modoc County, is a hell of a road. As far as north-south highways go, the 395 is often forgotten. Everybody takes the photogenic Highway 1, or the painful-but-fast Interstate 5. But the 395 is a real state gem, offering 557 mile...

The Lost Coast is a 53-mile route along Northern California’s rugged coast, untouched by Highway 1. A 5 hour drive from San Francisco, the Lost Coast offers solitude, wildlife, and the sounds of ocean waves.  For 3 days we meandered along the coast, feeling the ocean breeze against our packs and ...

California is a big state, in fact, it is the third largest in the country. Most people associate California with movie stars, avocados, and tech. But for an adventurer, it is so much more. Head to the eastern side of the state and you will run into California’s crowning glory: the Sierra Nevada....

The winter California has needed for so long finally arrived this year. You can practically feel mother nature's sigh of relief as the rain and snow continue to pummel the state. Besides revitalizing California's snowpack, rivers, and lakes, the seemingly never-ending precipitation also results i...