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// Jan 2026Tuolumne Meadows to Devil’s Postpile via JMT and Minaret Lake
This 39-mile point-to-point route starts in Tuolumne Meadows and ends at Devils Postpile.
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// Jul 2025Backpacking in Point Reyes: Coast Camp and Secret Amphitheater
This easy overnighter can be extended with an optional side trip to the not-so-secret Secret Amphitheater, a naturally-formed cave that collapsed and now opens up to the sky.
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// May 2025Fall Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness: Lake Schmidell and Fontanillis Lake
Lake Schmidell and Fontanillis Lake are 2 popular out-and-back backpacking destinations in Desolation Wilderness. I strung them together into the same overnight trip by hiking the trails point-to-point.
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// May 2025Spring Big Sur Backpacking: Vicente Flat Trail
Stunning scenery and easy logistics make this trip a quintessential introduction to backpacking.
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// Nov 2024Overnight Backpacking at Joffre Lakes
A short but stunning overnight trip to three glacial lakes in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, BC.
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// Nov 2024Backpacking the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne in Yosemite
This 30-mile point-to-point hike follows the Tuolumne River. Highlights include waterfalls, swimming holes, and impressive granite canyons.
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// Aug 2024A Winter Island Escape: 3 Days on the Trans-Catalina Trail
The Trans-Catalina Trail off the coast of Southern California was the perfect choice for a winter backpacking trip. We hiked it in 3 days over President's Day weekend.
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// Aug 2023Yosemite Valley Backpacking to Cloud's Rest and Quarter Domes
This strenuous hike out of Happy Isles takes you to an off-trail camp spot with a view that rivals that of Cloud’s Rest.
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// Jun 2023May Flowers at Tomales Point
A family-friendly hike in Point Reyes National Seashore known for its coastal views, tule elk and other wildlife, and abundant wildflowers in the spring.
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// Jun 2023Wildflowers at Soberanes Canyon and Rocky Ridge Loop, Garrapata State Park
An incredibly diverse, 5 mile day hike close to Monterey, and even better in May when the hillsides are bursting with wildflowers.
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// May 2023Snow in July: Backpacking Panorama Ridge and Garibaldi Lake
Panorama Ridge is an iconic 20 mi/32 km hike in Garibaldi Provincial Park that offers 360-degree views of Garibaldi Lake, Black Tusk, Helm Creek, and the surrounding mountains.
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// Apr 2023Backpacking at Wedgemount Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC
The trail to Wedgemount Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park is steep: 1100 meters in just 7 kilometers, with lots of scrambling over tree roots and boulders, but the reward at the top is a glaciated paradise.
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// Feb 2023Backpacking the Kalalau Trail on Kauai's Nāpali Coast
Beachfront camping at Kalalau Beach and the stunning ridges of the Nāpali Coast are highlights of the 11 mile-long Kalalau Trail in Kauai.
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// Jan 2023Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierra: Dusy Basin via Bishop Pass
Dusy Basin is a high alpine basin located in Kings Canyon National Park. This out-and-back trip starts at South Lake, passes several lakes on the way to Bishop Pass, then descends to Dusy Basin on the other side of the pass.
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// Dec 2022Island Lake, Twin Lakes, and Little Pyramid Peak
Only 7 miles round-trip, Island and Twin Lakes is a high-reward and low-effort Desolation Wilderness classic. It's great for a first-time backpacker, but also offers multiple off-trail options for the more experienced.
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// Jun 2022Solitude on Yosemite’s Pohono Trail
A 13-mile trail located on Yosemite Valley’s south rim that connects Tunnel View and Glacier Point.
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// Jun 2022Winter Meets Spring at Lake Aloha
An early-season overnighter to Lake Aloha, the “thousand island lake” of Desolation Wilderness.
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// May 2022Going Off-Trail in Tuolumne Meadows: Nelson Lake to Cathedral Lakes
This 3 day backpacking trip to Nelson, Matthes, Echo and Cathedral Lakes is an approachable cross-country trip in the remote Yosemite Tuolumne backcountry.
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// Aug 2021A Strenuous Yosemite Trio: Four Mile Trail + Panorama Trail + Half Dome
This route combines the best of Yosemite: Glacier Point, Half Dome, Nevada Falls, and the Mist Trail, in 2 days of backpacking.
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// Feb 2021Late Summer Backpacking at Fontanillis Lake in the Desolation Wilderness
Fontanillis Lake in the Desolation Wilderness paired with an optional scramble up the nearby Dicks Peak is an ideal destination for a quick and easy overnighter.
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// Feb 2021Stuart Fork to Emerald and Sapphire Lakes
A long 13 mile hike up the Stuart Fork valley ends at 2 alpine gems, Emerald Lake and Sapphire Lake.
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// Jul 2020Backpacking Half Dome in the Off-Season, Yosemite National Park
With stunning waterfalls, technical climbing, and panoramic views, backpacking to the top of Half Dome when the cables are down is the ultimate adventure.
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// Jul 2020Four Lakes Loop via Stoney Ridge Trail, Trinity Alps
The Four Lakes Loop connects 4 alpine lakes in the heart of the Red Trinities, the east side of the Trinity Alps.
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// Jul 2019Rae Lakes Loop
The 4-5 day loop is a High Sierra classic that takes you through the remote, eastern side of Kings Canyon National Park.