I was amazed by the variety of mushrooms I saw on the Wonderland Trail. I know some of them are edible, but I’ve no idea which ones.
Click on the gallery to view larger, and leave a comment on a photo if you can help me identify them.
Each year on the last weekend of April, a motley crew of hikers assemble in Lake Morena County Park, some 20 miles from the Mexican border in San Diego County. The event? ADZPCTKO. Some pronounce it “add-zi-pa-sit-ko.” Some just call it “The Kick Off” as if there were no other. Officially, it’s known as the Annual…
My first experience using the DeLorme inReach Explorer was along the John Muir Trail last summer. Not only was it reassuring to know that if I needed emergency care or evacuation, I would have dependable communication with search-and-rescue (SAR) but it proved useful in many other ways. The DeLorme inReach Explorer can provide you with…
I love Instagram. It’s a great way to share photos from my iPhone and connect with others who share your interests. This is the first of a new regular feature sharing the best photos posted with the hashtag #SoCalHiker from the past week. Want to include your picture? Tag your outdoor-related hiking and backpacking photos with…
One of the questions everyone asks me about hiking the John Muir Trail is “What should I wear?” It’s not usually phrased so bluntly. Sometimes it’s couched in more specific terms, like “Should I wear down or fleece?” or “trail shoes vs. boots?” While I can’t tell you what’s right for you, I will share…
We peered up at the ridge above the cirque, straining to find Lamarck Col. Checking our maps and double-checking the GPS, we found what looked like a playground of car-sized boulders. The silhouette of a lone backpacker sitting at the top confirmed our suspicions — our route was going to involve some scrambling. Little did we know that the other…
Eight years ago, I thru-hiked the John Muir Trail (JMT) for my second time in thirty years. Anytime you are out on the trail for weeks at a time, there comes a point when you miss fresh food. It could be something as simple as a cold glass of milk, or fresh fruit, or… a taco. And…