DAY TWO on the North Lake/South Lake Loop Our second day on the trail would be relatively short, and connect us with the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail with the Goddard Canyon Junction our destination. We awoke to another beautiful, clear morning and we headed southwest along Piute Creek towards the JMT junction. […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Piute Pass to Hutchinson Meadow
DAY ONE on the North Lake/South Lake Loop The Piute Pass Trail is a gentle 2,000 ascent up a gorgeous canyon over five miles. We woke at sunrise at the North Lake Campground, had breakfast and coffee, and broke camp. We hit the trailhead at approximately 7:30 a.m. The weather was sunny and perfect. Our […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop in Six Days: An Overview
For those who have backpacked the famous John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley is often mentioned as one of the most beautiful and memorable spots along the trail. But is there a way to get to Evolution Valley on just a one-week backpacking adventure? The answer is YES – and the most popular of these routes […]
Hiking the High Sierra Trail – Bearpaw Meadow to Big Arroyo Junction
Day Two on the High Sierra Trail is an epic adventure that includes some of the most legendary sights and sounds of Sequoia National Park. It’s a solid 12-13 mile journey, but worth every single step. We began at Bearpaw Meadow, heading north along the ridge with the deep Kaweah River canyon to the east. On […]
Hiking the High Sierra Trail: Crescent Meadow to Bearpaw Meadow
Day One on the High Sierra Trail we hiked 11.5 miles east-bound, from Crescent Meadow to Bearpaw. Starting at the giant forest, we followed the edge of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River – a super deep canyon with stunning views to the south, west and east towards the Great Western Divide. This section of the High Sierra Trail only […]
Hiking the High Sierra Trail – An Overview
Lesser known than the famous John Muir Trail, the High Sierra Trail (HST) is in many ways just as historically significant as it’s longer and more famous brother. In 1928, Sequoia National Park was expanded from the western section famous for the giant Sequoia Grove all the way to the Eastern Sierra and Mt. Whitney. […]
Re-Mapping the Sierra Mountains
The iconic Sierra mountains are one of the true treasures of California. Thousands of people hike and backpack in these rugged, beautiful mountains every year. The growing popularity of trails like the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail put a strain on a very narrow corridor through the Sierra. The Sierra Mapping Project is a five-year effort […]
Thru-Hiking the JMT: Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney
Day 22 on the John Muir Trail… Technically, this day begins at the end of Day 21. We went to bed early last night, sleeping lightly for a few hours and waking to our alarm at 11:30 PM. We ate Clif Bars and packed up our sleeping gear and tent. Donning our headlamps, we made […]
