I might be biased, but backpacking trips are probably my favorite way to get outside. There is something to be said for the simplicity of carrying all of your gear on your back and hiking into the wilderness, away from cell reception and bosses emails. To me, backpacking gets down to the essence of being outside.
In these guides you can explore trip reports and how-to guides to some of my favorite backpacking destinations, as well as tips and guidance about getting started with backpacking.
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Everyone has heard of Half Dome in Yosemite. It’s amazing and beautiful and the star of the show in Yosemite Valley. But there’s another dome, one that is a full dome, hanging out adjacent to Half Dome: North Dome. This rock feature looks unreachable from…
Contrary to what social media might make you think, a thru-hike will bring hard days. I had my share of really hard days and days that were mostly good but had some hard moments. It’s difficult to talk about hard days, especially after the trail,…
Hi there! If you’re here reading this, I’m guessing you are a day hiker looking to get into overnight backpacking. GREAT! Backpacking is lots of fun, but I know it can be overwhelming figuring out how to get started. In this post, I am going…
Not to be mistaken with the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne is a major feature in Yosemite National Park, carved by the Tuolumne River. Towering granite walls, beautiful green-blue pools, rattlesnakes, waterfalls, and more await those who travel through this…
After my thru-hike of the Colorado Trail, I was feeling kind of done with backpacking for the summer. But, I remembered that I was invited on a backpacking trip in Yosemite way earlier in the year for early September. Not wanting to renegade on plans,…
I know it can be super challenging to take time off from work and family responsibilities to do a thru-hike. While the John Muir Trail can be backpacked in 2 weeks, many people want to take a little longer to really savor being in the…
After a co-worker of mine lamented that he got snubbed for all of his backpacking trips this year (COVID, fire, smoke…), I knew we had to plan a great trip to change that luck. Thankfully, a group of us were all able to get time…
Backpacking is hard work! Not only does it require good cardiovascular fitness, but you are also using your muscles: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, your abs, and of course, your back. You are also putting strain on your ankles, knees, hips, and maybe a little bit on…
Re-supply and food planning are some of the most stressful and time-consuming parts of planning a thru-hike! I generally try to avoid planning food (hence my PCT 2018 resupply strategy), but on the John Muir Trail, you can’t really resupply at grocery stores. Unless you…
2024 Update: The road to Road’s End is now open! The Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park is one of the most popular backpacking loops in the Sierra Nevada. Its ease of access from the Bay Area and LA, the gradual start to…
