Cathedral Lakes is one of the most gorgeous backcountry lakes in Yosemite. It’s also probably the most well-known part of the National Park that is not located in Yosemite Valley! I’ve had the pleasure of backpacking and camping at Upper Cathedral Lake twice, and I…
Backpacking to the top of Yosemite Falls is quite a feat. Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America and the 5th tallest in the entire world! I have somewhat of a blind spot and soft spot to Yosemite Falls. This hike was my…
Tucked away in the remote wilderness of Yosemite National Park, Lake Vernon is a stunning alpine lake escape along the Hetch Hetchy Loop trail that remains a hidden gem for backpackers. Unlike the packed trails in Yosemite Valley, this serene backcountry route offers solitude, breathtaking views, and an…
I thru-hiked the Wonderland Trail in July 2019! This was my first thru-hike post-PCT and it was significantly shorter. But, I have been wanting to do the Wonderland ever since I heard about it back in college when I was living in Seattle, and even…
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…
As an outdoor photographer who loves hiking and backpacking to places far away from the parking lot, I often grapple with how much camera gear I should bring. The photographer in me screams to bring everything, and the thru-hiking backpacker reminds me that I often…
