This is the year I ditched my camera. I, like most everyone else, have been taking photos with my phone for years. The quality has improved greatly and the convenience can’t be beat. Until recently I’ve used my cell phone to supplement my outdoor photography but continued to bring a mid-size camera lashed to my … Continue reading
Resupply options are fairly straightforward in the northern section of the John Muir Trail (JMT) but it gets a little more complicated in the rugged, southern section where no backcountry ranches exist. For those with a strict timetable, it may be undesirable to have to spend a couple of days exiting the trail to get … Continue reading
I needed continuing education credits to renew my registered nursing license. After looking through various online options, I wasn’t inspired by any of the offerings in my specialties of oncology or informatics. My friend, Glenn, an emergency room physician, mentioned that he was going to a wilderness medicine conference and the lightbulb went off. I … Continue reading
The hut-to-hut hike on the Alta Via 1 (AV1) is one of eight roughly parallel Alta Via routes through the Dolomites in Northern Italy. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in the the Tyrolean Alps is known for its rugged beauty. The AV1 is generally regarded as being the easiest of the routes, but don’t mistake that … Continue reading
Nelson Lake is a pretty lake in a unique location in Yosemite National Park as there are no maintained trails to the lake. It does require a permit, one of three cross-country locations within the park that require a permit (the other two are Budd Creek and Rockslides). Because a hike to Nelson Lake requires … Continue reading
The eastern part of Lassen Volcanic National Park is dotted with lakes, making it easy to find routes of varying lengths that allow for swimming and water views from campsites. This 23-mile, 3-day/4-night loop from Juniper Lake has varied terrain, endless lakes and a network of trails to choose from. With fires raging across the … Continue reading
This year (2018) it was smoke. Last year it was snow. You never know what Mother Nature is going to throw our way. I’ve never spent a summer where I spent as much time immersed in fire data trying to figure out where smoke-free backpacking routes might be. If the predictions of experts hold true, … Continue reading
These are some of my favorite tried-and-true backpacking products for under $100. Some make good stocking stuffers while others are more substantial. Among the collection are items that would make good gifts for birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. Under $50 Beyond Coastal Facestick sunscreen, $7. Natural, environmentally friendly face stick is convenient to apply with no … Continue reading
I had the opportunity to go backpacking at Point Reyes National Seashore twice this year. Since I only live about an hour away, it’s surprising that I’ve never hiked the trails there. I have wonderful memories of walking along Limantour Beach and having big bonfires in high school but haven’t been out to the coast … Continue reading
After a restful day hanging out with Casey Cox from Sonora Pass Resupply, we were ready to move on. Please see the previous article, “Tahoe to Sonora Pass,” to learn about the first 76 miles of the trip. We start this 75-mile section at Sonora Pass on Day 10 of our journey. After Sonora Pass … Continue reading
