California

Exploring the desolate parts of Desolation Wilderness

My 3-day October trip to Desolation Wilderness, exploring the less-visited northwestern parts of the wilderness area.

California

7 days on the Sierra High Route(-ish)

In early August 2022, we headed to the High Sierra backcountry for a backpacking adventure that combined spectacular off-trail sections with highlights of the JMT

Backpacking

Overnight backpacking trip in Henry Coe

A one-night, 32-mile trip starting at Hunting Hollow, passing Kelly Lake, Coit Lake, and Pacheco Camp on the way to Mississippi Lake. Return via Willow Ridge and Los Cruzeros.

Backpacking

Yosemite High Route, a 9-day backpacking adventure

On this section hike of the Yosemite High Route, we got to see rarely visited parts of the park and explore the spectacular high sierra landscape.

Backpacking

Tahoe Rim Trail 2021 trip report – 8 days, 182 miles

I thru-hiked the TRT in June after a low snow winter. An early summer trip meant bright greens, tons of wildflowers, and easier access to water. What a trip!

Gear

Platypus QuickDraw review: a great filter with a big flaw

Platypus QuickDraw offers a stunning flow rate, thought-out features like a flip-top and bottom cap. But it has a big design flaw that may be a deal-breaker.

Backpacking

Hetch Hetchy backpacking trip (3 days, 31 miles)

Early May backpacking trip to Hetch Hetchy: Lake Vernon, Tilltill Creek, Tiltill Valley, Rancheria Falls, Wapama Falls.

Planning

Tahoe Rim Trail 2021 backpacking: planning and gear list

My plans for a socially distant, easy resupply TRT thru-hike in June 2021. Early season conditions mean snow and creek crossings, but also beautiful nature.

Gear

Jetboil Stash review and boil test: an efficient and convenient ultralight stove

Convenience and fuel efficiency make the Stash a serious UL stove. How does it compare against a PocketRocket 2 and titanium mug? Review and boil test.

Bikepacking

Bay Area bikepacking trip to the beach and redwoods

A 124-mile bikepacking loop from San Jose follows bike paths, doubletrack and less traveled roads. Mountains, redwoods, and the Pacific – all in a weekend trip.

Backpacking

30-mile overnighter in California’s Emigrant Wilderness

Emigrant Wilderness offers great backpacking with fewer crowds than its southern neighbor Yosemite. This loop covers both volcanic and granite landscapes.

Backpacking

6-day backpacking adventure in Kings Canyon

A 6-day backpacking route in the high sierra of Kings Canyon. Bubbs Creek, Rae Lakes, 60 Lake Basin, Bench Lake, JMT, Woods Creek, Paradise Valley, Road's End.

Gear

GSI Halulite Minimalist II review: the best budget ultralight cook set (in my opinion)

The Halulite Minimalist is lightweight, packs small, and comes with an insulated sleeve that keeps your coffee warm and saves fuel when cooking food.

Gear

Garmin Fenix 6 & 7 navigation: how to easily load a GPX file

Step-by-step instructions for exporting a GPX track from Gaia GPS or CalTopo and importing it into Garmin Connect. Sync your Fenix and you can start navigating!

Hikes

4 dog-friendly day hikes near South Lake Tahoe

The Lake Tahoe region offers tons of excellent trails that are suitable for dogs. Here are 4 of my favorite day hikes within easy distance of South Lake Tahoe.

Gear

Inov-8 Terraultra G 260. The best zero-drop trail runner? [review]

Altra Lone Peaks have long been the favorite trail runners among long-distance hikers. Terraultra offers a more agile, grippy, and durable alternative.

Backpacking

Awesome 3-night JMT & PCT backpacking trip in Ansel Adams

This 3-night hike in Ansel Adams covers some of the highlights along the JMT, like Thousand Island and Garnet lakes, with some off-trail adventure added in.

Food

Bacon mac and cheese: 2-ingredient easy backpacking meal

Here's an easy, cheap, and fast backpacking meal you can make out of stuff you can find at the grocery store. 2-minute prep and 10-minute cook time.

Backpacking

3 days of awe-inspiring backpacking in Desolation Wilderness

An early June trip after a low snow winter gave us beautiful views, plenty of water, and patches of lingering snow.

Bikepacking

Bikepacking in Patagonia – from El Bolsón to Bariloche

The second part of our bikepacking trip in Patagonia took us through some amazing desert landscapes and rarely visited Argentinian villages.

Bikepacking

Patagonia bikepacking: Huella Andina and Ruta 40 from Bariloche to El Bolsón

Bikepacking adventure in the Argentinian Patagonia. We took the nearly impenetrable Huella Andina and the popular Ruta 40 from Bariloche to El Bolsón.

Bikepacking

San Francisco Bay Area overnight bikepacking trip

This 2-night trip in the SF Bay Area offers some exceptional bikepacking. Beaches, redwoods, and of course great restaurants and breweries.

Backpacking

3-day spectacular Emigrant Wilderness backpacking loop

Stunning Yosemite-like vistas without the crowds. This 2-night backpacking trip in Emigrant Wilderness lets you soak in nature in solitude.

Backpacking

Rocky Mountain National Park backpacking trip with Andrew Skurka

Trip report from a 5-day Andrew Skurka adventure trip. We hiked off-trail in remote parts of the park and learned valuable backpacking skills while having a great time.

Gear

Garmin Fenix 6 vs Suunto 9 in-depth comparison – there’s a clear winner

Compare the top two GPS sports watches on the accuracy, quality, usability, and software. Learn why the Garmin Fenix 6 is the clear winner over the Suunto 9.