Garnet Lake to Thousand Island Lake – Backpacking Thousand Island Lake Day 2
We started our super short 3-ish mile hike to Thousand Island Lake around noon. Extra-curricular exploring included a little off trail climb after exiting the Garnet lake basin (good views of the mountains, Garnet Lake, and just a sliver of Mono Lake was visible in the distance) followed by lunching down at Ruby Lake
Shadow Creek Trail Head to Garnet Lake – Backpacking Thousand Island Lake Day 1
Curtis had been (good-intentionally!) pressuring his brother, John, to come down to visit the Sierra and going hike on the John Muir Trail (JMT) for over a year now… and he did! Over the course of 3 days (Day 2 & Day 3 blogs) we visited Thousand Island and Garnet Lakes hiking approximately 17 miles on and off of the JMT on our through hike from Agnew Meadows down to Silver…
Day Hiking Mt. Watkins, Yosemite – Sweet Solace Off the Trail
Trailhead: Olmsted Point, off of Tioga Rd / Hwy 41
Distance: ~ 9 miles out and back. Trail is fairly level with just enough climb in the way out that you will appreciate gravity’s help on the way back.
White Wolf to Pate Valley – Backpacking the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne Day 1
Curtis and I were invited to hike the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne with our friend Christine for her annual birthday backpacking bash. She always invites a big group of friends to do something really cool for her birthday, and considering the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne was on my “To do” list it was perfect! Fun, friends, & amazing sights! Navigate to The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne Backpacking…
Emigrant Wilderness Backpacking trip to Iceland Lake
The trip to Iceland lake (in the area generally called “Granite Dome’s Golden Trout Lakes” by the Emigrant Wilderness Guidebook) was our first ever backpacking Stanislaus National Forest. Which on one hand might seem weird since we live right next to it, but on the other hand doesn’t seem odd at all since Curtis doesn’t want to go to the forest where he works on the weekends… right? But, because…
Little Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point – Backpacking Red Peak Pass Day 5
Curtis realized that each day of our trip we had managed to leave earlier than the one before. Needless to say I was pretty excited to get started on our last (and shortest?!) day, thinking each step we took would be one step closer to getting home to Basil & Herman…
Merced River to Little Yosemite Valley – Backpacking Red Peak Pass Day 4
On day four we awoke to flick the last 8 or so sleeping mosquitoes off the screening to the tent and start off the longest hiking of the trip. The goal: Little Yosemite Valley… or wherever we would give up at.
Ottoway Lake to Merced River – Backpacking Red Peak Pass Day 3
We attempted to get an earlier start today, as leaving Ottoway lake and hiking up red peak pass was to be our first longer hiking day. We were also anticipating it to be our most scenic day…
Illilouette Creek to Ottoway Lake – Backpacking Red Peak Pass Day 2
From our camp along Illilouette day two would again take us 8-9ish miles, but with considerably more elevation gain , to lower Ottoway Lake…
Hello! I am a 30-something outdoors-lady, backpacker, and resident of Groveland, California - 
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