Winter Camping in Sequoia National Park
This year Curtis and I made our thanksgiving feast in a dutch oven, over a campfire, surrounded by snow, in Sequoia National Park. Last summer we bought the ‘America the Beautiful’ all national parks annual pass, instead of the plain old Yosemite annual pass. Yosemite had upped their fees for the annual pass, so it was only a $20 difference – and great motivation to visit a laundry list of the…
Earthquakes, Landslides, Convict Creek and Pend Oreille
Last week I was visiting Curtis’s family cabin up by Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, which is a stunning place that I feel very special to have been able to visit three times now. Right now the lake and surrounding peaks are beautiful when capped in snow, and the trip requires a boat ride to reach the final destination! That is some real off the beaten path stuff for a…
Jackass Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness: A Tiny Backpacking Trip that Packs in Alot of Character
This is my obligatory exclamation of: What happened to this summer?! I had alot of adventures and day hikes (many of which are still in the blogging to-do queue) but not any backpacking trips. One minute I am kicking off spring with a snowy backpacking trip into Yosemite, then the next we are saying goodbye to fall with another venture into the winter wonderland. Following up with an trip idea…
The Majestic Rubicon Trail and the Tiniest Shack of a Lighthouse, D.L. Bliss State Park
I might be a lighthouse snob. I think it is a common trait among Michiganders, both those currently living in state and displaced. You know what they say, “with Great Lakes comes great lighthouses”. Heck, even the light marking the entrance to the Keweenaw portage is magical. So, about this ‘Rubicon Point Light’ – it may have been the highest-elevation lighthouse in the US, but that’s if you are taking…
Tahoe Stateline Point: Worthy Views just outside the Casino
This September my parents made the long flight over to visit California- and to visit me too! They managed an epic rental road car road trip to Point Reyes, San Francisco, the always exciting Sonora and Groveland, and Lake Tahoe. I met them in Sonora, after their time in the North Bay, to drive over the beautiful and windy Sonora Pass to Lake Tahoe. This was their first visit to Tahoe,…
Shealor Lakes, Eldorado NF: Hike, then jump, into this perfect swimming lake
After packing up camp Sunday morning I wanted to have one last short adventure on Highway 88 before heading back home to the my poor abandoned pets. It had only been a two nights without human affection, but considering it was only me coming home (Curtis was currently on a week long trip with some college friends), the pets can become a special type of monster. Especially the cat, he…
Woods Lake, Eldorado National Forest: a Peaceful Little Retreat
Before hiking to Lake Winnemucca I had found & reserved a campsite at the Woods Lake Campground. The campground was a nice find because not conducive to RV camping, meaning it was instead filled with peaceful tent and pop-up tent campers. The water was turned off because of the drought, but I believe the camp hosts had extra gallon of water ready for those who were unprepared. ($24 per night, more info here)…
Round Top & Winnemucca Lake Loop: a 5 mile Jaunt from Campsite to High Country
Earlier in the month I happened on a new hiking book in the library, Alpine Sierra Trailblazer. The hiking, biking, and skiing guidebook covers the area between Sonora Pass and Lake Tahoe. As luck would have it I soon found myself visiting the Tahoe area in early August without any game plan… meaning it was a great opportunity to put this book to the test! I chose to visit Highway…
Sonora Peak, Stanislaus National Forest: Sweeping Views on Sonora Pass
What came first: Sonora Pass, Sonora Peak, or the City of Sonora? Apparently the mining town of Sonora was the first place to obtain the name of ‘Sonora’ in the area. It was named after the Sonora Desert by early Mexican pioneers. I can see how the two may seem similar during the hot dry summer. Latter the Bartleson-Bidwell Party was the first settler party credited to have crossed Sonora Pass, although…
Hello! I am a 30-something outdoors-lady, backpacker, and resident of Groveland, California - 
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