Post Rim Fire – after the smoke, before the snow!
It has been a few month since the last blazes of the Rim Fire, and Groveland is hunkering down for winter snow instead of the hot dry fire. Last week I set out to check out the landscape that the Rim Fire had scarred before the rain and snow arrived – visiting the “Rim of the World” vista point the fire was named after and driving up Evergreen Rd to…
The Rim Fire from Groveland
In case you have not heard, the big news around Groveland & this stretch of of the Sierra recently has been the Rim Fire, currently at 228,680 acres & the 4th largest wildfire in California history. Curtis, I, and our pets (Basil and Herman) are now back at home and safe, but it was an adventure getting here! We survived home evacuations, road closures, visitors, and backpacking trips during this chaotic…
Hiking the Wild and Scenic Clavey River to God’s Bath
2015 Summer Update: Many of the parts of the Stanislaus National Forest that were closed to the public last summer because of Rim Fire dangers are now open again. Please use your common sense when attempting this or any trail – don’t go if there is a sign that says no access/closed/etc (yes, even if someone knocked it down or moved it out of the road). Check in online to see if there are any alerts…
Reflecting on Life through the Tuolumne River: Poopenaut Valley Trail & Rafting
I have had a river filled couple of weeks here in July, enjoying the wonders of the wild and scenic Tuolumne & Clavey Rivers. Great for the hot weather, and even better for the heart…
Stanislaus National Forest Hiking: Groveland Dog Walking Along the Tuolumne
Note that areas located within the 2013 Rim fire, including this location, are not accessible for safety reasons until Forest Service employees note otherwise. There is obvious signage in this area to indicate closures. Please follow all rules and use your common sense as always when entering into public lands. Hiking in the Groveland Ranger District of the Stanislaus National Forest is not really a thing. Nobody around here does it that much when Yosemite is so close. Plus, those darn low elevation national forests are…
Cross Country Skiing Dodge Ridge – on the Crabtree Trail
You know how you know you are on a real adventure? You travel one whole pass up the mountain! That is right, we traveled all the way over to Hwy 108 / Sonora pass to cross country ski Dodge Ridge. First skiing trip of the year, meets first winter trek outside of Hwy 120, meets first first trip to Dodge Ridge. Just kidding (about the whole “Real adventure“, and “One…
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…
Hello! I am a 30-something outdoors-lady, backpacker, and resident of Groveland, California - 
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