John Muir Trail Day 3 – Cathedral Peak via Sunrise Lakes to Tuolumne Meadows.

John Muir Trail Hike

Day: 3 | Distance: 10.1 mi | Mountain Pass: 1/10 – Cathedral Pass (9703′)

On day three of our hike on the John Muir Trail, we woke up to a beautiful mountain sunrise at Sunrise Lakes. I had a fresh coat of frost covering my sleeping bag.  But the cold was no match for my 10-degree sleeping bag…

Read more

John Muir Trail Day 2 – Little Yosemite Valley Campground to Sunrise Lakes High Sierra Camp.

Hiking the John Muir Trail

Day: 2 | Distance: 8.6 mi

Today, we leave Little Yosemite Valley Campground for Sunrise Lakes High Sierra Camp, starting our journey at a leisurely pace around 9:00 am. The trail takes us through a forest that was devastated by a wildfire in 2013. The blackened and charred trees are a stark reminde…

Read more

John Muir Trail Day 1 – Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley via Nevada Falls.

Hiking the John Muir Trail

Day: 1 | Distance: 4.8 mi

In June 2014, four friends and I embarked on a 3-day backpacking in Yosemite. We started our hike in Tuolumne Meadows and ended it in Yosemite Valley. Our journey through this spectacular national park was filled with awe-inspiring views and thrilling hikes. Little did we kn…

Read more

My Ultralight Backpacking Food List for the John Muir Trail

Ultralight Backpacking Meal Plan for the John Muir Trail

There are two things I can’t stand, within the context of this article, when I’m on a backpacking trip:  being hungry and returning home with food left over. A good backpacking meal plan can solve both.

The first one probably sounds pretty straightforward. Being hungry sucks. Everyone knows and u…

Read more

Noble Canyon Trail – Hiking and Finding Relics of the Past in the Laguna Mountains

Noble Canyon Trail

Distance: 13.9 miles | Hiking time: 6 hours | More trail info.

Noble Canyon Trail was named after William Noble, who was an early settler in the area during the 1800s. He was known for his success in the mining industry and his contributions to the local community. The trail was established in the 193…

Read more

Coyote Canyon Hike – Two Days Backpacking the Anza Borrego Desert

Coyote Canyon Hike

The Coyote Canyon Trail hike takes you along the same path that Juan Bautista de Anza followed during his 1775-6 colonizing expedition from Sonora, Mexico to the San Francisco bay. With water running year around in the creek, it’s easy to understand why de Anza chose to take this route through the des…

Read more

How Much Water Should I Carry Hiking or Backpacking? Staying Hydrated on the Trail.

How much water do you need for hiking?

If you’ve ever run out of water on a hike, you’re not alone, and you know how scary it can be to face miles or hours without a sip.

In December 2014, I set out to hike the California Riding & Hiking Trail in Joshua Tree from Blackrock Canyon to Juniper Flats and back. The 36 mile out and back …

Read more

Eagle Peak Hike – Heading Out from Three Sisters Falls Trail

Eagle Peak hike

Distance: 4.2 miles | Hiking time: 3 hours | More trail info.

Eagle Peak is a frequently overlooked hike that shares a trailhead with Three Sisters Falls. It has an elevation of 3226’ and is currently ranked 69th on the Sierra Club’s 100 Peaks of San Diego County list.

Trailhead to Eagle Peak Trail

My fr…

Read more

Three Sisters Falls – A Springtime Reunion Waterfall Hike

Three Sisters Falls hike

Distance: 4 miles | Hiking time: 3 hours | More trail info.

Last summer a friend and I decided to hike Three Sisters Falls. We chose the absolute worst time of year to make the trek and we were disappointed, but not surprised, to find that the falls were dry. At the time, I was less than impressed with my ex…

Read more

Grapevine Mountain Hike – Going Off-Trail from the PCT in Anza Borrego

Grapevine Mountain Hike

Distance: 6.25 miles | Hiking time: 4-5 hours | More trail info.

John, a friend I met on Instagram (@adventuregraham), asked me to join him on the Grapevine Mountain hike in the Anza Borrego Desert with him. I eagerly accepted.

Not only is Grapevine Mountain #51/100 on the Sierra Club’s 100 Peaks of S

Read more