Here we have a 13 mile sojourn into the eastern Sierra beginning in Onion Valley and going over Kearsarge Pass. (Fun Fact: On June 19, 1864 the U.S.S. Kearsarge sank the C.S.S. Alabama. Chalk one up for the union!) I revisited Onion Valley and its trailhead as it is one of my favorites. This was […]
Read more "Un Cuento del Camino: Some Sierra Place Names"Skiing is stupid. I love it anyway. Most skiers I meet also love the sport deeply. A skier has to be in love with the sport to endure all the hassle the pursuit of skiing requires. As evidence of skiing’s stupidity, may I submit actual drawings from Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski collision trial. Thank you Gwyneth […]
Read more "Road Trip Report: A Stupid Miracle"About the author: Poppy is a 10 year old lady dog of mixed heritage who has spent ten human years on this earth. She is mostly Queensland Heeler but also has some Blue Tick Hound. While at home she is a diligent watchdog. During her morning and evening walks she likes to spend time with […]
Read more "Road Trip Report: Autumn in the Eastern Sierra, by guest author Poppy"This Trail Report Redux is dedicated to my good friend Mike who was there the day I first spoke to the Mad Professor. Being lost can have its rewards. Being lost can test your mettle. Being lost can rekindle an appreciation for home and loved ones. It can be nice to get lost in a […]
Read more "Trail Report Redux: “You Are Here”"Fall was in the air, and my thoughts turned to school, number two Ticonderoga pencils and my former colleagues stuck in their classrooms. For my final fall backpacking trip of the season I embarked on a four day sojourn to the beloved Yosemite Valley once again. There I spent a rainy but lovely evening. Two […]
Read more "Un Cuento del Camino: The Lottery Winners"This hike’s nominations for “Trail Highlight” are: The Cloudripper, The Medic, The Foxtail Pine and The Clark’s Nutcracker. Upon my first visit to the South Lake Trailhead above the town of Bishop, California I thought it was the prettiest high sierra trailhead I had yet seen. I feel a second opinion is in order, so […]
Read more "Un Cuento del Camino: Loose Ends (August 8 to August 12, 2022)"Here we have a 16 mile round trip hike between “Mineral King” (approximate elevation: 8,000 feet) and Franklin Pass (approximate elevation: 12,000 feet.) Mineral King (now officially part of Sequoia National Park) is a sub alpine valley in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains accessible by road from the western slope via Visalia, California. The final […]
Read more "Un Cuento del Camino: Disneyland in the Sky (July 17, 2022 to July 20, 2022)"Below we have a twenty mile round trip hike to Waterwheel Falls located in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. When I suggested to My Beloved that she accompany me on this hike, she replied that she would only go if The Catcher (See Trail Report Redux: The Lost Boys) and His Beloved also went […]
Read more "Un Cuento del Camino: Reintroducing The Catcher and His Beloved to The Trail (June 27, 2022 to July 1, 2022)"On the evening of June 20th, I was honored with a phone call from my niece who had a “crazy question”. I assumed I was being enlisted to answer a science question, but no. The question was “Do you want to hike The John Muir Trail with me?”. The JMT, as it is commonly referred […]
Read more "A JOHN MUIR TRAIL REPORT: JMT: SUMMER OF 2020"On July 24th, The Niece and I were reunited at the Onion Valley campground in the mountains above Independence, California. She made really good time and came in two days ahead of schedule. The Onion Valley campground is very beautiful and I can highly recommend it. We found a nice site and we spent the […]
Read more "A JOHN MUIR TRAIL REPORT: JMT: Summer of 2020 (Part 2)"
"Trail Reports" 