John Muir Trail
Eric picked me up dark and early in a rented yellow Kia Soul and we headed off on our journey to Yosemite to hike the John Muir Trail, roughly 210 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney with …
Kennedy Meadows to Kern River
I’ve been following along with the s/v Rebel Heart family and their adventures, reading their blog for a couple of years now, so when Eric put out a request for hiking buddies for a Fathers’ Day backpacking hike, I jumped at …
First PCT Overnighter Without the Baby Carrier
Gabriel finished his first year of pre-school and as a celebration we all went on an overnight trip along the PCT – without the baby carrier for the first time. In fact, he carried his own backpack containing his …
Lake Morena to Scissors Crossing
I had been planning a little hike along the PCT from where we left off on our last trip (Lake Morena at PCT mile 20), to the 78 freeway at Scissors Crossing, roughly PCT mile 77. This would be …
Tamarack Valley via Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Friday morning we woke up and decided that everything else could wait. In less than two hours we had packed the car and headed out on a trip back to the San Jacinto Wilderness – this time from …
Palomar Mountain Observatory Camping
Our friends Joel Amy and Meret put together a spur of the moment camping trip up to the Palomar Mountain Observatory Campground. Away we went!
Mt Laguna Car-Camping near the PCT
Our friends invited us to come car-camping at the Burnt Rancheria campground at Mt Laguna. We had planned to continue our PCT section hike progress and walk in from Cibbet’s Flat Campground to meet them, but at the last …
San Jacinto Peak – Solo
I went up to San Jacinto Peak by myself for a night’s getaway. I had never been on a solo overnight backpacking trip before, so I was very excited and a bit scared. When I picked up my …
Mexican Border to Lake Morena
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) starts at the Mexican Border and runs approx. 2,600 miles to the Canadian Border. We wanted to start at the beginning, but the 20-mile (32 km) portion from the border to Lake Morena …
Kitchen Creek Road to Chibbets Flat
Back in town for a month? Time for a walk! We found a bit of the Pacific Crest Trail only about an hour away from home – around 30 miles north of the Mexican border, just past the …
Wilson’s Promontory, Australia
We visited family in Australia over Christmas and the 2013 / 2014 New Year break. It was a much-needed break, and while we were there we tested ourselves and our equipment with a four-day backpacking jaunt around Wilson’s …
Mt Laguna Hike Success!
Thanksgiving weekend we headed back up to Mt Laguna for a do-over. It was quite cold, but really fun. Gabriel did not stop talking, singing and or dancing the whole time…. he was so happy to be riding …