San Gorgonio Mountain is the tallest peak in Southern California (11,502 feet) We will be taking the South Fork Trail to Dry Lake. We will be camping near Dry Lake. Depending on weather conditions, we might need mircro spikes or crampons. Possibly snow at higher elevation. So San Gorgonio Peak will be optional. Miles: 22 […]

The Cottonwood Lakes are a great introduction to the high Sierras, very easy to access and relatively close to San Diego. Looks like it's still quite snowy up there. Pictures from 2021 (much less snowy!): https://www.meetup.com/sandiegobackpackers/events/278793005/ Snow depth: https://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/html/graph.html?ey=2023&em=6&ed=16&units=0&station=CWDC1 Weather (still unseasonably cold, hopefully it will be warm up): https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-118.21492172105822&lat=36.49599812734478 BEAR CANISTER (or Ursack) REQUIRED […]

The snow is finally melting and hopefully Tioga pass will be open. This is a 4 day/3 night loop. The Route 32 miles 7100 feet Current plan: Day 0 (Thursday): Camp at one of the campground along Tioga Pass Rd. (backpackers camp in Tuolumne meadows is closed) Night 1: Nelson Lake Night 2: Merced Lake […]

Get to know this 12.4-mile out-and-back trail near Independence, California. Generally considered a challenging route. Day 1. We will hike to Kearsarge Lakes and setup a basecamp. Go fishing or explore the lakes. Day 2. Day hike to Bullfrog Lake/ Charlotte Lake (optional) Day 3. Pack up and hike out Days: 3/2 nights Rating: (Moderate/Strenuous) […]

Mineral King is a subalpine glacial valley located in the southern part of Sequoia National Park, in the U.S. state of California. The valley lies at the headwaters of the East Fork of the Kaweah River, which rises at the eastern part of the valley and flows northwest. 3 open spots available Dates: Aug 22-25, […]

I snagged a permit for Bishop Pass. Should be a beautiful high Sierra trip! Planning on doing a 12mi car shuttle (hike from South Lake to North Lake). Day 0 (Friday) Hopefully find some place to camp near the trailhead. Could be tough because it's a holiday weekend. Day 1 (Saturday) South Lake to Dusy […]

DAY HIKE Trailhead address: Montezuma Valley Road (Route S22), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 Trailhead coordinates: 33.248037, -116.40594 Difficulty: Moderate 5.5 miles roundtrip and 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Mandatory rock scrambling with faint trail. Description: Hellhole Canyon is an exposed hike with no shade. 1,000 feet of elevation gain. There is […]

Desert season is here! I haven't been on either of these trails but I did the Joshua Tree section of the California Riding and Hiking Trail last year and I'd like to explore more of the park. Smith Water Canyon is a cross country route (NO TRAIL) with scrambles up dry falls. Route requires a […]

Overnight trip up Rockhouse Canyon Did this last year and found the spring! Hike up Rockhouse Canyon to a wonderful campsite among the cottonwoods. Description from Afoot and Afield: Rockhouse Canyon and the broad, sloping alluvial basin drained by it-informally known as Rockhouse Valley -constitute one of Southern California's truly forgotten places. Prior to the […]