Mt. San Jacinto via Deer Springs Trail

snow covered mountain, but needed a training hike *Originally hiked: April 17-18, 2021 In March earlier this year, we got permits to hike the John Muir Trail in June.  It was time to train and the only way to do so, was to hit as many hard hikes locally as we can over the weekends. Continue reading “Mt. San Jacinto via Deer Springs Trail”

John Muir Trail: Day 3 & 4

A lighter climb day vs. completing the hardest pass day Day Miles Point A to Point B Elevation Gain Elevation Loss June 8  10.54 miles Just below Guitar Lake to Tyndall Creek 1,706 feet 1,909 feet June 9  13.37 miles Tyndall Creek to Vidette Meadow 2,283 feet 3,547 feet Read more of my blabberings onContinue reading “John Muir Trail: Day 3 & 4”

19 Eastern Sierra Lakes that You Have to Visit

Once upon a time in a land far far away, beyond where most Los Angeles dwellers would go, where the leaves rustle with the simplest of winds, where the lakes glisten when the sun hits them perfectly, where the wildflowers bloom after the snow melts, where the only sound you hear are the birds chirping,Continue reading “19 Eastern Sierra Lakes that You Have to Visit”

Big Pine Creek North Fork to Third Lake: John Muir Wilderness

Unfortunately this seems to be a very popular trail.  Please make sure that you practice Leave No Trace; we found a lot of trash here and there.  We found a couple campfires; it specifically says no campfires on this trail when you pick up your permits. *Originally hiked on June 9, 2019 & June 2,Continue reading “Big Pine Creek North Fork to Third Lake: John Muir Wilderness”

Throop Peak, Mt. Burnham & Mt. Baden Powell via Vincent Saddle: Angeles National Forest

Most people who climb Mt. Baden Powell will start from the Vincent Gap style, we decided to go a different route and allow summits to a couple more peaks in the area.  We didn’t decide to do Baden Powell until we got to Mt. Burnham, but that’s the beauty of having a map with you,Continue reading “Throop Peak, Mt. Burnham & Mt. Baden Powell via Vincent Saddle: Angeles National Forest”

Ruby Lake via Mosquito Flats: John Muir Wilderness

*Originally hiked: July 13, 2019 Ruby Lake lies in the Rock Creek Lake Basin, a very popular fly fishing and hiking destination.  We opted to backpack the area and see how far we can get up to Mono Pass or past it.  It was a big snow year and with being a little out ofContinue reading “Ruby Lake via Mosquito Flats: John Muir Wilderness”

Mt. Hawkins via Dawson Saddle – Angeles National Forest

**Originally hiked: October 18, 2018** Trail Data Mileage: 9.9 miles Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet Location: Angeles National Forest Type: Out-and-back Difficulty: Moderate What to Expect in this Guide Aside from the road being closed to the trailhead we planned on doing, we ended up doing a tougher hike and a little bit longer. As thoseContinue reading “Mt. Hawkins via Dawson Saddle – Angeles National Forest”

Mt. Baldy, Dawson Peak and Pine Mountain via Backbone Trail: Angeles National Forest

Most people who climb Mt. Baldy go via the Ski Hut Route and do not know that there are a few different ways up to Mt. Baldy, this one being the shorter way up, but not easier. Location Mileage Elevation Gain Type Angeles National Forest 8.2 miles 4,504 feet Out-and-back — What to Expect in this Guide —Continue reading “Mt. Baldy, Dawson Peak and Pine Mountain via Backbone Trail: Angeles National Forest”

John Muir Trail: Why We Opted Out of Doing the JMT!

It’s taken me a while to write this, because I’ve been in a funk since we decided to postpone doing the John Muir Trail this year. If you are just tuning in, this March I was awarded permits to do the John Muir Trail, a “premier hiking trail in the United States” says http://johnmuirtrail.org/. — WhatContinue reading “John Muir Trail: Why We Opted Out of Doing the JMT!”

John Muir Trail: Day to Day Plan

The world’s big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” ― John Muir — What to Expect in This Post —  Trail Talk – A little background of day-to-day plans and what might change it  Day to Day Plan A – The plan if Yosemite Valley opens by our startContinue reading “John Muir Trail: Day to Day Plan”