I decided to do the Sierra High Route, and, well, I don’t really hike. With the trip on the calendar, I took some time to get some miles and elevation on these stubby little climber legs. Armed with 6L of water and camera gear in my pack, hiking Jobs Peak to Freel Peak ended up being the perfect sufferfest for training.
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket has been on the market for quite some time now as a tried and true lightweight down jacket. (In fact, it’s also the most common down jacket on the PCT.) When they introduced the Ghost Whisperer Down Pants, If you are a person who struggles to stay warm, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants are a must have for your adventure kit.
My choice of hiking bottoms changes a lot. Sometimes I’m a pants kinda lady. Sometimes it’s leggings. Right now, it’s shorts. (Maybe you can blame my thru-hiker partner, Halfway Anywhere.) I’ve hunted high and low for shorts that are flattering on my 5’ tall body, and the winner is the Vuori Clementine Shorts. Here’s my review.
As a young lass, Walden West Outdoor School & Summer Camp took me on my first backpacking trips on the Skyline-to-the-Sea route through the Santa Cruz Mountains. As the years went on, they added more offerings in the Sierra, which is how I discovered Mineral King. I’ll never forget flipping through those brochures in awe of kids jumping off rocks into alpine lakes. After 15+ years of waiting, my boots (trail runners, more accurately) finally touched the trails of Mineral King. If you’ve got some time to spare, this 5-day Mineral King backpacking loop is a must-do.
Visible from Sacramento on a clear day, the Crystal Range is one of the most stunning ranges in the Lake Tahoe area. Desolation Wilderness from its lakes is great and all, but have you experienced it from above? The Pyramid to Price Traverse is a 3rd/4th class scramble along the Crystal Range. The traverse itself spans 2 miles. Getting out of the traverse is the toughest part. Here’s everything you need to know about the Pyramid Peak to Price Traverse.
