Day hiking the Lofty Lake Loop
For the first time since finishing up the desert section of the PCT almost three years ago, I finally went car camping last weekend! How luxurious it was to sit in a chair (I never bring one backpacking), set up a fancy picnic table taco bar (instead of my...
Dewey Point and Merced Grove: Yosemite Winter Edition
My roommates and I went on a quick overnight trip to explore the snowy version of Yosemite National Park over the weekend. Thanks to the COVID-induced reservation requirement and the fact that it’s winter, Yosemite was the most empty I’ve ever seen it. Even more empty than it was...
Finishing up the desert section
The Santa Ana winds were out in full force over Thanksgiving weekend, so instead of subjecting myself and my tent to 65 mph winds, I decided to finish up the 22 miles I had left of the PCT desert section as a day hike. It felt extra luxurious to...
Mt. Olympus lives up to its name
This post has been sitting in draft mode for months now. I took a trip to Salt Lake City in March, right before the U.S. got hit hard with COVID-19. I am SO GLAD I got out of town one last time right before the world started to feel...
White Sands, Saguaro, and Death Valley
This early morning post brought to you by a 5:00 am burro alarm clock. White Sands National Monument Along with Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands National Monument has also become one of my favorite places. The forecast called for rain, but since a trip to White Sands would only add...
Texas and New Mexico Whirlwind
After a food and board game filled night in Austin, followed by all the breakfast tacos I could fit in my stomach, we headed onward towards Big Bend National Park. The drive between Austin and Big Bend is a long, desolate one. Keeping an eye on the gas gauge...