I finally managed to secure a bear canister and get up to the trail head... late.  They've all taken off already because they don't know I needed to get this thing and couldn't until 8 AM and they're worried about the rumors of thunder storms starting while it's still morning.  I get everything packed and start up the trail not entirely sure where ( Read more... )

I packed up camp, found some breakfast, and waited for the bus to come.  Up in Tuolumne again, I decided on something to take a few hours before taking the long drive back home.  I stopped at the Lembert Dome parking to hike up to Dog Lake and then to the top of the dome, planning to go out to the Dog Lake parking and catch the shuttle back.  Oddly ( Read more... )

On the last day, the only thing left to do was to hike out.  I made my way to Nevada Falls, then down via the Muir trail to Clark Point, then cut down to Vernal.  There was a spot I thought I should paint it from, but didn't decide to until well past.  Halfway down to the river, I found another spot that was good.


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Waking up the following morning, I found we had been visited by a bear who likes packs.  While one was regaling us with the story of waking up to a bear chewing on his son's pack, then chasing that bear through the soggy meadow with a creek in his socks before the bear dropped the pack, another noted that he had a problem as his pack was quite gone ( Read more... )

The Sunrise trail continues by going over Clouds Rest, although there is a bypass if you are afraid of heights.  The trail over becomes rather numerous near the top, but one bit is about 4 feet wide, which should be plenty but there are boulders to navigate.  It was somewhat fear inducing, but the peak was the other side of it.  Can't claim the ( Read more... )

Following hiking up the Lower Cathedral Lake, we headed back up to the main trail and continued up to the upper lake.  The trail around this lake has been rerouted to save the meadow which gives the impression at first that we are headed for a much more difficult looking pass.  Once over the pass, the landscape was a little more stark.  The trail ( Read more... )

I joined a group of hikers in Yosemite, except because there were already 8, I had to get hold of my own Wilderness Permit to go on the hike.  I drove up early on the 3rd to see if I could get a permit for the next day, since the walk-up permits are released at 11 AM on the day before now.  I couldn't get one for the 4th to enter at Cathedral Lakes ( Read more... )

I went backpacking for 3 days, basically.  I left after dinner on Sunday and drove down to the closed road (there be frogs breeding in the ford) and then hiked into P-Bar Flats.  I had wanted to get to Mono, but it was really very late already, so I decided the smart human stops here.  The next day, I hiked all the way up from there to Indian Creek ( Read more... )

I went out backpacking last Thursday, setting out for 4 days from Chorro Grande on the south side of Pine Mountain.  I started up the trail, brushing ticks off my pants every few steps on some sections.  I stopped by one picturesque tree and tried painting it in my watercolor Moleskine.


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silverhawk  took me backpacking in Shenandoah NP.  We started on a little piece of the Appalachian Trail and headed downhill to a big waterfall, which was a bit of a trickle at the time.  Then continued on down the way to camp along a stream even further down.  Along the way, maybe the middle of the afternoon, the threatening clouds made good on their treat ( Read more... )