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Filtering by Category: Camp
Ogden
Lewis Peak (run / hike)
Ben Lomond Peak (run / hike)
Mt. Ogden Peak (run / hike)
Waterfall Canyon (run / hike)
Cutler Ridge (ski)
Southern Utah
Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef (hike)
Moab (bike)
Uintas
Amethyst Lake (hike)
Following Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene, we spent a few days in Montana. We anticipated sore legs, so planned on this being a “get familiar” with Glacier National Park trip, with the expectation of making it back to do some of the bigger hikes. Mother Nature was looking out for our well-being, and even gave us a few “forced rest days” in the form of non-stop rain. Despite the gloomy weather, we made the best of our time in Montana!
Glacier National Park
Camping: We reserved a spot at the KOA in Whitefish just outside of the park, with the intention of getting up early the next morning to get a first-come first-serve spot inside. We had a feeling with the rainy weather, we might get lucky and be able to snag one the first day we arrived, and we did! We stayed at Apgar Campground. It had showers, restrooms, a gift shop, and a few restaurants. For us, it was convenient how close we were to the visitor center and the park entrance, as we knew we would need some rainy day suggestions! (Pro tip: some National Parks have a campground status website now - here is Yellowstone's)
What to do (when it’s raining almost the entire time)
Going to the Sun Road - With rainy skies and fog hanging low in the valley, there was really only one thing we could do - drive Going to the Sun Road and hope the clouds clear. After stopping at a few overlooks and meandering down a few trails, the clouds begin to clear and we saw the sun for the first time!
Logan Pass - At the top of Logan Pass we luckily found a parking spot, after circling for 15-20 minutes. Keep in mind this is a destination in the park, so get there early if you can. We hiked along the Hidden Lake trail, which was still covered with quite a bit of snow. Make sure to always carry sunglasses, even on overcast days. The reflection off the snow was harsh on my unprotected eyes!
Lake McDonald – Great sunset spot!
Get Ice Cream!
Board Games - luckily my Mom taught me to always bring something to do when it rains. Come prepared with a deck of cards, Yahtzee, chess, ConnectFour, whatever your game is, bring it!
@benjamintfleming
Hidden Lake @benjamintfleming
Lake McDonald
@benjamintfleming
Whitefish Mountain Resort (just outside of Glacier)
A few hour break in the rain led us to Whitefish Mountain Resort to get in as many downhill laps as we could. $50 for an all-day pass, with access to 25 miles of trails!
Rattlesnake National Forest - Missoula, MT
With clearer weather south of Glacier, we cut the trip short and headed back to Missoula for some awesome single track in Rattlesnake National Forest! The trails were steep, flowy, and dry!
Overall, This trip wasn’t what we had planned, but it was exactly what we needed! Some much needed time outside, relaxing and recovering!
@ Whitefish Mountain Resort
@ Whitefish Moutain Resort
Traffic
For the second year in a row, Labor Day Weekend was spent in Grand Teton National Park. This year, with a different crew! You can check out the details from Labor Day 2017 here.
Quick background, stolen from last year’s post:
Grand Teton National Park stretches 310,000 acres across the Northwest Corner of Wyoming. The Park is located 10 minutes South of Yellowstone National Park and just North of the popular outdoor town destination of Jackson Hole.
Grand Teton National Park is known for the unique formations of the Teton Range. Home to nine 12,000 ft. peaks, 11 glaciers and sprinkled with alpine lakes. The jagged peaks of the Range are a popular destination for skiers, climbers, mountaineers, and hikers.
Getting there: From SLC it is an easy 4.5 hour drive North to the Southern Park entrance. If you’re staying in the Northern part of the park, that will add another hour.
Where to stay:
Camp sites: There are six large campgrounds in the Park, as well as backcountry permits available. We grabbed a spot at the same place as last year, Colter Bay. Colter Bay is in the northern part of the park, right on Jackson Lake. Camping was $30 / night, but well worth it for facilities, bear box, convenience store, marina to rent Kayaks/Canoes, and being RIGHT on Jackson Lake. We were hoping to stay at Jenny Lake, but realized we would need to be in line waiting by 6AM. Leaving from SLC, this would mean a bit too early of a wakeup call.
BLM Land: If you don’t mind driving into the park every day, there is plenty of surrounding BLM land to camp
What to do:
· No matter what type of outdoor rec you’re interested in, you can find it at Grand Teton National Park or somewhere in the surrounding area! There’s access to everything from hiking, trial running, road running, cycling, mountain biking, climbing, skiing, swimming and paddling. Make sure to stop into the Visitors Center, pick up a few maps, and talk to a Ranger for recommendations.
Day 1:
Arriving just around lunch-time at Colter Bay, we set up camp, and with bear spray in hand, went out for a quick run to stretch the legs. Colter Bay is a great location, with easy access to a trail running along Jackson Lake (run GPS here). While waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive, we relaxed along the Lake until a delicious camp dinner of Jackfruit Tacos.
Relaxing at the beach
Jackfruit tacos: Use pre-packed Tex-Mex Jackfruit mix, and ready to go rice/quinoa mix. Easy tacts topped with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and pico de gallo!
Sunset at the lake
Day 2: (Big Hike Day)
Looking for a full-day hike, we chose Cascade Canyon to Lake Solitude. You can opt to take the ferry across Jenny Lake to cut out 4 miles, and 1500 extra feet of vert, we chose this option. Arriving to the East Boat Dock around 9 AM, we just barely beat the rush. A round trip ticket is $15, and reservations are not necessary (all the details here at Jenny Lake Boating).
Don’t be discouraged, this hike starts off steep for the first few miles, then becomes gradual. I’d recommend trekking poles if you have any knee issues, as they will be helpful on the way down!
Cascade Canyon Trail follows a rushing river deep into the Tetons. Along this trail you’ll be surrounded by the towering Teton peaks, see wildflowers, cross a few wooden bridges, and spot multiple waterfalls in Cascade Canyon. Just pass Cascade Canyon, the trail will take you Lake Solitude. This alpine is lake is the perfect lunch spot, but be prepared with an extra layer as it gets a bit windy!
After returning to camp for a quick pasta dinner, we loaded up into the car, and drove around the park at dusk in hopes of seeing some wild life!
PC: @benjamintfleming
Day 3: (Unexpected Big Hike Day)
After a long hike the day before, we were looking for a shorter, incredibly scenic hike, with enough time to head into Jackson for dinner. We chose the 8.5 mile hike (you can see our route here) around Jenny Lake, with a little over 1,100 feet of elevation gain. While it was a bit more strenuous than we were expecting, we saw a Moose, almost saw a bear, and enjoyed a view of the lake the entire time!
For dinner we headed into Jackson to Snake River Brewing and dessert at Häagen-Dazs® Ice Cream Shop (they have #plantbased flavors!)
Jenny Lake
PC: @benjamintfleming
Have you been to Grand Teton National Park? Let me know if you have any suggestions of things to do next Labor Day!
10 years ago, my Dad and Step-Mom took my brothers and I on a trip to Alaska over the summer solstice. We rented a house in Seward for a week, explored Kenai Fjords, hiked up Mt. Marathon, and soaked in the Alaskan beauty. Fast forward 10 years, and my Dad and Step-Mom now live in Anchorage.
Day 1: SLC -> Anchorage -> Ptarmigan
Straight from the plane, we jumped onto my Dad’s rig, Ned, and headed South to Ptarmigan Campground. Arriving late, we went straight to bed, knowing it was going to be an early morning.
Day 2: Ptarmigan -> Seward
5:30 AM wake-up call - we were headed to Seward to Kayak in Kenai Fjords!
We used the tour company Liquid Adventures. They’re focused on the small group experience and is the only company that has a private boat to take you into the Fjords. Unlike many other companies in the area, you will truly be guided by professionals, who have over 3 years of experience, minimum. They also work with a private water taxi, to make sure your trip through the rough waters between Resurrection Bay and the Northwestern Channel is as smooth and safe as possible.
We chose the Aialik/Northwestern Explorer trip. After a two-hour boat trip, we unloaded the kayaks and began paddling towards Northwestern Glacier. After paddling four miles amongst glacial ice chunks, we stopped roughly ½ mile away from the Northwestern Glacier and enjoyed our picnic lunch. Hearing ice chunks break off sounded like thunder every time a new chunk would crack off.
Here is the map of our whole paddle.
Captain Jess driving through the rain. PC @benjamintfleming
Prepping the kayaks
Geared up!
The Captain and our guide taking down the kayaks.
Dad enjoying the paddle PC @benjamntfleming
Paddling towards Northwestern Glacier PC @benjamintfleming
Day 3: Mt. Marathon -> Hatcher Pass
Muddy, steep, slippery slope
Mt. Marathon race is an iconic Seward trail race, and well-known in the niche trail running world. This gnarly race, takes you up the face of Mount Marathon, averaging a slope of 34 degrees. After a small warm up to the base of the mountain, racers gain roughly 2700 feet in .9 miles. This often slippery, steep slope requires shoes with good grip, gloves, and a tough runner.
My brother and I decided we wanted to see what it was all about, and made a go at it. The day we ran was a bit muddier than we were hoping for, and took us about an hour longer than we were planning. Note that there are no course markings, so checking your map every .1 miles is inevitable to make sure you’re on track. Our whole run can be seen here.
After Mt. Marathon, we decided to head north towards Palmer and Hatcher Pass. On our way north we stopped at Alyeska Ski resort, as well as our favorite, Moose’s Tooth pizza. We found an awesome spot to camp right at the Gold Mint Trailhead parking lot, that would be the perfect starting point for my birthday run the following morning.
Descending Mt. Marathon
Descending Mt. Marathon
Salomon Family
Drying off wet shoes
Day 4: Hatcher Pass – Birthday!
It’s becoming a tradition to do a long run on my birthday, and that’s just how we started the day along the beautiful Gold Mint trail.
Following our running and hiking, we continued north along Hatcher Pass Road, to check out the Independence Mine State Historical Park and Hatcher Pass Lodge. My Dad whipped up a delicious birthday brunch of Veggie and Tofu Chilequiles from Thug Kitchen.
Birthday Run PC @benjamintfleming
Huts at Hatcher Pass
Dad along the Gold Mint trail
Beautiful Alaska PC @benjamintfleming
Day 5: Anchorage -> SLC
After some plant-based ice cream birthday celebrations the night before, it was time to pack up and head back to SLC. If you’re in Anchorage and want to spend a few last minutes soaking up the beauty before heading to the airport, I’d recommend going for a walk along the Coastal Trail.
Final stretch of the legs
Growing up in the midwest I had a very distorted, romanticized view of the West. I thought all of the skiing was in Colorado and Utah, and the rest was just farmland or vast nothingness. I was definitely wrong.
Once I moved to Utah, Idaho quickly moved onto my radar and to the top of the list of places to go for winter and summer mountain adventures.
With the 4th of July Holiday falling on Wednesday this year, I took the opportunity to take the rest of the week off and head up to Sawtooth National Forest!
Camping
By the time we decided to go, all sites in the region were booked up. I spent a few hours finding first-come first-serve sites in the Stanley / Galena region, made a list, and hoped we’d get lucky! I used recreation.gov and freecampsites.net.
We left Ogden by 7 AM on Thursday, and headed straight for the first site on my list – Sunny Gulch. Located North of Galena, and just south of Stanley, we would have access to hiking, biking, lakes and rivers.
Rolling into the campground around 1 PM, we had plenty of sites to choose from. We discovered this is the perfect time to look for a site, as the campers from the previous night were heading home, and lots of people wouldn’t arrive until closer to dinner. We chose a shady spot, complete with a nice fire ring, picnic and prep table. The campground runs along the Salmon River, providing a perfect natural ice bath for sore feet after a long day of hiking.
Next time I camp in the region, I’ll try and book a bit sooner and get a spot on the West side of State Road 654B with a better view of the mountain range. But for last minute, this Sunny Gulch was perfect.
Salmon River
(Hike) Day 1: Redfish Lake Trailhead to Marshall Lake Hike
After setting up camp, we made our way to Redfish Lake to go for a hike. Without planning a specific hike (something I don’t normally do), we found the trailhead, packed two water bottles, and started up the trail towards Marshall Lake. The hike would be roughly 10 miles round trip, with over 2200 ft. of elevation gain. Winding away from Redfish Lake, and deeper into the Sawtooths, the trail was beautiful. About one mile out from the Lake, there was a fork in the trail, without any signs pointing to which trail would take us to Marshall Lake (you can see photos of this. This is the first time I can remember hiking without a map, and our we quickly learned our lesson.
We chose the fork to the left – 1. It looked like a more scenic route and 2. It looked steeper, so we were thinking it would be a shortcut. ¾ of a mile later, the trail ended in a valley between two mountains, with Marshal Lake just on the other side of the ridge. We chose to scramble up boulders ½ mile up the ridgeline, hoping we could just scramble down the other side, ending up at the lake. We made it to the top, peered over the other side, saw beautiful Lake Marshall…and knew we would have to return the way we came. It was nearly 90 degrees, both of us were out of water, and all I wanted to do was get back to the trailhead.
Using the breadcrumb feature on our Suunto GPS watches (Suunto 9), we made our way back to the trail, and returned safely to the trailhead.
This was a beautiful hike, but left me with a humbling reminder to respect nature, and to always be prepared. Just like I learned in Girl Scouts :)
The end of the trail, beginning of scrambling
Scrambling
Scrambling
(Ride & SUP) Day 2: Lake Stanley
Determined to make up for yesterday’s mishap, we were determined to go for a great ride, and be fully prepared.
Starting at the Stanley Lake trailhead, the smooth dirt trail takes you through beautiful fields as it makes it’s way into the woods. The “moderate” trail could be classified as “easy” until you reach the first river crossing. Advanced riders can pedal across, I had a good foot-numbing wade across. From here the trail gets a bit more technical, with lots of down trees from recent flooding. A few sections of trail was washed out completely. Despite our best efforts, there was one last river crossing that I was not game for before reaching the top, and for the second day in a row, we did not make it to the destination.
However, with 1500 feet of climbing up, we knew we were in for a fun downhill (outside of a few sections where I had to pick up my bike over trees every 50 feet)!
SUP- Stanley Lake
We ended the day with an awesome paddle board session / took time to rinse off the dirt from the past two days. NOTE: to paddle board in Idaho, you need to pick up an Idaho Invasive Species sticker. You can pick these up at the super market in town. The sheriff in town told us these will soon be available at more of the boating/fishing stores as well.
Cleaning up in the lake using bio-degradable soap
(Ride) Day 3: Galena Lodge
After two peaceful nights of camping, we packed up our things and headed back south towards Utah, stopping along the way at Galena Lodge.
Ride – Galena Lodge
After driving along State HWY 75 in what seems like the middle of nowhere, you turn a corner, and run into Galena Lodge. The Lodge offers great, healthy food options, along with maintaining 40+ miles of awesome trails.
We chose to connect Psycho Ride -> Outhouse Loop -> Gladiator -> RIp & Tear for a 6.5 mile fun loop, complete with lots of climbing, and my first time riding what felt like a roller-coaster of bermy-downhills.
Takeaways for next time:
As most trips do, our trip started at the airport. With my car packed to the brim with camping gear, food, Rinse Kit portable shower, and enough extra layers to make sure no one was cold, I headed to the Salt Lake City airport to pick up my mom and brother for four days of exploring Southern Utah’s National Parks.
From the airport, we began south, stopping at a hotel in Spanish Fork to get a few hours of sleep before continuing on to Arches National Park in the morning.
Despite waking up early to make our way to the Park and to find a camp spot (we assumed we’d end up on BLM land – hence the Rinse Kit), we ended up at Archview RV Park & Campground. This campground felt luxurious. In addition to having Wi-Fi near the main camp store, the newly constructed bathrooms had marble counter tops and a stone-tiled shower floor. Camp heaven.
It was noon by the time we set up camp and were finally on our way into Arches National Park!
Following our mandatory stop at the visitor center to get our National Park Passports stamped, we made our way to the iconic Delicate Arch (the arch found on Utah’s license plate) at the far end of the park. You can expect a beautiful, windy, and likely crowded hike as you follow the 2.5 mile trail out to Delicate Arch. Even with the crowds, you can get an awesome shot under the Arch with a little patience.
Without much daylight left, we made our way back towards to park entrance, stopping at Panorama Point, Balanced Rock, Double Arch, and North and South Windows. With trails under .5 mile each, this was a great way to end the day and make the most of our time in the park.
With a major Mountain Bike race in town, restaurants were crowded, and we ended up at good ol’ McDonalds (while not the best, salad + fries satisfies the plant based diet).
With a quick oatmeal breakfast, we left camp early to beat the crowd into the park and made our way to Devil’s Garden. The full 7.2-mile loop takes you past 7 arches, ending at Dark Angel tower. We opted for a 4-mile loop to Double O arch, stopping at Landscape Arch, Navajo Arch and Partition Arch along the way. From the parking lot, Landscape is the first arch you make it to. From here the trail becomes significantly more difficult, taking you over steep, sloping rocks, close to drop offs. Make sure to wear shoes with good grip, and leave the trekking poles in the car. You will want to have your hands free for this one! Also keep an eye out for cairns (pronounced Karens) along the way marking the trail.
Landscape Arch
On the way to Double O Arch
P.C. B. Fleming
From Devil’s Garden, we made our way back to the Visitor’s Center for a picnic lunch before starting the 1.5 hour drive to Needles Overlook. This may have been the best decision of the trip. We knew we wouldn’t be able to make it to both the Northern and Southern areas of Canyonlands National Park the next day, but still wanted to experience the Needles… and were blown away with what we found at this overlook. Due to its isolated location halfway between Moab and the Southern entrance of Canyonlands, you’ll have the overlook to yourself. We spent over an hour following the trail around the rim of the canyon, wondering why more people weren’t here!
Day 2 came to a close at El Charro Loco in Moab, because no camp trip is complete without Mexican.
P.C. B Fleming
Leaving our campsite behind, we headed out for our last full day of the trip at Canyonlands National Park.
First stop, Grand View Overlook. The overlook is the southernmost part of the Island in the Sky, sitting at 6080 feet. A quick 2-mile round trip hike, this you’ll be rewarded with views the Colorado river carving it’s way through what appears to be bottomless canyons.
Providing a lending hand. (P.C. B. Fleming)
Next stop, Mesa Arch. As one of the most popular destinations in the park, anticipate a busy trail. Once you arrive at the arch, there is a smaller trail to the right that will lead you to an open area where you can sit and enjoy the views.
Green River Overlook was our final stop before heading out of the park and heading to Capitol Reef National Park!
Our goal was to make it to Capitol Reef for an epic sunset at Goosenecks Overlook. After checking in at the Visitor’s Center, we had time for the 2-round trip hike to Hickman Bridge. Hickman Bridge is a 133-foot natural bridge tucked away in the canyon. Ending the hike during golden hour along the Fremont River, the fall foliage was glowing. We snapped lots of photos, had a quick snack, and set off for our last stop of the day – Goosenecks Overlook.
We quickly grabbed our cameras and headed up the trail…a little too quickly. 50 feet up the trail we realized the car keys were perfectly safe on the driver seat, locked in the car. With some help from some new friends, we managed to use the antenna to unlock the car by sliding it between the door and frame of the car. LESSON LEARNED: BRING MULTIPLE CAR KEYS.
When it was all said and done, we missed the sunset, and made our way to our hotel, Capitol Reef Inn & Café for a great meal after a long day.
P.C. B. Fleming
After the previous night’s missed sunset, we set the alarm early, and made it to the same trailhead for sunrise. It turns out Sunset trail is also a beautiful trail for sunrise. We watched as the sun rose above the mountains, and filled the canyon with light before heading to the Gifford Homestead for a cinnamon roll and arguably the best apple butter I’ve ever had.
Following Gifford Homestead we stopped at the Petroglyph panel before leaving.
· Daypack with hydration bladder – hydration is KEY
· Mid-rise boots for sandy/dusty trails
· Sunglasses and hat
· Allergy medicine – I find my allergies are always worse in the desert
· Headlamp
Grand Teton National Park stretches 310,000 acres across the Northwest Corner of Wyoming. The Park is located 10 minutes South of Yellowstone National Park and just North of the popular outdoor town destination of Jackson Hole.
Grand Teton National Park is known for the unique formations of the Teton Range. Home to nine 12,000 ft. peaks, 11 glaciers and sprinkled with alpine lakes. The jagged peaks of the Range are a popular destination for skiers, climbers, mountaineers, and hikers.
Getting there: From SLC it is an easy 4.5 hour drive North to the Southern Park entrance. If you’re staying in the Northern part of the park, that will add another hour.
Where to stay:
What to do:
Grand Teton National Park is an outdoors person dream backyard. There’s plenty to do from hiking, cycling, mountain biking, climbing, skiing, swimming and paddling. Make sure to stop into the Visitors Center, pick up a few maps, and talk to a Ranger for recommendations.
Day 1:
(Bike) Starting at Willow Bay Junction, we rode a 32 mile loop down to Jenny Lake Visitor Center and back. This was a beautiful ride along the Park road; winding in an out of trees, through fields (unfortunately, no wildlife spottings), and passing Jackson Lake, Leigh Lake, and Jenny Lake.
We made it back to camp in time for dinner and to catch the sunset along the rocky Jackson Lake shore.
Day 2:
(Swim) Wetsuits in hand, we made our way to Jackson Lake for a quick training swimming in the crystal-clear waters. This was my favorite training swim of the season, with the sun rising over the trees just as we were halfway to our destination - a small island in the middle of the lake.
(Hike) We took our time warming up and eating breakfast before packing up and heading to Taggart Lake Trailhead, for a long hike up to Taggart, Amphitheater, and Surprise Lakes. We chose this hike based off a recommendation from a Ranger for a “longer, challenging hike”, it was just that.
I quickly regretted forgetting my trekking poles while gaining 3,400 ft. in a little over 7 miles. However, the view at the top was well worth the burning calfs. Nestled in the heart of the Teton Range, Amphitheater Lake has 360 views of the jagged peaks, with The Grand Teton towering overhead.
Power-hiking our way down the 7 miles to the car (nearly 3 miles of switchbacks), we quickly changed, and headed to Jackson for dinner. Jackson is a picture-perfect mountain town. Good restaurants, cute shops, lots of flannel, pro athletes wandering the streets, and awesome views.
(Eat) We ended up at Snake River Brewing, where they had plenty of plant based options.
Day 3:
(Run) On our last day we stopped at String Lake for a quick trail run on our way out of the Park. With bear spray in hand, we made our way around the 3.5 mile loop. This was a beautiful run, and would make for a great hike, or place to pack a picnic and hang out on one of the numerous beaches around the lake.
It's amazing looking through these photos, pulled from my Mom's scrapbook, all taken before digital cameras.
I. Getting There
With friends coming in from out of state, logistics were important. Because Ben lives in Orange County, we chose the OC as our meeting point. We flew into various airports in the area, piled all of our gear into the rented minivan, and drove up to Yosemite. (If you can, flying into San Francisco is a better/closer option.) We also had a google document tracking everyone’s flights, expenses, packing lists, etc.
II. The Campsite
If you’re interested in reserving a spot, it’s crucial to plan ahead. Campground reservations open five months in advance, and fill up fast! It’s like trying to get tickets to your favorite band the minute tickets are released!
Our group stayed at the Upper Pines Campground. There were multiple bathrooms, sinks for foods waste, and water fountains. This location worked well as we were close to Curry Village (unfortunately renamed Half Dome Village in 2016), and a few of the trailheads.
If all sites are filled, another great option are the canvas tents we stayed at on our last trip.
III. Itinerary
We’ve found that the best way to make the most of any trip, is to plan out the big hikes we’re doing every day, and have a few options for the evening. We could not have planned them better. Doing the hikes in this order worked out perfectly! It's also important to do you some research and plan ahead according to the time of year you're visiting. HWY 120 into the park closes during the Winter, and was still closed when we were there in March. Check all of the conditions here.
Fun fact: I used to hate crossing streams on the trails. Now, I love it!
Day 1 (half day)
After stopping at Tunnel View and Bridalveil Falls* on our way into the park, we set up camp and set off for Four Mile Trail. When the full trail is open, this hike takes you from the Valley Floor to Glacier Point. After 2.5 miles, the clouds began to shift, a storm rolled in, and it began to snow. As we made it back to trailhead, the clouds rolled out of the valley, and we were left with a gorgeous evening. From the Four Mile Trail trailhead, we headed across the meadows to Yosemite Falls, and wandered around the Valley Floor Loop for a bit before heading back to camp.
Total Mileage: ~ 6
Total Time: ~2 hours
View from 4 Mile Trail
Wandering along the Valley Floor
Day 2: Yosemite Falls
We woke to the sound of the gushing waterfalls, cooked up our go-to breakfast of oatmeal and coffee, piled into our minivan, and made our way to the Yosemite Falls trailhead by 9. The hike is strenuous, so plan on spending the majority of the day on the trail.
Total Mileage: ~ 8
Total Time: ~6 hours
Before a Golden Hour hike at Mirror Lake we made a quick stop at the campsite for fuel (aka more Clif Bars, trail mix, dried fruit, and Chex Mix), before making our way to Mirror Lake for Golden Hour.
Hannah 1, Hannah 2 (me), and Alex at the top of Upper Yosemite Falls
View from Mirror Lake
Day 3: Vernal and Nevada Falls
On our last full day at the park, we chose another longer, strenuous hike to the top of Nevada Falls. Along the way, the trail passes the Vernal Fall Footbridge, up to to the top of Vernal Falls.
There are a few different trail options to go all the way to the top of Nevada Falls*:
We opted to take the JMT to the point at which it was closed - Clark Point. We then cut down to the Mist Trail, up to the top of Nevada Falls, and back all the way down the Mist Trail. This route was less busy/dryer on the way up. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
*Depending on what time of year you go, part of the trail(s) are closed. Make sure to check in before your trip with the Park Rangers, or online!
Total Miles: ~8
Total Time: ~6 hours
We ended the day with a hot shower, and pizza from Curry Village. For those plant powered folks, they will make you an awesome dairy-free, veggie pizza!
Day 4: Sunrise at Tunnel View
05:00 AM- We woke to the sound of our iPhone alarms telling us it was time to get up, pack up the our two tents, and make our way to the park exit. There was just one more stop on our itinerary – Tunnel View.
In front of Lower Yosemite Falls. Photo: B. Fleming
IV. Gear
In addition to what is listed over on my my new gear page, other important items we brought were:
V. Meals
Breakfast/lunch/snacks: pretty standard for camping - lots of oatmeal, PB&J, fruit, trail mix, tortillas, Clif Bars and more PB. (I think I FINALLY over-did it on the Clif Bars. I'm back to homemade bars now!)
Dinner #1 - Hannah made an awesome Vegan curry!
Dinner #2 - Curry sweet potatoes (cut up sweet potatoes + curry powder + heat) and tons of warmed up canned veggies. This was our first time using canned veggies, and it worked great!
Dinner #3 - Ate out at Curry Village. There are ton's of choices. I went for a salad, and vegan pizza!
Hanging out in El Cap meadows
Stopped to enjoy the smooth pavement along US-190.
PC: B.Fleming
After recent trips to Joshua Tree and Yosemite, it was time to make it to another California National Park – Death Valley. With my adventure buddy and close friend Hannah in town for a few days, it was the perfect opportunity to make the trip!
Located 4.5 hours Northeast of LA, a weekend trip to Death Valley is easily achievable with an early start. Leaving LA Saturday morning at 5:00 AM we avoided traffic and made great timing, pulling into the ranger station at Stovepipe Wells by 9:30. Given we were only staying one night, we asked the ranger for recommendations, and made our plan for the next 24 hours.
Badwater Basin – At 282 ft. below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere. When looking across the 200 Square Miles of Salt Flats, the basin looks as though it is covered in a light dusting of fresh snow, instead of dried up sea water!
Artist's Drive – A 9 mile scenic drive loop, exposing beautiful different types of rocks and rock formations.
Golden Canyon Trail – There are a range of great hiking trails along the Golden Canyon Trial. We opted for the 2.5 mile loop to Red Cathedral. There are plenty of secondary trails along the way where you can explore deeper into the canyon.
Mesquite Flat Dunes – We made our way out onto the dunes an hour or so before sunset, and experienced a truly magical golden hour. The particles of sands were glistening, the mountains surrounding the valley were glowing, and the sky was painted shades of pink and purple.
PC: B.Fleming
Zabriskie Point – If you make it to Zabriskie Point for sunrise, you’ll likely run into dozens of photographers, for a good reason. This is the perfect spot to watch the mountains change color as the sun rises, and fills the valley floor with light! There is also a large parking lot, with facilities, and a paved path up to the point.
PC: B.Fleming
Furnace Creek – Furnace creek campground is a 30-minute drive past Stovepipe Wells. In the village of Furnace Creek you will find all of your essentials, so don’t worry if you forget tin foil or want to go to a café for dinner.
There was also plenty of water and gas throughout the National Park. We filled up our bottles at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Stovepipe Wells.
15 years after my first trip to Yosemite, I was ecstatic when my mom flew out to make a quick three day weekend trip with my brother and I. We loaded all of our gear up, and made the 5 hour drive from LA to Yosemite.
Accommodations: We glamped. Due to the last minute planning, and to ensure we had a spot, we booked a two bed canvas tent cabin (we comfortably slept 3!) in Curry Village (re-named Half Dome Village). This was a great choice. We didn’t have to worry about spending time setting up and tearing down camp, and were able to get in as much hiking as we could.
The drive in to the valley is pretty spectacular. After winding through the forest on Route 41, you shoot out of the Wawona Tunnel to the famous Tunnel View. After a necessary photo shoot, we continued to Curry Village to check in to our tent.
Afternoon Hike - Valley Floor Loop
This loop is great because you can easily make it as long or as short as you want. We began at Lower Yosemite Falls, hiked for 6 miles, and caught a shuttle back to our car. We chose to do this hike the first afternoon/evening so we could 1. see a lot of the valley floor and 2. not wear ourselves out too much before a tough hike the following morning.
Notable stops along the way included Camp 4, El Capitan, El Capitan Meadow, and crossing the Merced River.
Evening Hike - Taft Point
A quick 1.1 mile hike out to Taft Point promises one of the best sunset views in the park. Make sure to bring layers, and a headlamp for the way back.
El Capitan Meadows
View at Taft Point
Taking in the sunset
Day Hike - Four Mile Trail
Starting at Four Mile Trailhead, this is a beautiful, strenuous 4.8 mile hike from the valley floor up to Glacier Point. Be prepared for this hike with trekking poles, water, and some snacks. The hike up features amazing views of the Valley floor, El Cap, the Three Brothers, Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome the majority of the hike. After a hard hike, you’re treated to a well-earned view at Glacier Point. There is also a cafe, gift shop, restrooms, and lots of tourists waiting for you at the top, just remember you earned the view! :)
Hikers can either hike back down (which is what we did!), or drive down if you dropped off a car at the top. Another option is to pay $20 for the shuttle bus at the top.
Evening Activities
Ahwahnee Lodge (Majestic Yosemite Hotel): To celebrate my brother’s birthday, we enhanced our glamping experience with a fancy dinner at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. I had delicious minestrone and a huge garden salad.
Sunrise - Glacier Point
It doesn’t take too long browsing the internet to discover one of the most epic sunrise location in Yosemite - Glacier Point. We left our tent at 5, packed up our gear, and made our way up to Glacier Point. Bundled in my down jacket and wrapped in a sleeping bag, I had plenty of time to have my coffee brewed and in-hand, oatmeal cooked, and camera’s ready, all by the time the sun began to rise.
Morning Hike - Sentinel Dome
A great stop on the way back down to the valley is Sentinel Dome. This 2.2 mile loop shares a trailhead with the Taft Point trail. This trail is a little tougher, with a steeper climb up to the summit. However, you’re rewarded with an amazing 360 view.
For a different perspective, and even more details on our hike, head over to hannah's blog!
3:06 PM Friday afternoon I’m outside my office in Santa Monica waiting for an Uber to LAX. Memorial Day 2016 will be spent in Alaska.
12 hours later (3:00 AM) we’ve safely arrived at our Dads, and are happily getting a few hours of sleep before heading to Denali.
Day 1: Meet Ned
After months of following my Dad’s trips (#RidinWithNed), I was very excited to finally meet the rig - Ned. By 10:00 AM we were on the highway headed North to Denali National Park with the hopes of clear skies and temperatures above freezing.
Four hours later we spotted it, Denali. The mountain is the tallest peak in North America, rising 20,310 feet into the Alaskan sky. As we neared the park it became obvious we had lucked out with amazing weather, and were in for a beautiful weekend. I say this because while 50% of visitors are able to see the mountain from outside the park, only 30% of visitors inside the park are able to spot the magnificent mountain.
Following quick stops at the Wilderness Adventure Center to check in, and the Visitors Center to have our National Parks Passport stamped, we continued to mile marker 29.1- Teklanika River Campground.
We didn't have time to take another shot as a moose was standing 30 feet from us on the other side of the road!
Day 2: Teklanika to Toklat
The park is only accessible via one road - Denali Park Road. The road runs from the entrance, all the way to mile 89 - Kantishna Mile. The road is completely accessibly by bus (after June 1st), but only accessible by personal vehicles as far as Teklanika Campground.
The bus costs ~$30/ day per person, and can be used “hop-on, hop-off” style.
Our first day of hiking we road the bus as far as you could – Toklat. We spent the rest of the day hiking back toward Teklanika, hopping on and off the bus, totaling around 8 miles of hiking. Throughout the day we spotted a ton of Caribou, Dall Sheep, Moose, and a few beautiful blonde Grizzly Bears. The sky was still perfectly blue bird, and we had amazing views of Denali throughout the day.
The numbing glacial stream served as nature's ice bath.
Day 3: Last day in the park
We started the second day at Teklanika and decided to continue down the road deeper into the park. Because the road was not yet open for guests, the only traffic was a few worker vehicles and other hikers. As the most “wild” National Park I’ve explored, hiking down the road without the bus traffic found everywhere else was awesome!
Important tips for Denali:
1. Buy the bus pass
There are two bus systems:
Green Bus- regular park bus that you can ride from point to point. The drivers give great information and stop for all wild life spotting. Tan Bus – more than 3x the price for a “guided tour.
2. How long can you stay & what type of camping are you doing.
Depending on how far into the park you want to go, there are minimum stay requirements. Also, if you’re a backcountry tent camper, be prepared to hike far enough off the road that any other guests cannot see you.
3. Bring Layers
I finally broke down and purchased a nice pair of hiking pants instead of my workout regular workout clothes, and am already eyeing a few other pairs I want. They’re awesome. Because you’re so exposed the whole time you’re hiking, it is very windy and I would recommend some wind layer.
4. Animal Safety
It took me a few hours of hiking before I really got comfortable with the idea that a bear could walk out into the road at any point in time. Make sure you are familiar with animal safety (follow this link!) Bring bear spray whenever you're hiking, make noise, and be aware of your surroundings!
I'm lucky enough to have family in such a beautiful place, and can't wait to visit again soon!
I was able to sneak out of work early after an off-site tour on a Friday afternoon, which I was praying meant I could beat some of the dreaded LA traffic as I made my way to Joshua Tree for an amazing weekend camping and climbing with friends. As I made my way onto the freeway, car packed with my camping gear, I realized I wouldn’t be so lucky.
The heavy traffic added two hours to the typical two and half hour drive, and resulted in me pulling into Black Rock Campground a little after 8:30 (checkout my previous J-Tree Camping experience here). Even with a long day of work and driving, I was stoked for what we had planned for the weekend. We would be spending two days rock climbing outdoors for the first time!
First time eating at the Joshua Tree Saloon!
The first day we spent learning the ropes, literally.
Our start time was 8:00 AM at Cliffhanger Guide’s office, located just outside of Joshua Tree National Park. After some quick office work, we geared up and followed our guide, Roddy, into the park. Once at our first climbing location, Roddy made sure we all felt comfortable tying knots, belaying and back-up belaying. I definitely appreciate all of these safety checks when hanging high in the air off a giant slab of rock. We did four different top rope routes in the morning, and ended the day with the local climbers at an awesome bouldering spot.
We showed up on Day 2 with an increased confidence and ready to tackle some harder climbs. Roddy and Seth (our added guide for the second day who owns Mojave Guides) sensed this, and took us to an awesome spot where we had to scramble up boulders to access the routes. These climbs were much more technical than the first day, and we were able to learn more climbing techniques. I used a few hand and arm jams, and even got pretty comfortable with a foot jam!
After another gourmet lunch of crackers, hummus, an array of veggies, and tofu (thanks Cliff Hanger for being so accommodating!), we were off to climb a multi-pitch!
Mike's Books was by far the most frustrating climb for me. This was the first route I felt hindered by my height and inexperience. However, with a gentle pull from Seth at the top, I was able to get past my struggling (almost crying) point, and climb up the rest of the challenging route. The view from the top was amazing, but short lived due to an oncoming storm. We concluded our day of climbing with an awesome rappel down the face of the rock we just climbed (Intersection Rock)!
In the "hot tub" to keep us safe and away from the edges.
PC: R.Fernandez - loved climbing up the crack!
B.Fleming (btfleming.com) capturing all the safety checks!
1. Do your research when finding a guide.
We checked out a few different guide companies before deciding on Cliff Hanger. We compared prices, read reviews, and went with the one we got the “best vibe” from. Ultimately, we were VERY happy with our choice!
2. Communicate your experience clearly.
As a group, we had pretty limited climbing experience. For the best overall trip, be honest and communicate that with your guides. They want this to be the best experience possible!
3. Challenge yourself and have fun!
Chances are you paid a bit of money for this experience, so make the most of it! These are long, physically draining days. But you’re doing something awesome, so push yourself and you’ll be surprised how much you’re capable of!
PC: B.Fleming (btfleming.com)
When I was six years old my family took a family vacation to California for close to two weeks. We flew into LA, drove up to see family in Paso Robles, on to Yosemite, and ended in San Francisco. While that trip was over 15 years ago, I’ve always remembered how absolutely beautiful the coast is stretching from LA to San Francisco. Since moving here I’ve been itching to make it back up, and this past weekend I finally did!
I was out of bed and piling my overnight bag, backpack, excessive amount of camera gear and food into my brother’s car before the sun was even up. From LA we drove North to Paso Robles to pick up some friends who were joining us, grabbed some local strawberries and snap peas from the farmers market, and continued on to Big Sur!
Gear drying out in the sun after the morning dew.
One of the hardest parts of camping in California, or anywhere with good weather almost year round, is finding a camp site. Big Sur is no exception. All the campgrounds were booked, so we knew going into this drive that we may not be able to find an open first-come first-serve spot.
After doing some research and relying on friend’s knowledge, we were able to find an AMAZING spot close to Plaskett creek Campground. This campground is along Jade Cove, located north of Gorda.
Because our site was not a designated camp site, we had to haul our gear 200 yards up a hill/cliff. Luckily we were able to lighten our load a little by only using two tents for the 5 of us (Marmot 3 Person and Marmot 2 Person). Also, because we were only staying one night we left the majority of our clothes in the car, and made a quick trip got a quick workout in whenever we needed anything from the car.
After setting up camp around noon, we headed down to the beach to explore the rocky coast. The tides were very high because of the full moon, and the beach was much smaller and much rockier than the previous year when Ben and Hannah had been there. But we still had a blast soaking our toes until they were numb in the ocean, and following trails along the coast!
For dinner we went the easy route with dehydrated meals, Veggie Burrito Bowls for me (with tortilla chips this time!), and Chicken Pad Thai for the meat eaters. Without access to any type of facilities for doing dishes, this really is the best route. After an amazing sunset view overlooking the PCH, we enjoyed some S’mores and good conversation before heading to bed.
PC: H. Labadie (HannahLabadie.com)
Breakfast before heading back down the coast was a camp staple: Coffee and Oatmeal. BUT we actually remembered the craisins, peanut butter and cinnamon, all topped with fresh strawberries!
We stopped at Elephant Seals lookout on the way back to LA, took a quick walk down the coast, and stopped in San Luis Obisbo for an Acai Bowl.
This was an amazing 48 hours, and I can’t wait to go even further north. Now, my bags are packed and i'm off to Joshua Tree for the weekend!!
Rocks worked as makeshift tent stakes because the ground was too hard.
Mobius Arch- framing Mt. Whitney
Coffee:
This was my first time trying Trader Joe's Pour Over Coffee Brewer, and it worked perfect for camping!
1. Boil 10-12 oz. of water using my awesome Tea Kettle
2. Followed directions on packet: initially filled to the "mild" line, but it ended up going down to the "strong" line.
3. Wait 8 minutes, pour, add your favorite creamer and enjoy!
OATMEAL:
1. Using either quick or rolled oats, boil water at a 1:2 oats:water ratio.
2. Once water is boiling, add oats and stir periodically for 10 minutes or until oatmeal is fully cooked.
3. Don't forget your favorite fruit and cinnamon to add in for a perfect breakfast!
Frozen mixed vegetables are a game changer when it comes to preparing dinner quick and easy, with the least amount of dirty dishes. Regardless of what type of camp gear you have, veggies are easy to make, provide nutrients needed to refuel your body, and can be used as either the main dish or a side. We had this plant based meal after black bean soup, and were completely satisfied!
Ingredients:
- Frozen mixed vegetables (I used Asian Stir-Fry)
-Two cubed sweet potatoes
-Seasoning of choice
PC:B.Fleming (btfleming.com)
PC: B.Fleming (btfleming.com)
PC: H.Labadie (hannahlabadie.com)
