Backpacking & Hiking Blog

Fall is one of my favorite times to travel. The crowds begin to thin out, prices are far more affordable [...]

Kootenay National Park is nestled right outside of Radium and right below Banff National Park. Just like it’s less popular [...]

Glaicer National Park in Canada, along Highway 1 is a hidden gem. When most people think about Glacier National Park, [...]

Yoho National Park in British Columbia doesn’t often get as much recognition as its neighbor Banff National Park. Most people [...]

If you’re someone who travels frequently, then you know that you can redeem credit card points for things like hotel stays, airline tickets, and more. This makes traveling so much easier and more affordable. But did you know that you can have similar perks when it comes to gear?

We’re spending hundreds of thousands of dollars every year on health care (by we I mean people in general) but no one is really investing in helping people be healthy and stay healthy. Why aren’t we rewarding those who choose to be active and follow a more healthy lifestyle? This is where the credit card comes in.

But how are those fears and beliefs helping you get started with hiking? How are they helping you get “fit enough?” Or are they just keeping you safe and afraid?

It’s argued that Rae Lakes Loop has some of the most stunning views in California. I’ve hiked through a good part of this state, and honestly, I’d have to agree. But this hike is seriously one of my favorites. I can’t even put words to how beautiful it was from the peaks to the lakes. It was worth all 42 miles of hiking.

When it comes to hiking and backpacking, there are a whole lot of myths that are doing nothing but keeping you stuck. Which is why in this blog, I’m going to break down 15 different myths that I’ve heard people say, including what long time hikers are doing wrong, and what you should be doing instead.

It’s something we’ve all been taught, and it comes from this hustle and never put yourself first culture. We’ve all been conditioned to put your life and the things that light you up on hold and only focus on them at the end of your life… if you have time to get to them. But is that a life well lived?

Trader Joe’s has a variety of snacks and things that you’ll be surprised make a great addition to your adventure meals. Let’s go over some of my favorites to give you an idea.

Figuring out what to bring on a backpacking trip can be a challenge, especially if you’re first starting out. Not only do most people not know what to bring, but they usually end up bringing the wrong thing. I’m going to break down what I eat on a backpacking trip to give you some ideas of what to pack.

If you could just Google everything, wouldn’t you already have solved it, wouldn’t you have Googled yourself more backpacking confidence, and wouldn’t you already be out there hiking and backpacking?

There’s a whole almost sub-culture in backpacking that revolves around cutting your backpack pack weight. There really is something to be said for cutting down your pack weight and making the trip more enjoyable. So in this blog post, I’m going to cover my top tips for reducing your overall pack weight for backpacking.

Choosing hiking friends is like choosing a partner. You need to make sure you agree on important points before getting serious together. Which is why in this blog post, I’m going to outline important conversations you should be having with potential hiking partners.

If you’re like most, you’ve probably struggled with getting a good night’s sleep while in a tent. Which is why in this blog post, I’m going to break down my top tips that are going to help you sleep better while backpacking.

One of the most common fears I hear when it comes to backpacking is that people are either afraid of the dark when camping, or they’re afraid of sleeping outside. Thich is why in this blog post, I’m going to show you exactly how I’ve coached thousands of others to overcome their fear of sleeping outside and of being in the backcountry when it’s dark.

Arches National Park is one of the five iconic national parks in Utah, and it’s famous for, you guessed it, it’s many natural arches!

Planning a backpacking trip or a weekend adventure to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park? This blog post covers everything from which season to visit in, to hiking and backpacking trails, where to stay, and tips for first time visitors.

Through what seemed like an endless journey with my knees, with one problem after another, I’ve learned a great deal about how to prevent knee pain and knee injuries.

Training is an essential part of being able to hike and backpack harder trails. Most people underestimate the demand for hiking and end up either huffing and puffing up the mountain feeling miserable the entire time, or they end up getting injured because their bodies aren’t trained correctly.

There’s no such thing as having too many outdoor hobbies. Trail running is a great way to train for harder hikes, experience some of your favorite trails, and push yourself to try new activities.

There are 96 14ers in the US and hiking at least a handful of them is on most hiker’s bucket list! You’re pushing your body to new limits, you’re climbing high, and there are quite a few of them so you can really turn peak-bagging into your own personal sport for the coming seasons.

When it comes to adventuring in the winter, one of the biggest mistakes I see people is not keeping their feet dry. When you don’t keep your feet dry, not only will your feet be cold in winter conditions and you’re not going to be having a good time, but you also risk frostbite and hypothermia.

The biggest mistake I see people making is not wearing appropriate winter footwear, and not wearing any traction device to keep them from falling. This keeps you from slipping and sliding on snow and ice. Let’s over the difference between microspikes and crampons and what you need for what.

Finding hiking and backpacking trails is one of my most frequently asked questions. It seems that most people get stumped when it comes to finding hiking trails. Let’s cover how to to find hiking trails and then put it together once you do!

Starting backpacking can be a very overwhelming experience. There are so many different moving pieces to try and figure out. In this blog, I’m going to cover my top essential tips that you probably didn’t even think about when getting started with backpacking.

There are so many different kinds of Injinji toe socks, different heights, weights, uses, etc. it can be a challenge to figure out exactly which socks would work for you. This is why in partnership with Injinji, I’m breaking down how to choose the right Injinji toe socks for you, based on activity, weight, length, fabric, and fit in this blog post.

After all this time, I only hike in toe sock. I’ve now expanded to running and snowboarding in toe socks. There are so many benefits to hiking in toe socks, and in partnership with Injinji, I’m going to break down five benefits of wearing toe socks on hikes in this blog post.

Over the years, I’ve seen many people wear the wrong footwear in general on hiking trails, especially during the winter months. In this blog, I’m going to be covering the footwear choices I make for the summer, fall, and spring months, and I’ll be explaining why I wear each type of shoe for each season.

One of the keys to getting outdoors during the winter months safely and comfortably is all about what you wear. In this blog, I’m going to break down the different layers, what additional clothing accessories you should consider, and different clothing recommendations!

Road trips are hands down one of my favorite ways to travel. It’s worth every mile. In my case all 25,000 miles per year! In this blog, I’m going to go over how to plan a road trip and where to stay on a road trip.

Car camping literally means you’re camping in your car! When the weather drops and you don’t want to sleep in a tent, or you’re traveling solo and just don’t feel like putting up a tent, or you’re trying to save money on hotels, car camping is a great option!

Whether you’re shopping for the hiker in your life who you just can’t figure out what they would like, or you’re trying to give your family and friends ideas of what to get you, this blog is here to help!

If exploring New England in the fall is not on your bucket list yet, add it immediately! This is a must-visit for anyone who loves fall. The small towns across New England look like they’ve been pulled from a storybook. In this blog, I’m sharing when to go, how to get there, and a break down of what to see.

Hiking season doesn’t end when summer does. In the fall, the leaves are changing colors, the days are cooler, and the air is crisp. But fall hiking can also be a miserable experience if you don’t dress correctly. Fall hiking is all about mastering the art of layering to keep yourself cool, dry, and warm!

Fall is such a wonderful time to be outside. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is cooler, the air is crisp, and the mosquitoes are dead! In this blog, I’m going to cover a couple of tips to keep in mind as you head out and go hiking this fall season.

Although it’s an underrated park, it’s one you must visit! It’s beautiful! Because it’s so difficult to get to, it’s such a pristine park, and it makes you appreciate the experience more. Plus there is wildlife everywhere!

I spent the day kayaking around Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. We explored a narrow sea cave and learned more about this island. The water below the kayak was so clear you could see the fish below!

I started from home in California and drove through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, and Oregon. If you are planning a similar trip, even to a couple of these places, this blog post breaks down tips and places to explore in the different states.

Staying healthy while traveling can be challenging. At home you have a routine but when traveling, there is no routine which makes it so easy to let health take a back seat. After trial and error, I share what’s worked for me to get back to feeling good and staying healthy while traveling.

One thing I’ve learned with road trips and traveling so frequently, in general, is how to do so on a budget. Whether you are planning a road trip to a local mountain range, across your state, or a bigger one like I’m on, this blog will help you plan a more affordable road trip.

As enjoyable as campfires are, it’s important to be responsible to minimize damage to wilderness areas and to reduce the risk of wildfires.

Figuring out what to bring with you on a backpacking trip can be one of the most confusing parts of backpacking. You don’t want to miss bringing something important, and there are so many different gear options.

Summer is such a great time to hike and most of the trails are snow-free. But if temperatures are too hot outside it could also lead to heat exhaustion, then heat stroke and then possibly death if you’re not careful.

Yosemite has something for everyone at every skill level. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly trip, easier hikes, harder backpacking trips, rock climbing, rafting down a river, swimming in lakes, biking, photography, star gazing, and so much more.

In Yosemite, you can see granite walls and domes carved by glaciers, meadows, wildflowers, wildlife, waterfalls, lakes, and so much more. In this blog, we’re going to go over some of the prettiest hiking and backpacking trails in Yosemite.

The Mist Trail is one of Yosemite’s most iconic hikes. It’s the start of the Half Dome trail but it also goes past Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. It’s called the Mist Trail for a reason because you get misted by the falls on your hike! On a hot summer day, it’s so refreshing.

Getting started with backpacking can be very overwhelming. There are so many moving pieces with planning the trip, getting your gear together, and not to mention just the fear of doing something new! But just getting started doesn’t need to be difficult.

Backpacking can be one of the most incredible experiences, but also one of the most stressful. Not only with planning it, but also going as a beginner. In this blog post, we’ll go through beginner backpacking tips to help take the overwhelm out and help you get outdoors faster.

With the right preparation and awareness, snakes don’t have to stop you from experiencing all the amazing backpacking trips and destinations the great outdoors has to offer. In this blog, we’re going to talk about snake safety.

As a hiker and backpacker, it’s crucial to understand bear safety. Become an expert adventurer by reading this comprehensive guide on staying safe around bears.

Planning a hiking trip can be overwhelming, but it’s also part of the fun! You dive deep into researching the location so you know what you’re getting yourself into before you even set foot on the trail.

It was a bad habit because it meant that I needed to re-train myself every winter or spring for the coming summer. Instead of already being in shape and continuing to build on my fitness and get stronger.

Has it been a while since you’ve worked out? I get it. Life gets in the way, injuries happen, finding motivation becomes hard, and working out takes a back seat. Don’t stress about it, you can’t change the past, but you can start today and keep it going moving forward.

In this blog, I’ll cover how to stay active at home and I have a free 5 day workout schedule you can download and copy, it’s all bodyweight exercises at the end of the post!

The last few weeks have gotten harder and harder. Every week is starting to feel like it’s a month long. After a week of self quarantining at home, I really started to feel the stress. So I decided to stop letting life happen to me and letting the situation control me, and start controlling my outlook and how I behave during this situation.

If you’re an outdoorsy person like me now stuck inside trying to figure out what to do and how to navigate this stressful situation, just know we’re all in this together. I cover eight things that you can do now while stuck indoors so when this is over, you’re ready to hit the great outdoors again.

Right now, you might be thinking it’s a great time to go backpacking, start on a thru-hike, travel to national parks and destinations that you’ve always wanted to see, but it’s not. The coronavirus is a multi-point problem.

You see a cute squirrel or chipmunk on your hike up to Half Dome and think nothing of offering it a piece of your protein bar or popcorn. I mean how cute it is to see this fuzzy creature eating from your hand. But these actions have a crippling effect on wildlife and on keeping them wild.

My complete list of everything I bring on a day hike with me. Use this list to understand what to bring with you and as a checklist when packing for your next day hike.

On a whim, I applied for the Half Dome permit on the last day of the preseason lottery opening. Surprisingly I got a permit! And for my second choice day! This hike was anything but easy. To this day, Half Dome is still one of the most challenging hikes I’ve done.

Whether you’re just getting into winter sports or you’re looking to just have some fun outside in a winter wonderland, try snowshoeing! It’s an expensive winter activity suitable for all ages and abilities.

I used to need to shave my legs every day, otherwise, I just felt uncomfortable ALL DAY LONG. When I started backpacking, this was honestly a thought that plagued my mind. So I turned to laser hair removal.

Dream Lake is a dream. It opens up to vast views of the peaks above. The lake was frozen over but most of the snow was blown off the top exposing the air bubbles in the ice layer.

Who says that national parks are just for summer months? Winter can be a beautiful time to explore, especially since there are usually less crowds in the winter months! I’ve compiled a list of the different national parks that I and several other bloggers have visited in the winter months.

I’ve driven up the 395 countless times, I’ve spent my whole life in California, and this trip was another first for me! I’ve seen endless pictures of sand dunes at sunrise, different rock formations, and salt flats and needed to finally experience it in person.

Bryce Canyon National Park is magical in the winter. I went right after a winter storm and the bright orange rocks stood out against the white snow coating them.

I take very specific supplements based on my personal needs, I take these on the trail and off the trail. In this blog, I break down exactly what I take and why I take it.

When starting a new workout routine, it’s so easy to start and then fall off. In this post, I break down exactly how to set and stick to your fitness goals so that you can finally get strong and hike those dream trails!

This is one of the hardest parts about working out. It’s not the actual workout, it’s staying motivated to workout especially in the beginning and when life gets busy.

When hiking, I do a deep stretch during my lunch break and when I get back to camp. During breaks, I take some time to roll my ankles, stretch out my hips lightly and anything else that’s feeling tight.

If you have your eye on a specific hike this year, pay close attention to the deadlines and processes in this blog post. Nothing is worse than getting all of your gear, getting ready for this big hike and finding out you need permits that you don’t have.

When the weather gets cool, and the trails get snowed in, snowboarding gives me something in the mountains to keep looking forward to, a way to experience the outdoors in the winter, and something to keep progressing on.

In this blog, I share my weekend in Colorado Springs, what I experienced, and the places to hike.

These rock spirals and balancing rocks that look almost surreal. The layers of sedimentary rock were originally deposited horizontally, but the mountain building forces that uplifted the Rocky Mountains and the Pikes Peak massif.

Bear canisters… they’re bulky, add weight to your pack, never easy to pack, hard to fit more than a couple days’ worth of food and scented items in them… but we need them.

I’ve seen the most beautiful sunrises on Mt. Whitney time and time again, nothing compares to watching the whole mountain light up pink in the sunrise glow. Now that you’ve gotten your permit, you know what you’re getting yourself into, and you are getting prepared for this stunning hike, let’s get into the trail report.

The best way to get water while camping? You filter it straight from the source! One of the most common questions I see regarding backpacking is what you do about water. I get asked if I carry all of my water for a multi-day backpacking trip. The answer is no!

Choosing a cooking stove system that works for you is as personal as choosing what you want to eat every day and which sleeping bag you need. There are so many options out there and it comes down to what you feel comfortable using.

How do I take photos of myself when I travel and hike solo? This is the most common question that I get, so in this blog post, I’m going to break it down!

The Eastern Sierra is one of the best places to experience fall colors in California. The foothills turn into a gradient of greens, yellows, and oranges as the weather cools. It’s fall-wonderland!

Let active recovery be an integral part of your training routine, even during hiking off-season. This prevents peaks and valleys in your fitness level and helps you recover physically and psychologically from the stress of training and hiking.

Foot pain can taint even the most remarkable experience. So I’ve partnered with Injinji to share how I prevent foot pain on long day hikes, multi-day backpacking trips, and even week long treks.

The trail starts from Tuolumne Meadows and follows the river until the ascent up Donahue Pass. As you climb higher and higher, you have expansive views of the meadows below and where you hiked from. You get a great view of Mt. Lyell and Lyell Glacier right underneath it. And you’ll pass a couple of pristine alpine lakes.

This is a short, family-friendly hike that takes you to postcard-worthy scenic views with a glistening alpine lake in the shadow of the High Sierra.

The hike to Minaret Lake was one of my favorite hikes. It’s challenging but the elevation gain is spaced out enough that you don’t feel the burn as much. The views are stunning and around every turn, they just keep getting better and better.

On my thru-hike, I planned to be on the trail for 17 to 18 days, so I needed to plan accordingly. The hardest part is not over packing, really thinking about what you’ll need and what you’ll want to eat.

As I got more into hiking, I finally stopped stealing my brother’s toe socks, got my own, started learning about the benefits like blister prevention, total foot utilization, and moisture management, and learned about the different fabrics. Now I can’t imagine wearing anything else for hiking.

Once in your tent, you can even hang up the lantern to have light so you can read and relax before going to bed. And in the morning, she deflated the lantern, hooked it on her pack, and charged it while we hiked.

Ticks can be dangerous, but don’t be afraid to get outdoors because of them! There are ways to protect yourself and your pets! Through my experience with ticks, I’ve educated myself on how to get outdoors safely.

I was in paradise but I couldn’t enjoy the place as much as I wanted to because of my horrible blisters. I have a couple of pain points that consistently get them, around my heel and on my big toe. Looking back, I wish I knew more about how to prevent them when I went, it would have made the whole experience more enjoyable overall.

Since Sequoia was a puppy, she’s been very prone to ticks. A month after I adopted her, I pulled 14 ticks off of her in one day. From there, I quickly learned about how to prevent ticks on her and how to pull them out correctly.

It’s always scary pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, but I believe that it’s always worth it. It shows me my strengths, makes me into the person I want to be and helps me learn more about myself along the journey. I try to not let fear hold me back.

Your tent is your home under the stars, a 5 billion star hotel, your summer home in the mountains… I could keep going. Here are things to keep in mind when looking for a tent.

I decided to transition into backpacking because I wanted to be able to explore a certain area more and to be able to go further into the wilderness than a day hike would allow. The transition can be scary and intimidating, especially when you meet backpackers who have been doing it for 30 years. But we all start somewhere.

When you’re looking for how big of a pack to get, keep in mind the duration of your trip, how much gear you’re bringing, how much your gear weights, and how big it is.

This paradise is nestled on the Havasupai Reservation next to the Grand Canyon and has become a huge attraction due to the turquoise waterfalls flowing against the bright red rocks of the Arizona desert.

In the backcountry, food is fuel. Your body digests it and uses it for energy to help you make it up and over a hard pass, to the summit, to camp for the night, to your destination and then back to the car.

Having a quality sleep system is extremely important in ensuring you get a good night under the stars. I walk you through the different types of sleeping pads and how to choose the right one for your adventure.

Having a good night rest can make or break a camping trip. There are so many different choices out there that it can be hard to choose. I’ve broken down the different factors to consider when selecting the right sleeping bag for you.

I’ve seen the most beautiful sunrises on Mt. Whitney time and time again, nothing compares to watching the whole mountain light up pink in the sunrise glow. Now that you’ve gotten your permit, you know what you’re getting yourself into, and you are getting prepared for this stunning hike, let’s get into the trail report.

Learning to be comfortable hiking solo has been an extremely empowering experience. Here are my tips for getting out there and hiking solo. It’s a process and your comfort for it won’t happen overnight.

Since I head off on a backpacking, car camping or ski trip almost every weekend, I’ve created a system for myself to make sure that I pack efficiently and effectively on Thursday night to be able to just take off from work on Friday.

I really wanted to be able to spend more time in the mountains, to go further than I could on a day hike and to really experience the mountains. So I gathered my gear, booked permits and spent the summer doing everything from short weekend trips to a 72 mile thru-hike. Also that summer, I learned a few lessons about backpacking that newbies may not know.

Winter is beautiful, but it can also be very expensive. Since it gets too cold to camp (unless you have the gear for it) and snow sports can be financially taxing, it’s really easy to rack up a huge bill even when you’re trying to save. So how do you save money while still being able to enjoy winter sports?

In the summer, this trail is a road, but in the winter, it’s unplowed which makes it the perfect trail to follow, and perfect for a beginner snowshoer or someone looking for a stroll through the woods.

I break down the whole permit system, including permits leaving Yosemite heading SOBO, permits heading NOBO, section hikes and basically every way you can get a permit to end up on the John Muir Trail.

Hot springs are one of the best ways to soak your sore muscles after a day hiking or on the slopes. They’re also in a prime location to take a soak and enjoy views of the Eastern Sierra’s.

Whether you’re coming back to Mammoth to partake in winter activities or it’s your first time, here are 10 things to do in Mammoth this winter.

I see this question every week: what do you do for work and money that allows you to travel all the time? I am a weekend warrior. It’s a lifestyle and if this is something that you want to do, move mountains and make it happen. You don’t need to quit your job (unless you want to).

Regardless if you’re a newbie hiker and just getting everything, or you’re upgrading 10-year-old gear that was handed down to you from your parents, here are the ways that I save money when shopping for gear.

Whether your planning for the 221 mile John Muir Trail, just need a few days to go car camping in the Sequoia National Park, or you want 2 weeks to trek to Everest Base Camp, here’s how you talk to your boss about taking time off.

When to go? Where to camp? What rules to follow? Sample itinerary? Read on!

With over 6,700 feet of elevation gain on the trail, Mt. Whitney stands at 14,505 feet and is the highest point in the lower 48 states. So you’ve decided to hike to the top?

The 72 mile trail starts in the West from Crescent Meadows in the Sequoia National Park and runs to the East across the mountain range to the Mt. Whitney summit and down to Whitney Portal.

This was the easiest part of the hike. It was moderately level for the entire 3 miles, it was on dirty instead of rocky terrain, it was well marked and not exposed.

The Camp overlooks the Great Western Divide which we started to ascend to get to Hamilton Lake. Get the brownie, it’s an amazing treat after the last 2 mile climb. And it’s HUGE!

Our day 3 hike on the HST was arguably the most beautiful stretch on this 72 mile journey.

We woke up chilly to frozen socks (I had an extra pair that did not freeze) and frozen shoes. I brought toe warmers with me and did jumping jacks to warm up while making breakfast and packing up.

My sore feet and blisters were soaked, my hair was clean, I was well rested and ready to take on the rest of the HST.

I prefer to knock out the hardest part of the day in the dark. We watched the sunrise over the Great Western Divide and the Kaweah Peaks we hiked over a few days ago to the West.

It became about the journey, the other places I saw along the way, and the people I shared the experience with. We literally saw some of the most beautiful places in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.

In the last year, I’ve been more sensitive to altitude as my body take the time to acclimate. Boost Oxygen helps your body as your acclimating, almost like a supplement that helps the acclimation process.

Whether you’ve worked for a company for 1 year or 16 years, you shouldn’t be scared to use your EARNED vacation time. It’s part of your compensation package, right alongside with how much you’re being paid every month, your health benefits, etc.

Ediza Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness is a strenuous 13 miles round trip hike with 1,774 feet of elevation gain. After Shadow Lake, you will keep going. You’re about 3 miles from Ediza Lake.

So how do you find hiking buddies? Luckily, this day in age, there is a great resource that you’re probably already using… social media! There’s a whole community of people who do what you do! You just need to get out there, find them and start hitting the trails together.

The water looks clean because it’s runoff from the melting snow in the High Country. But waterborne diseases such as Giardia and E-Coli are common in our natural water sources, especially in California.

In March, I finally decided to pull the trigger and get laser corrective eye surgery (commonly known as LASIK).  I wore contacts for 13 years, and if you wear them, you know the daily struggles. The next day, I woke up and I could see 20/20.

Wildfires, are harmful to humans, but they’re an essential part of the ecosystem. It’s just part of what nature does to keep itself balanced, and part of what makes it so beautiful. But what do you do if a wildfire starts while you’re on the trail?

My head pounding, and no amount of Advil that I was taking was helping. I tried to sleep for another two hours, telling myself I was just exhausted. But I felt like throwing up and I was dizzy. I woke up my hiking buddy at 9:30pm, we packed up camp and hiked down.