#backpacking trip in yosemite

[theeagertraveler]

Explore the world with confidence with a comprehensive Backpacking guide for beginners at www.theeagertraveler.com. Find essential travel tips, gear recommendations, and expert insights to start your amazing backpacking adventure.

[fitnessgeekandcoffeefreak]

7.9.2024.

📍 Upper Yosemite Falls

9.25 miles -- 3,300 ft elevation gain

First of all, nothing in this trip went as planned 😆 Road closures, longer travel times, my friends are mother and son so they argued (maybe I should've expected that), phone service giving out, Airbnb was probably haunted, and so much more. My husband also shared his cold with me and that popped up day one, cuz, of course it did.

Truth be told I struggled hard on this hike. It is granite stairs that go straight up the entire way. We started way later in the day than planned so it was already 100*. I should've hydrated better the day prior so I was playing catch up. DayQuil helped a little, but I just couldn't breathe very well so I had to rest A LOT more than I typically do. I was annoyed with myself.

We made it to the top and climbed down the stairs to the top of the Falls lookout, which was amazing! It really is such a gorgeous place. There are pools at the top of the Falls and I totally got in. The whole way, I didn't even care if that meant I was hiking down in wet clothes, lol. It was definitely worth it to cool my body down.

On our way down we ran into a family we'd leapfrogged a couple times throughout the hike. (The mom had backpacked her 3 year old the entire way up the mountain. She was badass, man.) She, unfortunately, twisted her ankle on the way down the trail. She didn't have poles so I let her use mine. Her husband refused Search and Rescue help so we stayed with them the entire trip down the mountain. It took longer going back down than my turtle self took going up and we got back to the car at 11 pm 🤦

It was a challenging day for me and my brain and my body. I knew I was capable of completing the hike, but I definitely underestimated how being sick combined with the elevation would have on me, that's for sure.

[catboybiologist]

I’m in Yosemite help me

Here's my tip: If you take the mirror lake trail past the lake itself back towards Snow Creek falls, there's a little slice of Tenaya creek that's very swimmable or wadable, not crowded, very accessible from the main transit loop via a mostly flat trail, and has an extremely up close view of the North Face of half dome from DIRECTLY under it.

I found the spot a couple years ago, and took a long siesta there during my valley pass-through on my backpacking trip in June, before reentering the wilderness via Snow Creek falls.

Don't ruin it for me.

[prince-liest]

inspired by a series of convos in the 3zun server and also my own recent camping trip:

please imagine mundane modern au nieyao going camping

meng yao is like twenty-three, freshly graduated from college after having to take a gap year to take care of his ailing mother. nie mingjue is in his thirties, and knows meng yao as the responsible young man who befriended his brother and is probably one of the driving forces preventing nie huaisang from having skipped too many classes to actually earn a degree. he's not technically meng yao's boss, but he works in the same organization and he thinks it's perfectly acceptable to mosey on over to meng yao's actual boss during the interview process and give them a stellar review of what he knows of meng yao's work ethic.

the fact that meng yao eventually (read: very rapidly) gets promoted to work at nie mingjue's right hand is... probably fine. it's not too strange. in fact, they're friends! good friends! good enough friends that when nie huaisang finally puts his foot down and downright refuses to go on the nie annual camping trip, citing that he is a "real" adult now (whatever that means) and that means he doesn't have to spend a week in the woods every year getting bitten by mosquitos and hunting down the nearest wifi connection if he doesn't want to, da-ge, maybe it'd be cute for taking photos if they just went for the weekend - well, then nie mingjue retorts that he doesn't see the point in driving all the way out to yosemite for a single weekend and invites meng yao instead.

meng yao, on the other hand, is thinking: hm. he is pretty sure he has seen this porno. a week out in the woods with his hot older boss who is also his best friend's big brother. you couldn't fit more tropes into it if you tried. maybe if there were debt collectors after him and nie mingjue was a mafia boss.

(there are no debt collectors. meng yao has made certain of it. he has been very financially responsible in the aftermath of his mother's passing.)

nie mingjue is a responsible hiker and at least somewhat aware that he's taking somebody with no experience on a camping trip, largely courtesy of nie huaisang. meng yao ends up dressed mostly in nie huaisang's unused hiking clothes, packing his things in nie huaisang's unused hiking backpack, and sleeping in nie huaisang's unused sleeping bag. he looks up the price of the socks that nie mingjue handed him and then decides not to look up any more for the sake of his emotional wellbeing.

they make it to yosemite. meng yao has looked up all the things to do in yosemite valley, but for some reason they end up driving way farther north through some winding mountain roads that make him wonder if the car is just going to... tip over the side and neither of them will ever be seen again. for some reason there's a random porta-potty around one of the bends that meng yao silently stares at as they pass. it takes several hours to arrive, but there's a surprising amount of gas left over in the car for how much time the trip took.

the camp grounds are a little...

"isn't this a little crowded?" meng yao asks. "why don't we go farther into the woods?"

nie mingjue looks at him like he's the strange one. this is how meng yao learns that you cannot camp just anywhere inside of a national park. apparently it's okay, because most people are respectful of the common spaces. also, there is no shower in this specific camp. nie mingjue brought wet wipes.

these are not the ideal circumstances for fucking in the woods, but meng yao is a trooper and he understands that sometimes reality is a little more complicated than not safe for work media.

it's fine. besides, they get there pretty early in the day, all-considered. and it's spring, so it's still cool enough to go hiking at midday. a waterfall sounds pretty romantic, he thinks, watching nie mingjue work some kind of eldritch magic with tent poles while taking mental notes so that he can prove himself competent should he ever need to set up a tent again in his life.

an hour and a half later, meng yao is soaked through with sweat and half-convinced that he's developed adult-onset asthma. nie mingjue is glistening attractively. for some reason the incline of the 'easy' hike to a nearby waterfall that they're on suddenly turned into a rock climbing challenge in the last quarter mile. the worst part about going down it is knowing that he will have to go back up on the way back. there aren't that many people around, but if nie mingjue is taking him here to fuck him, then meng yao is going to simply have to throw himself into the river rapids and drown. it would be a kinder form of death.

they get to the waterfall. it is spring, so the river is flowing so strongly with icemelt that it's too dangerous to truly swim. meng yao considers at least dipping in, but when he puts his feet in, the water is so cold that he decides that he likes having physical sensation above his ankles, thank you. nie mingjue smiles proudly at him and tells him that nie huaisang usually complains up a storm by this point and that he loves his brother but it's nice to be with a more appreciative partner. something in meng yao's chest squeezes a little bit.

it gets a little tighter when he realizes that he's finished all of his water and nie mingjue crouches down to show him how to use the iodine water tablets on the river water. they make the water taste strange, but meng yao is mostly distracted by the fact that nie mingjue's mouth was just on the lip of the water bottle that he's about to drink from.

he drinks, tilting his head back. his hands are shaky with exhaustion and some of the water spills. it's cool on his chin and throat and he doesn't bother brushing it away - he's so sweaty that it's probably impossible to discern what's sweat and what's water anyway. when he opens his eyes again, nie mingjue is watching him.

they hike back. by the time they arrive at camp, meng yao's legs have entirely turned into jelly and nie mingjue takes pity on him, sitting him down in a camping chair with a beer and going off to pick up dry wood ("why would I buy firewood when deadwood is free?"). he teaches meng yao how to start a campfire, stacking small twigs in increasingly larger sizes until there's enough kindling to set the big logs ablaze. meng yao finds himself shivering in the dark, pressed up against nie mingjue's side and leaning towards the flames. funny, how he thought he would never feel cooled down again just an hour ago. his face burns, and his back is only cold until nie mingjue offers him a blanket.

they absolutely do not fuck that night, nor any other night. but meng yao has fun: he hasn't felt so free to learn and mess up and explore since he was a kid, and the absolute newfound freedom that he experiences when he once asks if they could go look at something off a path and nie mingjue says yes - says, in fact, that the whole point of going off into the woods like this is being able to do and see whatever you want, as long as it's within legal boundaries - means meng yao basically forgets his initial plan entirely.

they nearly get lost on their next hike, missing a turn in the established path and only turning around when they reach what could best be described as a ravine. there are more waterfalls - meng yao didn't know there were this many waterfalls anywhere in the world. they move campgrounds a few times, too. apparently it's quite difficult to get seven straight days booked in a yosemite campground. meng yao sets up the tent the second time. some of the campgrounds have showers, wooden buildings with cool water and moths fluttering around the lights. the most delicious meal meng yao swears he's ever eaten is the cheese-filled sausages nie mingjue roasts over a campfire, combined with cup noodles that they cook using water from the same camping stove tea kettle they use for their tea in the mornings.

eventually, it is time to go home. meng yao hasn't washed his hair in two days and doesn't remember the last time he heard the ping of his phone demanding that he put out yet another fire at work. he'd been asked to keep his phone on and check his email when he can during his vacation, but most of the places they've been don't actually have service.

they drive back through the same mountains as before. the porta potty is still there. meng yao actually points out its strangeness this time, and nie mingjue laughs. meng yao smiles. he's been smiling a lot during this trip. he feels vaguely like a new person. it's fresh air and endorphins, nie mingjue says. good for the soul. meng yao is pretty sure it's nie witchcraft, too.

(or maybe it's endorphins. he certainly gets a hot flood of those when, dropping off meng yao at his doorstep, nie mingjue finally hesitates - and steps close, mumbling, "didn't wanna make you uncomfortable while you were trapped in the woods with me, but..." before kissing him. his hands are so big on meng yao's hips.)

(they do fuck that night. but not before meng yao drags both of them into his shower and scrubs himself from top to bottom. yosemite was great, but he has standards.)

[lost-decade]

Your top 5 WDCs ranked on their hairstyles?

Your top 5 journeys you've ever done?

Okay this made me realise there are/have been a lot of very generic hairstyles in F1

1. James Hunt. Absolutely luscious locked. Longer hair on men – big plus from me.

2. Lewis. I mean, everything about the man is beautiful, including his hair. No elaboration necessary

3 & 4. Nico and Jenson because pretty blonde twinks

And then IDK…Nigel Mansell for the tache

Top 5 journeys got rambly so under the cut

1. I did a three week coach trip to Berlin and back via Estonia, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland that was pretty epic. Also my first solo trip (well, solo but with a whole bunch of Aussies, some of whom became great friends. I was never brave enough to do the backpacking thing totally by myself)

2. When I was in sixth form my parents took me to the US for a month around my 17th birthday. I seem to remember there being a few arguments but other than that it was a great opportunity and there were so many places I fell in love with that I would dearly love to go back to. We started in New York and flew to San Francisco, then drove down the Pacific Coast Highway to LA, which was just an incredible journey. I was very into classic Hollywood at the time, and also reading the Beats so SF was awesome to me. Then we drove out to Vegas, also took in Palm Springs, Death Valley. I think we went to Yosemite too. There’s a brocedes fic which is inspired by that leg of the trip. After that we flew to New Orleans and Memphis, both places I’d love to revisit

3. Morocco – from Marrakech up to Casablanca, Rabat and Fez, and then down through the edge of the Sahara. Such gorgeous landscapes

4. Not a specific journey, because my memory of being really young gets hazy, but when I was a kid we had a VW camper van and used to go away in it for the whole of the school holidays every summer (as a kid I was not exactly thrilled at being taken away for seven weeks every summer and tbh I think it encouraged my bookish only child tendencies) but now I am very grateful for all the places I got to see. We used to drive all over Western Europe and my pervading memories are of the smell of the car deck on a big old ferry. I loved the car ferries and still do

5. Following on from the ferries, being on one between Greek islands as the sun is setting is just magical. I got to do this last year on my way to Sifnos for the first time in a while and there’s something about just feeling like you’re a lifetime away from home and work and responsibility, just surrounded by the ocean and pretty islands passing by with the lights coming on in the villages. I don’t get why everyone just goes to fucking Mykonos lol, it’s awful

[galaxycunt]

Went to friends baby shower and it just made me want a baby more ahhhh I just wanna hold a lil baby n take them on fun trips with me but I don’t wanna get pregnant before my backpacking trip so everyone is making jokes that we should name the baby Yosemite like we should conceive on the trip lmao (married life is when people ask if ur gonna start getting cream pied frequently)

[travelwithz]

Barb and I just finished a challenging 8 day backpacking trip in Yosemite, led by the Sierra Club. We hiked The Matterhorn Loop, 55 miles starting from Twin Lakes, near Bridgeport. We had excellent weather and beautiful alpine vistas. I’m grateful to be able to visit these remote and beautiful places.

[alpacaexpeditions]

The Best 5 Day Backpacking Trips: Discovering Nature's Wonders 

Embarking on a backpacking trip is a fantastic way to reconnect with nature, challenge yourself, and experience the great outdoors in a truly immersive way. For those looking to make the most of a short but impactful adventure, here are the best 5-day backpacking trips that will leave you with unforgettable memories. 

1. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru 

One of the world's most iconic treks, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu offers a perfect blend of historical intrigue and stunning scenery. Over the course of five days, you'll traverse ancient paths, encounter archaeological sites, and witness breathtaking views of the Andes. The trail culminates at the magnificent Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site that never fails to amaze. We provide guided tours that ensure you experience the trail's full beauty, with knowledgeable guides and well-planned itineraries. 

2. John Muir Trail, California, USA 

The John Muir Trail, named after the famous naturalist, takes you through some of California's most beautiful wilderness areas, including Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. This 5-day segment of the trail offers a challenging yet rewarding adventure, with stunning vistas, alpine lakes, and diverse wildlife. It's an ideal choice for those seeking solitude and a deep connection with nature. Be sure to prepare for high-altitude hiking and bring all necessary gear. 

3. Torres del Paine W Trek, Chile 

The Torres del Paine W Trek in Patagonia is a must for any backpacking enthusiast. This 5-day trek takes you through the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, offering dramatic landscapes featuring granite towers, turquoise lakes, and sprawling glaciers. The trail's name comes from the "W" shape formed by the route, which allows you to explore the park's main valleys. We can arrange logistics and support to help you navigate this remote and rugged terrain. 

4. Laugavegur Trail, Iceland 

Iceland's Laugavegur Trail is famous for its otherworldly landscapes, from vibrant geothermal areas to vast glaciers and colorful rhyolite mountains. This 5-day trek offers a unique experience of Iceland's natural beauty, including the hot springs of Landmannalaugar, the black sand deserts of Mælifellssandur, and the lush Thórsmörk valley. Each day brings new and strikingly different scenery, making this one of the best 5-day backpacking trips for adventurers seeking a truly varied landscape. 

5. West Highland Way, Scotland 

Scotland's West Highland Way offers a captivating journey through the Highlands, from the outskirts of Glasgow to the town of Fort William. This 5-day trek features picturesque lochs, rolling hills, and the majestic Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak. Along the way, you'll encounter charming villages and historic sites, providing a rich cultural experience alongside the natural beauty. The trail is well-marked and suitable for hikers of all levels. 

Conclusion 

These best 5-day backpacking trips offer something for everyone, from the lush valleys of Iceland to the ancient paths of the Inca Trail. Each of these trails provides a unique adventure, ensuring that you'll return home with a renewed spirit and a sense of accomplishment. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a novice explorer, these trips are sure to inspire and challenge you. 

For those looking to make their journey even more seamless, Alpaca Expeditions offers expert guidance and support on several of these trails, ensuring you have a safe and memorable experience. So, pack your gear, lace up your boots, and get ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime! 

[rokhopr]

Exploring the Best Backpacking Trails in the United States

Backpacking enthusiasts are always on the lookout for new adventures, and the United States offers a plethora of stunning trails that cater to every level of backpacker. From rugged mountain ranges to lush forests and coastal wonders, Best Backpacking Places in US the US is a treasure trove of backpacking destinations waiting to be explored. If you're planning your next backpacking trip and seeking inspiration, here are some of the best backpacking places in the US that are sure to leave you in awe.

Appalachian Trail, East Coast: Stretching over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian Trail is a mecca for backpackers seeking a long-distance adventure. Traversing through picturesque landscapes, including dense forests, rolling hills, and panoramic vistas, this trail offers a diverse range of experiences for backpackers of all skill levels.

Pacific Crest Trail, West Coast: Spanning from California to Washington, the Pacific Crest Trail is another iconic long-distance trail that attracts backpackers from around the world. With its breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, and Pacific coastline, this trail promises an unforgettable journey through some of the most stunning wilderness areas in the US.

Yosemite National Park, California: Renowned for its majestic granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and pristine wilderness, Yosemite National Park is a paradise for backpackers. Whether you're exploring the iconic Yosemite Valley or embarking on a multi-day trek through the backcountry, this park offers a range of backpacking options for nature lovers.

Grand Canyon, Arizona: The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder that beckons adventurers to explore its rugged terrain and ancient landscapes. Backpackers can choose from a variety of trails, including the challenging Rim-to-Rim hike or the less-traveled North Rim trails, each offering breathtaking views of the canyon's depths and colors.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: For backpackers seeking high-altitude adventures, Rocky Mountain National Park is an ideal destination. With its towering peaks, alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife, this park offers a rugged yet rewarding backpacking experience amidst the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

Olympic National Park, Washington: Home to diverse ecosystems ranging from lush rainforests to rugged coastlines, Olympic National Park is a playground for backpackers seeking adventure. Explore the Hoh Rainforest, trek along the Olympic Coast, or summit the majestic peaks of the Olympic Mountains for an unforgettable backpacking experience.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a mix of scenic beauty, rich biodiversity, and Appalachian culture. Backpackers can explore a network of trails that lead to waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, and historic sites, immersing themselves in the beauty of this iconic mountain range.

Zion National Park, Utah: Known for its towering sandstone cliffs and narrow slot canyons, Zion National Park is a paradise for adventurous backpackers. Hike the famous Narrows, conquer Angels Landing, or embark on a multi-day trek through the park's wilderness for an adrenaline-pumping backpacking experience.

Glacier National Park, Montana: Glacier National Park is a haven for backpackers seeking pristine wilderness and stunning alpine scenery. With over 700 miles of trails, backpackers can explore glacial lakes, rugged peaks, and abundant wildlife, making it a must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Denali National Park, Alaska: For those seeking a true wilderness experience, Denali National Park offers unmatched beauty and adventure. Backpackers can venture into the heart of the Alaska Range, marvel at Mount McKinley (Denali), and encounter wildlife such as grizzly bears and caribou in their natural habitat.

Whether you're a seasoned backpacker looking for a new challenge or a beginner eager to explore the great outdoors, the United States has a diverse range of backpacking trails that cater to every adventurer's dream. Best Backpacking Places in US From the iconic Appalachian Trail to the rugged beauty of Denali National Park, these destinations promise unforgettable experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

[twilight-resonance]

Quick Stretching

Writing briefly, because I know I ought to and I know it's good for me. Why else are we ever here?

Had one of those sort-of collapsing-in-under-your-own-gravity kinds of days. It's been a long few days - my long weekend, so four days or LARP in a row, with the last two being in practice 12+ hours long each accounting for planning, driving, etc... So I'm wiped. Still had some of that momentum this morning and used it to respond to all the dreaded emails, but it petered out after that and left me sort-of pulling in on myself. Made it hard to get anything else done, planning or otherwise. Did the dishes at least - that's something - and I mean, it's to be expected. The last few days were a lot. Of course it petered out at some point.

Partly why I'm here. Feels like it's one of those things that'll fix the crumple. Most everything else has been hard to focus on - this feels more doable. Likely because I need it. Likely because it's been a while since I've done any processing at all, and that part of my brain needs it.

Now that we've done the requisite circling, like a dog laying down to bed, let's talk about something, hm? In brief, of course.

Found some new haunts. A coffee shop I've been working at on one of my days "off". A writing group, or another instance of the one I was already with. A new pen-palling site, sort-of, though I've yet to reach out to anyone yet. All things that have been good for me, if only for the sake of trying new things.

Yosemite was fun, barring the ER trip because I couldn't breathe. It was nice wrecking ourselves hiking, and it feeling good, and coming back after the trip and feeling stronger and more able to hike. There's one we took last week that took about half as long to go all the way up, past, down a ways, and back as it had taken to get all the way up before we'd gone. So that was nice.

It also ruined me for shoes - after spending so much time in my hiking shoes, I realized how much room there is in my regular shoes and how much my normal ones have been holding me back so far as running and energy and such goes. So I suppose I ought to get a proper pair of shoes and wear them to work. I tried it out this weekend and it was much easier to run and move in them, so...

Mostly, of course, it was nice to be somewhere else removed from my normal context for a while; and somewhere outside, and somewhere beautiful, and somewhere with lots of exercise. The waterfalls were flowing nearly at their peak, and they were gorgeous. We didn't attempt the Yosemite Falls trail - not with my breathing what it was - but we did get to do the Mist Trail, which wasn't open last time we'd gone. And oh, I'd forgotten how much I loved that one. My favorite trail hands-down, and Hearthsnail's now too. It just looks and feels like so much high fantasy-ass bullshit, and it's amazing. Just absolutely stunning.

Let's see, critters - we saw one coyote, and heard a pack of them once during the night. Went hunting for frogs another night and caught one with a flashlight - surprisingly hard given there were probably literally hundreds surrounding us and croaking their little hearts out. Ravens of course, and other smaller birds; no bears. Oh - Hearthsnail got me a travel watercolor set, and I painted Half Dome. The set is going to live in our hiking backpack now. It's a cute thing, and it'll be good for me.

Other things that have happened include my birthday - I got a cake from a new bakery this year because the one I used last year closed, and discovered I'm not a fan of their cake. Which was disappointing, but now we know. Brought said cake to one of our D&D sessions, and celebrated with them. We just added a new player to the campaign, and so far that seems to be working out just fine. I'm curious to get to know him more. Another who's not played D&D before this, which puts him in good company.

Other processing. Planning for LARP has been depressing for the last while. There's so much I need to change about how I run it - restructuring to my planning process that I've been working on this year - and I'm ready to be trying that, not doing what I'm doing right now. It's been frustrating and demoralizing, and made it hard to plan for the remainder of the year (especially the school year). On the flip side, I'm looking forward to next year a great deal, when I get to try all these things out - I've been doing a bunch of work up-front to outline those structures, get doc templates set up to work in, and generally try to refine the process in advance to make it as easy as possible for next season. I've been doing a lot of planning work for the GM Campout, too, and I'm excited and looking forward to that as well. Another thing that I've done some restructuring of this year, and that I'm looking forward to trying out.

It's just been... such a process to dig me out of this groove. This rut, rather, worn into the ground by these last few years. I'm hoping that GMing will feel easier and that I will be able to breathe easier with said changes, but we'll see. If nothing else, I hope that what I'm running is at least an improvement; which will lift my spirits as much as anything. More than that, I wish that the things that I do didn't take as much time per work as they do anymore... and that that equation could resolve in a more favorable manner. Maybe. We'll see.

Could keep going - would maybe like to - but I hit my time limit (speaking of time per work) and I ought to go to bed. Goodnight, sleep tight, may the skies be clearer in the morning.

[theeagertraveler]

Find the ultimate Backpacking guide for beginners at TheEagerTraveler.com. Whether you're setting off on your first adventure or seeking expert tips, our comprehensive resources and insights will make your journey unforgettable. Kickstart your adventure today and explore the world with confidence!

[catboybiologist]

John Muir - Hero or Villain?

I'm probably less able to talk about the history of John Muir than you think I am. As with any historical figure, he's complicated. However, you can't deny that the entire modern conception of land conservation essentially originated from him, directly leading to the founding of the American NPS in his lifetime.

But he was a political figure. There's a huge tendency to kind of "naturewash" him, or make him more wholesome than what he actually was- a political activist and lobbyist of a kind. And his history with that is... Messy. He undoubtedly did a lot of good. But. He certainly had almost no regard for ethnic tensions, and took zero care in his advocacy for land preservation to ensure any indigenous rights in the process, which in turn led to some of the darker history of the NPS and US public lands around the turn of the century.

There are a lot of true, almost mythic moments from his life that have shaped history and helped gain reverence and respect for public lands. His initial entrance to Yosemite along what is now the JMT, and his backpacking trip with Teddy Roosevelt that directly led to the founding of the NPS come to mind.

But you CANT mythologize the actual people behind that, because you become blind to what are often complicated realities.

So yeah, neither. It probably feels very out of character for me to not completely hold Muir on a pedestal- I literally named myself after the mountain range he's most famous for exploring and fighting to protect- but that's really how you gotta be with most historical figures.

[pcttrailsidereader]

Theodore Solomons -- A Father of the JMT (Part 1)

Excerpted from Michael Hoberman, "Jews in the Wilderness"

This post focuses on the role that Theodore Solomons’ played in the shaping of the nation’s best-loved and most spectacular long-distance footpath, the John Muir Trail. For those readers intrigued by the early history of the JMT, I would refer you to a chapter in The Pacific Crest Trailside Reader: California (2011) written by Solomons in 1940, "The Beginnings of the John Muir Trail."

On July 12, 1895, Theodore Seixas Solomons and his friend Ernest Bonner left Jackass Meadows, a camp 100 miles northeast of Fresno, for an exploratory excursion through California’s Sierra Nevada range. The two men wore felt hats, layered wool shirts, and “shoes with slightly projecting hob-nailed soles.” Their canvas backpacks brimmed with the latest innovations in outdoor equipment: eider down quilts that each weighed four pounds, kola nuts (for headache relief), extra buckskin straps, and 60 pounds’ worth of “ham, canned salmon and corned-beef, flour, white corn-meal, oatmeal, and hominy.” As Solomons recounted a few months later, they were on their way to an area that had been “represented on the map by blank spaces drawn in such a way as to indicate that the topography thus indicated was mythical.”

Bonner & Solomons, King’s River Canyon, Sierra Nevada photographs / Taken by Theodore Seixas Solomons

Theodore Solomons knew what he was doing, even when he didn’t know exactly where he was going. Late in his life, Solomons recounted that the dream of walking the length of the High Sierra had first come to him in the summer of 1884 (a year after his bar mitzvah) while he was out “herding [his] uncle’s cattle in an immense unfenced alfalfa field.” In an essay that he published in the February 1940 edition of The Sierra Club Bulletin, he tried to recapture the moment in which it had come to him. “The Holsteins were quietly feeding,” he wrote, “and I sat on my unsaddled bronco facing east and gazing in utter fascination at the most beautiful and the most mysterious sight I had ever seen.” Mesmerized by the “flashing teeth of the Sierra crest,” Solomons projected himself eastward and upward: “I could see myself in the immensity of that uplifted world, an atom moving along just below the white, crawling from one to the other end of that horizon of high enchantment.”

When Solomons reached the age of 18, with no educational or career goal otherwise occupying or distracting him from his love of the mountains, he made his first trip to Lake Tahoe. His family was hardly thrilled at this fairly unconventional choice of pastime. By the early 1890s, however, his father had died, his siblings had already launched their careers, and his mother, Hannah Marks Solomons had made her peace with his quirky interests. While the family had once known and would eventually regain financial prominence, the period of Solomons’ early manhood coincided with a decade long downturn in their fortunes. Theodore funded most of his youthful mountain ventures through extended stints as a court stenographer.

By the time that he and Ernest Bonner were preparing for their July 1895 expedition, Solomons had spent the better part of three summers hiking through (and, on a few occasions, barely surviving) the rigors of the Sierras. He had thoroughly explored Yosemite’s Tuolumne Valley and had also ventured southward from there to the lesser-known area surrounding Mount Ritter, Banner Peak, and the Minarets (all three mountains now comprise a large portion of the Ansel Adams Wilderness). He had bagged peaks, glissaded down glaciers, subsisted for days at a stretch on berries and mule meat, and been pre-hypothermic more times than he could count. On most of these trips, he, his friends, and his pack animals lugged a large camera, tripod, and several pounds’ worth of glass plates along with them. The archives at Berkeley’s Bancroft Library contain 250 of Solomons’ photographs of the Sierras, all of which he took between 1892 and 1896.

Solomons was also well acquainted with the Sierras’ most famous personalities. John Muir was a generous, if occasionally stern, mentor. Muir’s contributions to Solomons’ knowledge of the Sierras, however, were of a decidedly inspirational, as opposed to practical nature. In a 1935 article, Solomons described Muir as “exceedingly generous” and especially solicitous of “young mountaineers” like himself. At the same time, he judged Muir, “by the standards of the geographic world,” to be “a very poor sort of explorer.” Well past his youth, Muir had been fearless in his forays into the wilderness and indefatigable in his efforts to preserve it. While “he could aptly describe every place he had seen,” Solomons wrote, “you could seldom tell where it was, for he seldom oriented himself in his excursions.”

Solomons’ travel companions belonged to an eclectic group that included fellow Sierra pioneers “Little” Joe LeConte and Will Colby, as well as Leigh Bierce. On one memorable occasion he accompanied a group of four Cal-Berkeley “bloomer girls” on their ascent of Yosemite’s 13,000-foot Mount Lyell. The trip concluded with an exhilarating mile-a-minute glissade down a glacier that it had taken them several hours to climb.

The friend he chose to accompany him on his 1895 trip, Ernest Bonner, was a Berkeley law school associate of Solomons’ brother Leon. On his trips into the Sierra backcountry Solomons also regularly visited and consulted with the Portuguese and Basque sheepherders who brought their flocks to graze in its alpine meadows. His privileged childhood and adolescence in the San Francisco area could have ushered him into an easeful professional or business career. Instead of adhering to that path, Solomons cast his lot with people who shared his enthusiasm for and familiarity with the mountains.

Sources of Middle Fork, San Joaquin River, Sierra Nevada photographs / Taken by Theodore Seixas Solomons, 

Solomons and Bonner came as close to locating the pass as anyone would in the succeeding dozen years, and had it not been for an early season snowstorm that drove them off the peak of 13,558-foot Mount Goddard on July 17, they would almost certainly have found it. In his 1896 report on the trip with Bonner, Solomons described the desperate situation whose onset prevented their triumph: “I had never passed a night at a higher altitude than this,” he wrote, “nor do I care to.” Huddled in the relative shelter of a tamarack grove, the two men managed to get a lifesaving fire going thanks to some “pitch saturated logs.” On the following day, trying their best to maintain the crest of the divide “in a blinding storm” for several hours, they held a course toward the still-hypothetical pass for as long as they could before seeking shelter in “a deep gorge that had captured [their] admiration and curiosity” the previous day from the steep slope of Mount Goddard. Before they made their descent, Solomons had formed as precise an idea of where the pass had to be as anyone could have. “From several heights,” he wrote in 1940, he “could see that at the head of the basin was an easily accessible gap or pass to the highest Middle Fork streams of Kings River.” On the map that he drew immediately following his 1895 trip with Bonner he went so far as to demarcate its approximate location.

Solomons’ and Bonner’s inability to cross over what is known as the Goddard Divide in the summer of 1895 was a temporary, if frustrating, setback to the development of the John Muir Trail. It was also one of several factors that seem to have cost Solomons the recognition he surely deserved—and had already more or less earned—for having been the path’s founder. “Had they not panicked,” speculated one late-20th-century Sierra mountaineer, Solomons and Bonner would most certainly have gotten to the pass. Thanks to Solomons’ thorough documentation of his 1895 trip, his friend and sometime hiking companion Joe LeConte managed to sight and then hike over the pass in 1908, thereby earning a place in the history books as the first person to travel the entire distance between Yosemite and the area around Mount Whitney. In the 1930s, trail builders erected Muir Hut, the only edifice that lies along the 212-mile length of the John Muir Trail, at the 11,980-foot summit of the pass.

When Theodore Solomons died at the age of 79 in 1948, only a handful of his contemporaries acknowledged the role he had played in the trail’s creation. His 1940 Sierra Club Bulletin article had attempted to set the record straight by documenting everything from his 1884 gaze up at the Sierra crest from his uncle’s cattle farm, to his multiple trips through the 1890s (including the 1895 trip with Bonner) to his years of collaboration and correspondence with several other Sierra explorers. Solomons frankly admitted to the many setbacks he had faced along the way. During his lifetime, nothing that he had done or said earned him more than passing references in the Sierra Club’s official history of the trail’s development.

In 1965 veteran Air Force pilot, photographer, and Sierra Club member Hal Roth published a pictorial chronicle of the John Muir Trail called Pathway Through the Sky. The book included a chapter that summarized Solomons’ 1890s efforts to map out the trail. Two years later, the United States Geological Survey’s official designation of the 13,000-foot peak that hovers just to the south of Muir Pass as Mount Solomons helped to shore up the trail-maker’s legacy, at least among inquisitive map-readers. In 1974, Solomons was memorialized with a trail of his own, but even that act fell short of achieving its purpose of raising public consciousness about his contributions to wider knowledge of the High Sierra. The Theodore Solomons Trail is a rigorous 280-mile, lower-elevation alternative to the much more popular and well-known John Muir Trail. It receives comparatively little traffic, however, and, as a consequence, is often difficult to follow and inconsistently maintained. As one 2019 hiker put it, “If my experience is anything to go off of, almost no one knows about the bloody thing.” The same blogger claimed that when he called the Forest Service to request a hiking permit, he was told that they issue about three a year, as compared to the 1,500 or so that they provide to John Muir Trail hikers. To this day the story of the better-known trail’s pioneer remains mostly unknown, even to the hundreds of backpackers who complete its length each summer.

[peterkleinsouthcarolina]

Hiking in National Parks: Discovering Natural Wonders and Breathtaking Views

There's an undeniable magic in the untouched beauty of the natural world, and nowhere is this enchantment more vividly on display than in the world's national parks. These protected areas, often called the crown jewels of a country's natural heritage, beckon hikers from around the globe. In this article, we embark on a journey to explore the unparalleled experience of hiking in national parks, where every trail leads to discovering breathtaking views and natural wonders.

The Majesty of National Parks

National parks are sanctuaries of natural beauty, carefully preserved to provide a haven for wildlife and a place for people to connect with the outdoors. These pristine landscapes encompass diverse ecosystems, from rugged mountains and lush forests to pristine lakes and arid deserts. Each park has a unique character and charm, making it a prime destination for hikers seeking an immersive wilderness experience.

Exploring a Rich Tapestry of Trails

One of the most enticing aspects of hiking in national parks is the extensive network of trails that crisscross these protected landscapes. Whether you're an experienced backpacker or a casual day hiker, there's a trail suited to your skills and interests. From strolls to challenging backcountry routes, national parks offer a tapestry of hiking experiences.

Witnessing the Wonders of Wildlife

National parks are not just about landscapes but also teeming with wildlife. While hiking, you may encounter animals such as deer, elk, bears, eagles, and many other species. Observing these creatures in their natural habitat is a humbling and awe-inspiring experience, reminding us of the importance of preserving these ecosystems.

The Art of Planning: Choosing Your Adventure

When planning a hiking trip to a national park, it's essential to research the destination and select a trail that aligns with your fitness level, interests, and available time. Each park offers many options, so consider factors such as trail length, elevation gain, and the type of terrain you prefer. Popular national parks for hiking include Yosemite in the United States, Banff in Canada, Torres del Paine in Chile, and Torres del Paine in Chile, among many others.

Preparation and Safety: Hiker's Essentials

Hiking in national parks requires careful preparation to ensure safety and an enjoyable experience. Here are some essential tips:

Pack Smart: Carry essential gear such as maps, compass, first-aid kit, extra clothing, and enough food and water for your hike.

Check the Weather: Be aware of the weather conditions and pack accordingly. Weather in mountainous regions can change rapidly.

Leave No Trace: Practice responsible hiking by following the principles of Leave No Trace, which include staying on designated trails, disposing of waste properly, and respecting wildlife.

Know Your Limits: Understand your physical fitness level and choose trails that match your abilities. Inform someone of your hiking plans, including your expected return time.

The Reward: Breathtaking Views

Hiking in national parks promises an array of rewards, but the most sought-after are the breathtaking views that await at the end of the trail. Whether it's the iconic Half Dome in Yosemite, the Canadian Rockies' rugged beauty, or Patagonia's surreal landscapes, national parks offer vistas that will forever etch themselves into your memory.

Conservation and Stewardship

The importance of national parks extends far beyond recreational opportunities. These protected areas serve as bastions of conservation, safeguarding fragile ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and combating the threats of climate change and habitat destruction. When you hike in a national park, you become a part of the ongoing effort to protect and preserve our planet's natural wonders.

A Tapestry of Natural Marvels

Hiking in national parks is an invitation to become a part of nature's grand tapestry, where every step reveals a new marvel, every vista inspires awe, and every encounter with wildlife deepens your connection to the world around you. These protected areas are not just destinations for adventurers; they are vital reservoirs of beauty and biodiversity that need our care and protection. So, lace up your hiking boots, pack your backpack, and venture into the world of national parks, where the wonders of nature await your discovery.

[mysterymirrors]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Columbia Women's Sandy River™ Cargo Shorts - Khaki/Tusk - S.

[eazy-group]

11 Top-Rated Camping Tents for Every Budget

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11 Top-Rated Camping Tents for Every Budget

Whether a rookie or a seasoned veteran, a camper has to have confidence in their tent. It’s your home away from home, and more so than any other piece of camping gear, it dictates how comfortable you’ll be. After all, no one wants to wake up wet or perhaps worse: covered in mosquito bites. Fortunately, tents, which were once mostly made of heavy canvas and pretty rudimentary, have gotten a lot more lightweight and technical in the past few decades. From Amazon to Ebay (although you may want to think twice about buying a secondhand tent), there’s never been a bigger selection to choose from starting at just $50. Whether you’re planning to backpack the PCT in the dead of winter or simply spend a summer weekend at a KOA with a pool and putt putt golf, here are 11 top-rated camping tents for every budget.

1. Coleman Sundome 2-Person Camping Tent, from $50, Amazon

With nearly 35,000 five-star ratings, the Coleman Sundome Camping Tent is ranked #1 on Amazon’s list of Best Sellers in Camping Tents. It’s the perfect entry level three-season tent for car campers looking for an affordable weatherproof tent. Despite how cheap it is, the frame is designed to withstand winds of 35+mph, and welded corners and inverted seams keep water out. “Last night, I had the opportunity to put my tent to the test during a heavy rainstorm, and I must say, I am incredibly impressed. Despite the non-stop downpour for nearly 5 hours, not a single drop of water made its way inside the tent,” writes one Amazon shopper whose review is titled “Passed the test.” The two-person model weighs 7.5 lbs., and it’s also available in three-person, four-person and six-person (all of which are under $100) models. Note: while it is the cheapest tent on this list, it also takes the longest time (10-15 minutes) to set up.

2. Clostnature Lightweight Backpacking Tent, from $67, Amazon

If you’re willing to spend a little more to shave off a couple of pounds, consider the Clostnature Lightweight Backpacking Tent which has more than 1,700 five star ratings and an impressive 4.6-star average rating. This two-person, three-season tent weighs 5.7 lbs and is designed to be pitched in a pinch, even by just one person. “I came across it during a solo camping trip in Yosemite, and it blew me away with its superior construction and weatherproofing,” says Mal Hellyer, a travel blogger who has camped everywhere from the Alps to the Australian Outback. “It stood strong during an unexpected thunderstorm and kept me dry, a crucial factor when you’re miles away from civilization.”

3. CORE 9-Person Tent, $100, Amazon

Whether you have a big family or your kids are begging to bring their friends, you’ll have plenty of room for everyone in this three-season, nine-person tent with nearly 4,000 five-star ratings on Amazon (where it’s currently 33% off). With a whopping 144 square feet of space, the CORE 9-Person Tent easily fits three queen air mattresses. Although it’s an entry-level tent, it is water-resistant and it features a handy gear loft with plenty of pockets and a hook for your flashlight or lantern. It also weighs just 18.5 pounds which is remarkable given how big it is, and if it’s not big enough, don’t worry. There’s an 11-Person model (for $130) with 162 square feet of space!

4. Eddie Bauer Carbon River 4, $126 (originally $179), Eddie Bauer

If you’re looking for a bargain, consider the Eddie Bauer Carbon River 4 which is currently 30% off. This popular four-person, three-season tent weighs 10 pounds and offers 64 square feet of interior space. Like all Eddie Bauer gear, it’s designed to last for years, and it’s also very user-friendly. Pieces are even color-coded for easy setup. The double-wall construction is durable, and thanks to Eddie Bauer’s signature WeatherEdge technology, it’s fully waterproof. In addition to featuring a polyurethane coating that keeps water out, the tent is also treated with a flame retardant.

5. Kelty Wireless 4-Person Tent, $150 (originally $200), Amazon

One step up from entry level, the Kelty Wireless 4-Person Tent is a great option for car campers who want something reliable. It’s not called wireless because it doesn’t feature wires. It’s called wireless because cell phone reception and WiFi aren’t included. Still, this four-person, three-season tent does boast doors on either side and two vestibules for maximum dry storage. It has a 4.6-star average rating on Amazon where it’s currently 25% off. “The four person model is large and spacious due to the spreader bar at the top. Easy to set up for one person,” writes one shopper who opted for Kelty because her last tent, which she bought in 1977, lasted so long. It weighs just under 12 pounds and offers 59 square feet of interior space.

6. Quechua Two-Second Waterproof Pop-Up Tent, $229, Decathlon

It’s hard to find a tent that you can set up faster than the aptly-named Quechua Two-Second Waterproof Pop-Up Tent. This three-season, two-person tent doesn’t discriminate against tall campers, it’s ideal for people up to 6’8, and it’s great for people who run hot. The tent’s “Fresh Technology” feature reflects the sun’s rays to keep you cool even in the hottest temperatures. But what really sets this bestseller (it has a 4.5-star rating from more than 1,100 reviews) apart is its patented Black Out technology promising 99% darkness at any time of the day. It weighs 10.4 pounds and is built to withstand wind gusts of up to 30 mph.

7. Outdoor Vitals One-Person Trekking Pole Backpacking Tent, $290, Outdoor Vitals

Weighing about as much as a pair of shoes, the Outdoor Vitals One-Person Trekking Pole Backpacking Tent is perhaps the lightest tent money can buy. Despite weighing less than two pounds, this one-person, four-season tent is made of an uber durable nylon and has multiple “storm points” and extra-long stake lines that give you serious peace of mind even in the harshest of conditions. “I had it out in a pretty big thunderstorm, and had no issues with the rain and wind,” writes one reviewer. “The tent sets up quickly, it has plenty of room for one person, and the material seems like it is very durable. I think this is going to become my go-to tent for ultralight backpacking!” The inside has a mesh pocket and two hanging loops, but with just 17 square feet of space it may not be the tent for you if you’re claustrophobic.

8. NEMO Aurora 2-Person Backpacking Tent and Footprint, $299, NEMO

If you’re looking for a lightweight two-person backpacking tent, look no further than the Nemo Aurora. This three-season tent, which comes with NEMO’s lifetime warranty, weighs just over five pounds and has 31.8 square feet of space. And because it comes with NEMO’s signature Pawprints, which protects the footprint of the tent and provides insulation, it’s perhaps the most dog-friendly tent on this list. Another fun feature is the overhead light pockets which utilize a “light-diffusing fabric to cast an even glow.”

9. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2, $413 (originally $550), Moosejaw

Thousands of campers swear by the three-season best-seller that is the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2. On Moosejaw alone it has an impressive 4.7-star average rating from 750 reviews. At just over three pounds and 29 square feet, it’s a nice compromise between an ultralight backpacking tent and a lightweight tent. Features include two doors, two awning-style vestibules, a new TipLock Tent Buckle (which makes setting it up a breeze) and 100% waterproof seams. “I took it out for a two-week backpacking trip in the mountains of Peru, and it handled the wind, rain and even snow with no issues,” says Charles Breitbart, a travel blogger and avid camper.

10. Mountain Hardwear Bridger 6 Tent, $950, Mountain Hardwear

In terms of storage, it’s hard to beat the Mountain Hardwear Bridger 6 Tent. This six-person, three-season tent has eight interior pockets, a removable gear loft and two full-size vestibules where you can stash your gear so it doesn’t get covered in dew, or worse. Designed to function as your base camp for outdoor pursuits, the Bridger 6, which weighs about 24 pounds, has handy features including two saloon-style doors, a built-in doormat and a full coverage fly. With 89 square feet of interior space and another 94 square feet of vestibule space, it can comfortably fit six.

11. Thule Approach, $2,300, Thule

While it’s easily the most expensive and heaviest (110 pounds) tent on this list, the Thule Approach is also the most comfortable and it can be used in all four seasons. This rooftop abode even comes with a dual layer mattress. It’s available in three sizes, and all of them boast a panoramic roof with skylights, lockable mounting brackets and a removable rain cover with three different modes. While it looks complex, after all it involves a ladder, it can be unpacked and set up in just three minutes.

Katie Jackson is a writer and media specialist based in Montana’s Big Sky Country. Living and working everywhere from New York to Nicaragua, Katie is no stranger to adventure. When she’s not traveling the world (or writing about it!) she’s busy chasing after a Leonberger named Zeus. Follow Katie’s travels on Instagram @katietalkstravel.