Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the world, which makes narrowing down the best hikes in Yosemite pretty difficult. There are 2,000 foot waterfalls, towering granite cliffs and cables that you cling onto for dear life. But, since I bought a property near Yosemite a few years ago, I … Read more
I consider myself a pretty avid hiker, so when my friends asked if I was interested in hiking Mount Whitney, I didn’t even hesitate. Standing at 14,505 ft., Whitney is the highest mountain in the contiguous US (not counting Alaska). Although Mount Whitney towers over all other mountains in the Sierras, the hike to … Read more
Hiking to Big Pine Lakes had been on my bucket list since I moved to California. In fact, the first time I saw a picture of the lakes in Big Pine, I couldn’t believe they were located in the Sierras. Here I was, day dreaming about visiting the glacial lakes and craggy peaks of Patagonia, when Big Pine … Read more
Since hiking the Channel Islands was my first true backpacking experience, I certainly learned a lot during my trip. That being said, I have a lot of helpful information to pass on to make your experience a little easier than mine. I also want to tell you to absolutely go for it because the Channel Islands are amazing. … Read more
On one particularly random morning, my roommate and I decided to wake up and head to South Lake Tahoe, without knowing anything about the area or what we were going to do. Luckily, we had around an 8 hour drive ahead of us to do some research. So, if you’re looking for things to do in South … Read more
Anza Borrego is kind of like Joshua Tree’s lost cousin. It’s whopping 600,000 acres of desert is covered with wonderfully weird landscapes like Joshua Tree, but it’s still commonly forgotten. BUT, this is what makes Anza-Borrego so amazing to visit. It’s lack of visitors makes it perfect for that off the grid weekend that you … Read more
As I was visiting Tahoe for a limited amount of time, I decided that I should probably do the best rated hike on AllTrails, (and also Tahoe’s highest peak), which is how I ended up hiking Mount Tallac. Hiking Mount Tallac was worth all of the trudging through snow, all of the thigh burns … Read more
It’s crazy how many people flock to Cowles Mountain and Torrey Pines when there are so many other San Diego hikes to choose from. Between steep mountain lookouts and hidden waterfalls, San Diego has a lot more to offer than you might think. If you’re looking to expand your horizons, here are some other hiking trails to … Read more
Despite the last minute permit, a little car trouble, a slightly flooded tent, and forgetting the much needed gloves for hiking the cables, we still succeeded in summiting Half Dome back in September. Here’s my video from the experience (and please reach out if you have questions about doing it too!):
[youtube_sc url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO9Sh_CSOjc&t=4s”]
For those of you who haven’t heard of the Goat Canyon Trestle hike, it’s an extremely difficult hike through the Anza-Borrego desert to the largest free standing railroad trestle in the world (if you don’t get lost). I hike a lot, but I never have gotten as lost as I did while hiking to Goat … Read more
Looking for things to do in Joshua Tree National Park? Well, people come for all different reasons. The desert has stood as a symbol of freedom and consciousness for a long time, and with Joshua Tree’s Dr. Seuss-like landscape, it’s no wonder why all types of artists and eccentric types are attracted to this … Read more
I was really up in the air on what I wanted to do for my 29th birthday (ugh 29 gross),until one of my friends told me to check out some of the Airbnb’s in Joshua Tree. She’s from the East Coast and had always wanted to visit. I have to admit that I wasn’t … Read more
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What A Ride!” Yosemite National Park is one of those … Read more
One long stretch of winding road clings to the rugged California Coast, connecting Northern California to its southern half. Unlike the east coast, the Pacific coast is desolate, hosting sand, rocks and crashing waves instead of residences and hotels. Mountains are pieced together by narrow delicate bridges hanging over astonishing 200ft. drops. Imagine cruising along a lonesome highway and having views … Read more
