We made our way through an empty Tuolumne Meadows, putting in some miles on our way towards Donohue Pass. Following the banks of the overflowing Tuolumne River, we came across the first creek crossing on the trail for which we had to take off our boots if we wished to keep them dry. In no way was this a difficult crossing, as the small creek was hardly treacherous, yet the water was deep enough to warrant the use of my…
I’ve seen people underestimate the importance of a sleeping pad. They never repeated that mistake. . . || So. . . what is a sleeping PAD? || The rarely mentioned sidekick of a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad is a crucial part of every backpacker’s gear list. Without it you will certainly have a cold bottom all night long. While a sleeping bag creates an insulating layer of air between you and the outside environment, a sleeping pad insulates your…
With so many sleeping bags on the market, picking the “right one” can seem a daunting task. || Sleeping Bag: So What Really Is It. . .? || I like to describe a sleeping bag like a human thermos. It does not generate heat, but rather, traps heat that your body radiates to the surrounding environment. The various temperature ratings of sleeping bags, such as 30 F, 20 F, etc., measure how efficiently the bag is able to retain heat…
With its panoramic bald knobs, the Art Loeb Trail is a great destination in the Southeast for a weekend trip. Located in Pisgah National Forest, the trailhead from Black Balsam Knob Road is just over an hour from Asheville and around 3.5 hours from Atlanta. || Location || The Art Loeb Trailhead on Black Balsam Knob Road is just over an hour from Asheville, and 3.5 hours from Atlanta. The trailhead is accessed via the Blue Ridge Parkway, which gives…
For my John Muir Trail expedition in the summer of 2017, a primary concern in my gear preparations was eye protection. The vicious glare of the sun reflected off the snow can cause severe snow blindness, if you are not careful. The trouble I faced, however, is that there are SO MANY options out on the market. How to choose? || My Researching Process: Understanding My Needs || Before I begin researching the market for a piece of gear, I…
For mountain enthusiasts, Colorado’s “14ers” are a must-do. Colorado has 58 peaks with summits above 14,000′, which are referred to as “14ers.” Many of these peaks are accessible as day hikes. || Grays Peak || Standing at 14,278′, Grays Peak is a great option for those looking for a non-technical 14er near the Denver / Boulder area. The trail leading up to Grays can be accessed from I-70, a few miles west of Idaho Springs, around an hour or so…
|| The True “Beginning” || It all started with ice cream. In the fall of 2016, a friend and I were chatting about our hiking dreams. I mentioned to him that I had hopes of hiking the PCT after college. He mentioned that I should look into the John Muir Trail, a smaller section of the PCT which was known as the “crowned jewel” of the long trek from Mexico to Canada. I was hooked. . . Whenever I had…