Well, winter’s officially here in my books. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park are closed for the winter: The Tioga and Glacier Point Roads in Yosemite are closed for the season. These roads close each fall and remain closed throughout the winter months until weather conditions permit reopening in the spring […]
Hiking the Trail to Lake Margaret in the Sierra Nevada
This easy hiking trail takes you to the granite heights of the Sierra Nevada, Lake Margaret in Eldorado National Forest just off Highway 88. It makes a great day hike or an overnight backpacking trip for the whole family. Note: This is Hike 4 from my book 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California, fourth edition. The […]
Visit Your National Parks for Free This Weekend — August 15-16
I wrote last month about the National Park Service’s free weekend for July. Well, they’re doin’ it again this weekend, August 15-16. Here’s the list of all the national parks in California, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada. Get out there and hike those national park trails. California Cabrillo National Monument Death Valley National Park John Muir […]
August Hike of the Month — Lake Aloha, Lake of the Woods, and Ropi Lake in Desolation Wilderness
Desolation Wilderness ranks as one of my absolute favorite places on Earth. Jagged granite peaks, lush meadows, expansive alpine lakes — it’s my favorite scenery. The Hike of the Month explores Desolation Wilderness via a hike to Lake Aloha, Lake of the Woods, and Ropi Lake. I actually first hiked to Lake Aloha as a […]
Tom Stienstra Sierra Nevada Crossing Presentation
Tom Stienstra recently backpacked the Sierra Nevada from east to west, starting near Mount Whitney, as some early pioneers did. The Mount Shasta Trail Association (I’m on the board of directors) proudly sponsors a presentation by Tom Stienstra, one of the true biggies of outdoors writing in America. Tom will present photos and a rousing […]
Yosemite National Park Winter Road Closures
Well, Winter 2008-2009 has officially arrived in Yosemite National Park and brought road closures, thanks to the recent storms that dumped the white stuff on the higher elevations of all of Northern California. The news from Yosemite National Park on road closures: Specific Winter 2008/2009 Road Closures in Yosemite National Park Tioga Road The Tioga […]
Climate Change Evidence: Beetles Affected in the Trinity Alps
I’ve recently blogged about the effects of climate change on California coastal hiking trails, and how climate change is affecting animals in the Sierra Nevada and glaciers in Yosemite National Park. I just found an article about the findings of Dave Kavanaugh, the Senior Curator of Entomology at the California Academy of Sciences. Dr. Kavanaugh […]
Tahoe National Forest Off-Highway Vehicle–OHV Plan
The Tahoe National Forest is also finalizing its off-highway vehicle/OHV/road plan, with November 26th of 2008 the final day for comments. The Top 100 Day Hikes and Backpacking Trips in Northern California The all-color fourth edition features the best trails: Northern Sierra Nevada Lassen and Mount Shasta areas Trinity Alps and Marble Mountains Redwood Coast Wine […]
Where the Fires Were: Beacroft Trail in Tahoe National Forest
Sacramento News & Review writer Jeff McCrory recently got a first-hand look at the devastation from last summer’s wildfires when he hiked the Beacroft Trail in Tahoe National Forest with his brother. Here’s a few tidbits from the excellent article: Inhale deeply. Try to smell the fall season: the whisper of snow, decaying leaves, the mineral […]
Trout Removal at Desolation Wilderness Lakes
Here’s something for Desolation Wilderness hikers who also like to fish, especially for trout. The Forest Service is removing non-native trout from seven lakes to protect the mountain yellow-legged frog, which the trout have been gobbling up since the fish were introduced to the lakes in the 1950s. Trout Removal from Ralston Lake, Cagwin Lake, […]
Climate Change in the Sierra Nevada
While driving to the gala of the Mount Shasta Film Festival last night, I heard a piece on National Public Radio about how the warming climate is forcing some species in the High Sierra around Yosemite to higher elevations. Low and behold, I find this morning that Tom Knudson’s Sierra Summit blog at the Sacramento Bee has […]
Hiking Can Be Hazardous–Always Be Prepared!
The October Hike of the Month takes you to Emigrant Lake in the Mokelumne Wilderness. However, remember that this is October, and you must be prepared for winter conditions at such a high elevation. Don’t go unless you have the equipment, experience and physical stamina. A recent tragedy in the Sierra Nevada took a hiker’s life: PLACER […]
Hiking to Emigrant Lake in the Mokelumne Wilderness
Just posted the October hike over on the Northern California Hiking Trails article page: Alright, now it’s October. Let’s head to the Sierra Nevada one more time before winter buries it in ten feet of snow. This hike to Emigrant Lake in the Mokelumne Wilderness is fairly easy: 4.5 miles in and only 950 feet […]
Hikers Using Cell Phones: Minor Annoyance or Cardinal Sin?
Why not use cell phones when hiking? Because one, it distracts you from the beauty surrounding you; two, it annoys wildlife, including your hiking partners and anybody else within earshot; three, you’re in nature – try to leave the technology at home. And four, it’s dangerous. Herewith a post from the fascinating blog Hiker Hell (all […]
