This is my 34th season backpacking now, and I still look just as forward to every season now as I did when I was an inexperienced, bright eyed college kid, bumming around the sierra’s. There’s always a new place to explore, another route to figure out, another lake somewhere in the corners of the Sierra’s that I want to get too. This year took me from a daddy/daughter trip in the winter to the desert of Joshua Tree, to some beautiful and occasionally challenging corners of Yosemite. Looking back, it was a pretty damn good season.
Each year, it seems my trips take on an unexpected and particular theme. It’s usually based on the first trip I take, because I get fascinated with that region, I unintendedly spend most of my summer there. In the past, it’s been Ansel Adams Wilderness, Southern Sierra’s south of Whitney, Evolution Valley, and one summer I spent climbing as many passes as I could. This years them seemed to be Tuolumne Meadows. I’ve hiked almost every mile of trail there now, except for Cold Canyon, and that’s definately on the to do list soon.
Things got started in March with a special trip to Joshua Tree with my daughter, Anna. She’s 25 now, loves the outdoors, and was getting ready to start a new job in Montana. We had a rare opportunity to spend several days together in the backcountry, and I wasn’t about to pass it up. We covered a lot of ground, did some off-trail exploring, watched some incredible sunsets, and spent plenty of time talking and laughing. Getting to share something I’ve loved for more than three decades with my daughter was easily one of the highlights of my year, and maybe my backpacking life?
June brought me back to Yosemite for my annual shakedown trip to Chilnualna Falls. I’ve been going here now for four straight years. Unfortunately, the Dome Fire, that is starting to wind down has probably wiped out most of my route and I’m secretly devastated. It’s sad to think I may never backpack there again. The plan is always to test my gear, and see how my fitness was coming along before heading out on more demanding trips. Instead, on this trip, I got rain, hail, and several inches of snow. So much for easing into the season! On the bright side, my gear held up, and I realized my winter training was paying off.
Mid June brought me to my favorite area on gods green earth: The Eastern Sierra, or as I refer to it as, “The East Side.” This time I was able to introduce my girlfriend to why this place is so special. We ventured out to the town of Benton where we spent the night at the Benton Hot Springs Resort. We explored the Benton Cemetary, Indian Reservation, and relaxed in our private hot spring. The next day we explored the Owens Valley, showing her some of the magical hot springs I’ve been going to for over 30 years. We ventured into Mammoth and took the gondola up to the top of Mammoth Mountain. We made our way down to the hotel pool, went swimming, headed up to Minaret Vista, and ate at Roberto’s Cafe. As much time as I’ve spent there, I don’t mind being a tour guide at all. It was a blast.
Whoa Nelli Deli has become my favorite and most reliable ritual before a trip. Because I have to deal with the masses driving to and thru Yosemite, I don’t leave the bay area until after 6pm. Then, it’s a strait through drive through Yosemite, over Tioga Pass, and down into Lee Vining where I park in the Whoa Nelli Deli gravel parking lot, overlooking Mono Lake. Quickly, I can setup the back of my Bronco for sleep. I set the alarm for 6:15am, because I know they open up the store and outdoor bathroom at 6:30. If I get there right at 6:30, I’m the first one there and everything is clean! I freshen up, wash my face, brush my teeth, and then head inside for a bagel with lox, large Americano, and premade sandwich for the trail. Then I can watch the sun rise over Mono Lake, before I head out, making an easy and memorable start to the adventure.
In July, I headed into the backcountry for a solo trip to Nelson Lake. This one involved plenty of off-trail hiking, some tough climbing over Nelson Pass, a few navigation challenges, and a thunderstorm for the ages that kept me in my tent, and holding up my trekking poles to keep my tent from collapsing. But that’s part of the deal. The storm eventually cleared, leaving behind a rainbow stretching across the lake, that made for one of the most beautiful images I’ve ever seen in the mountains. This trip allowed plenty of time alone to think about life, family, and the people who matter the most to me. It’s one of the things I appreciate most about solo adventures. You get a lot of time to sort things out, whether you planned to or not. I can be an overthinker, but when you have 48 hours of silence by yourself, things start to make sense.
August brought another long-awaited adventure: Matthes Lake. I’ve wanted to get there for years and finally making it was worth the effort. Getting there meant some navigation on challenging terrain off trail, but the lake was everything I’d hoped it would be. I spent a night enjoying the solitude before heading back toward the more popular areas around Cathedral Lakes. Let’s just say the second night wasn’t quite as peaceful as the first. Still, I checked another destination off my Sierra bucket list, and that’s a win in my book.
My last trip of the season took me to Young Lakes. I’d originally planned to head to the Kearsarge Pass area, and 60 Lakes Basin, but a family emergency turned me around when I was entereing Yosemite Valley towards the East Side. I wasn’t ready to call it a season just yet, so I squeezed in one more Yosemite adventure. Young Lakes was a great way to finish things up, with a beautiful campsite, incredible mountain views, and one final reminder that the hike out is rarely as easy as you convince yourself it’s going to be. I also managed to break a camp chair and discover another backpacking meal I’ll never eat again. You can’t always win, but you can sure try.
