California

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Backpacking Pohono Trail to Old Inspiration Point - Yosemite NP, CA

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Backpacking Pohono Trail to Old Inspiration Point - Yosemite NP, CA

Such a classic Yosemite hike, the Pohono Trail traverses the southern rim and offers some of the best views of the iconic granite formations that Yosemite has become known for.

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Backpacking Island and Twin Lakes — Desolation Wilderness, CA

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Backpacking Island and Twin Lakes — Desolation Wilderness, CA

Only four miles in, this is a great trip to make early season, for beginners, or as a quick overnight into the backcountry.

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Hiking Taft Point and the Fissures — Yosemite National Park, CA

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Hiking Taft Point and the Fissures — Yosemite National Park, CA

A short and easy classic Yosemite hike to the edge of a cliff with vertigo-inducing views of the valley below and incredible geological features

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Backpacking the Lakes Trail Overnight to Pear Lake — Sequoia National Park, CA

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Backpacking the Lakes Trail Overnight to Pear Lake — Sequoia National Park, CA

Only a six mile hike past an epic valley lookout and four gorgeous alpine lakes makes the Lakes Trail one of the most popular trails in Sequoia National Park

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Backpacking Fontanillis Lake to Dicks Peak — Desolation Wilderness, CA

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Backpacking Fontanillis Lake to Dicks Peak — Desolation Wilderness, CA

Only a 5 mile hike in, Fontanillis Lake is a quiet oasis that also offers access to Dicks Peak, a fun off-route scramble to its 9,974 ft summit.

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Backpacking Minaret Lake — Mammoth, CA

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Backpacking Minaret Lake — Mammoth, CA

Doable in a short weekend backpacking trip, Minaret Lake sits below the Minarets, some of the most dramatic peaks in the Sierra.

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A Winter Weekend in Siskiyou County — Northern California

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A Winter Weekend in Siskiyou County — Northern California

Only 5 hours from the Bay Area, Siskiyou County has so much to offer, even in the winter! Here are some ideas of things to do in California's north

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Favorite Caves to Explore at Lava Beds National Monument, CA

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Favorite Caves to Explore at Lava Beds National Monument, CA

Located on the very northern edge of California, the park makes a great day trip for spelunkers of all ages and experiences

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Backpacking the High Sierra Trail in 6 Days

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Backpacking the High Sierra Trail in 6 Days

I finally hiked the High Sierra Trail, a trip I've been dying to do for years! Those 6 days in remote backcountry absolutely blew me away.

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High Sierra Trail Day 6 — Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney

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High Sierra Trail Day 6 — Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney

The final day on the trail was an intense one from summiting Mt. Whitney to descending 6k+ feet, we can definitely say finished our trip with a bang!

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High Sierra Trail Day 5 — Junction Meadow to Guitar Lake

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High Sierra Trail Day 5 — Junction Meadow to Guitar Lake

Our 5th day was mostly spent climbing uphill nonstop up to Guitar Lake with hard-earned views of Kern Valley and the Kaweah Peaks in the distance

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High Sierra Trail Day 4 — Moraine Lake to Junction Meadow

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High Sierra Trail Day 4 — Moraine Lake to Junction Meadow

On day four of the High Sierra Trail, we descended down and into Kern Canyon with a relaxing and much-needed stop at Kern Hot Springs.

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High Sierra Trail Day 3 — Hamilton Lake to Moraine Lake

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High Sierra Trail Day 3 — Hamilton Lake to Moraine Lake

Our third day on the High Sierra Trail took us through a variety of terrains and set the record for the most elevation climbed - 4,000 ft!

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High Sierra Trail Day 2 — 9 Mile Creek to Hamilton Lake

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High Sierra Trail Day 2 — 9 Mile Creek to Hamilton Lake

Day 2 on the HST was a memorable one continuing with the best views of the Great Western Divide and my favorite camp site of the entire trip.

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High Sierra Trail Day 1 — Crescent Meadow to 9 Mile Creek

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High Sierra Trail Day 1 — Crescent Meadow to 9 Mile Creek

Our first day on the High Sierra Trail had no shortage of vast, exposed, and dramatic views of the impressive Great Western Divide.