Read about my complete John Muir Trail experience, including prep, gear, logistics, and post-hike impressions. I’m starting my John Muir Trail (JMT) thru-hike at Lyell Canyon rather than Happy Isles because that’s the only permit I could get. That cuts … Continued
As I’ve said before, I’m more of a hiker than a camper. Even though hikers camp and campers hike, the best part of backpacking for me is the walking. I don’t blog most of my backpacking trips because I start walking when the sun comes up and I make camp when the sun sets. Then I eat and go to bed. At dawn, I pack up and walk until the sun sets. I make camp, eat, and go to bed. Rinse and repeat.
The Graybeard Trail is a 9-mile out-and-back trail in the Montreat area of Black Mountain, North Carolina. It is well blazed with blue, plastic diamonds. The ample signage and maintenance are some of the best I’ve seen since visiting Pearson’s … Continued
The Dismal Creek area is tucked away in western North Carolina, not too far from Panthertown Valley. The trail—and I use that term loosely—features 4 waterfalls. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s a little under 2½ miles from … Continued
Read about my complete John Muir Trail experience, including prep, gear, logistics, and post-hike impressions. The most frustrating thing (I hope) about hiking the John Muir Trail involves getting to and from the trail. I’m flying into San Francisco because … Continued
Read about my complete John Muir Trail experience, including prep, gear, logistics, and post-hike impressions. I’ve already explained some of the ways I dress up cheap, processed meals for trail cooking. Now I want to break down the logistics of … Continued
I’ve hiked just about all of Panthertown Valley in both directions. It’s a beautiful area that mostly features easy to moderate hiking. There are a few strenuous sections of trail, but they’re avoided with this loop except for the short … Continued
Lover’s Leap is a 1½ mile out-and-back trail featuring 3 rocky overlooks near Hot Springs, North Carolina. It’s a very short section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and you can make the hike a loop by taking the Silvermine trail … Continued
Read about my complete John Muir Trail experience, including prep, gear, logistics, and post-hike impressions. Meal prep is more challenging for me than for most people. It’s not that I have a special diet—I just don’t like sweets. To be … Continued
Helton Creek Falls is a waterfall attraction near the Blood Mountain Wilderness in north Georgia. It’s nestled between the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center and Vogel State Park. I’ve driven past the sign several times and I finally checked it out. It’s … Continued