Category Archives: Backpacking

This was a multi-day solo backpacking trip to climb some of the peaks in the Taboose Pass area. I put this together after learning that there is a good route up Split Mtn. and I wanted to climb Arrow Peak after seeing it so prominently earlier in June.

Jack, John, Srisuda and I met at the trailhead for Sawmill Pass the night before the hike since we wanted to get an early start. There were a few peaks we wanted to try to climb and Srisuda and I also wanted to enjoy some time at nice Sierra lakes.

John and I went up to Cottonwood Pass with the intent to climb a few 13ers. We left early in the morning and arrived at the Horseshoe Meadow trailhead around noon.

John and I went up to Taboose Pass for an early season Sierra backpack and attempt to ascent 2 mountains: Striped Mtn. (13,185 ft / 4019 m), Cardinal Mtn. (13,402 ft / 4085 m).

Large fires and extreme fire danger again canceled a lot of September hiking in the Sierra. We were lucky to get a brief window with good conditions. On the drive up Owens Valley I had my doubts that the hike would happen. The valley was smoke-filled and we did not see any of the SierraContinue reading “McGee Pass, September 2021”

Looking for a new-to-us area of the Sierra with nice lakes and some interesting peaks I found Piute Pass.

It’s been a couple of years since any of us had been on a 14er and so it was time to get up there again. We chose Langley (14026 ft / 4275 m) since most in the group had not been up there, it’s the closest to home, and it’s easy to get to theContinue reading “Mount Langley, July 2021”

The extreme multi-year drought continues and the snow levels for the southern Sierra only reached about 50% of normal. A side effect is that hiking at elevation is already possible in June.

Looking for something new to us in the Sierra Nevada I found Italy Pass. It has everything I was looking for: Lakes, streams, small forests, and of course some peaks to climb.