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Julie at Kearsarge Pass

Hiking the Eastern Sierras and Death Valley

March 19, 2017 By Julie

Overview In October 2016, I was lucky enough to spend almost three weeks camping and hiking with my best friend Karen.  We met in Reno (having flown from Alaska and Oregon, respectively) and then worked our way from Yosemite down to Mt. Whitney before cutting east to finish up in Death Valley. We packed so…

A couple folks picking their way across Devil's Golf Course.

Four Days in Death Valley: Painted Hills and Hidden Surprises

March 12, 2017 By Julie

After two full weeks of hiking the rugged Eastern Sierras, four days in Death Valley felt like a vacation from our vacation.  Death Valley is humongous (3.4 million acres!) and we lazily explored the park, driving through its vast stretches accompanied by the Eagles and Jackson Browne. Though nature’s palette is muted here, it’s not limited…

Mt. Whitney permit

Climbing Mt. Whitney: An epic goal, and one to hold loosely

March 5, 2017 By Julie

Fair warning: Two of the quotes in this article are…creatively applied. They’re close, mind you, but a little off from their original intent. They came to me on the climb, though, so maybe I can blame it on the altitude? Backing up, a friend and I climbed Mt. Whitney in mid-October and it could not…

The view from Kearsarge Pass

Training for Mt. Whitney: Get the miles in, and get ’em up high

February 26, 2017 By Julie

When I set out on a 3-week road trip of the Eastern Sierras, I did not expect to climb Mt. Whitney. It never entered my mind, but my hiking partner was most definitely thinking about it. She very cleverly (some might say diabolically) kept mum and quietly planned a series of hikes to gradually acclimate to…

Old entrance station for the Manzanar Japanese internment camp

Bristlecone Pines, Manzanar, and the Alabama Hills: Beauty in the Face of Adversity

February 19, 2017 By Julie

In a span of three days I hiked amongst ancient Bristlecone Pines, toured Manzanar (a former Japanese internment camp), and explored the Alabama Hills. Visiting one right after the other naturally led to comparisons, and I was struck by their common thread: Beauty - and even triumph - in the face of extreme adversity. Great…

Just setting out from Glacier Point on the Panorama Trail. It's already less crowded!

Hiking Yosemite…and loving it to death?

February 12, 2017 By Julie

Yosemite is one of those bucket-list destinations, and I’m eternally grateful that my fist visit occurred late-season - the place was mobbed, even in October! I realize Karen and I did our part to add to the crowds, but sheesh, shouldn’t people be at work or in school or something?? Don’t misunderstand: I fell in…

The lovely Lundy Canyon

Lee Vining: He was a guy. It’s a place. Visit!

February 5, 2017 By Julie

I landed in Reno in early October primed and ready for a 3-week road trip with my best friend from high school. Though the original plan was to head south to Utah’s painted hills, Karen called an audible and switched things up. The Eastern Sierras hold a special place in her heart and the forecast…

The Bodie ghost town. Quietly deteriorating in a state of "arrested decay".

Bodie Ghost Town: A Peek into the Past

January 29, 2017 By Julie

I’m not sure why, but when I hear the words “ghost town” I immediately picture a Disney-esque, overly commercialized western town with a shooting gallery, old-timey photo booth, and Sarsaparilla for sale in the corner saloon. Bodie is the polar opposite. Purchased by the California State Parks in 1962, the town of Bodie is a…

Tufas, up close and personal.

Mono Lake: Wish You Were Here

January 22, 2017 By Julie

Ahh, Mono Lake. Where oh where to start? First off, the name is pronounced ‘moan-oh’ (not ‘monno’ like the fatigue-inducing infectious disease). Second, when visiting, allow time for a sunrise trip to the lake, even if you’re not a morning person. Trust me, it’s worth it. Backing up, Mono is a lake due east of the town…

View of Half Dome from the Panorama Trail

Climbing Yosemite’s Half Dome: 6 Crucial Tips for a Successful Trip

November 30, 2016 By Julie

It’s hard to resist the call of Half Dome, one of Yosemite’s most prominent and awe-inspiring features. The image of that massive edifice drills deeper with each viewing, capturing the imagination and fueling adventurous fires within. What’s that you say? You can climb Half Dome? And there are cables to hold onto all the way…

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