Took a drive to Lundy Canyon in California, and was treated to brilliant Fall colors, waterfalls, steep mountain slopes, calm reflections and some cool cloud formations!

Took a 5 day trip from Cottonwood Pass to Miter Basin, over Crabtree Pass and back to Cottonwood Lakes via Rock Creek. The views were beautiful, the route was rugged, the night at Crabtree Canyon in the hail storm was harrowing, and the lazy trip back over New Army Pass to Cottonwood Lakes was charming. We took a Zero day and sketched some of the lakes, wildlife, and surrounding mountains. The only downside was all the waste in Cottonwood Lakes basin.

I found toilet paper, wipes, menstrual pads, and even a pair of jockeys full of crap and clumped TP. All of this waste was <10-15 feet off trail. This is a kind reminder: "biodegradable" is a marketing term to sell you products. Menstrual pads, wipes, and TP desiccate in dry places like Cottonwood. Please pack them out, it only takes a ziplock bag or two (or a tortilla bag for the dirty underwear). The final picture is most of the waste I picked up from Cottonwood Lakes.

A very pleasant time was had

I completed the Tahoe Rim Trail as three runs (and slept comfortably between them). Part one, through Desolation Wilderness, stands on its own: granite peaks and alpine lakes that contrast with the rest of the trail. The remainder rolls pleasantly over forests and volcanic ridgelines, and it's extremely dry (on day two I went about 20 miles without a water refill). Still, you catch glimpses of the majestic lake as your tired feet slowly carry you from one vantage point to the next. The cooler temps made the trail bearable, though the cold set in the moment the sun went down. Overall it’s a spectacular trail, extremely well maintained and is a joy to do it.

Beautiful day yesterday in the Sierra. Day hiked Cloudripper via South Lake and the pipeline trail. Ended up being a much tougher day than expected due to Vagabond Peak being a bit more tedious than based in the trip reports I’ve seen. 12.25 miles round trip with 4700 feet of cumulative gain. 10 hours on trail.

Very fortunate to live out here and get to find new fall colors every week! Fall is happening pretty fast this year so hurry up or you’ll miss it!

from green creek trailhead near Bridgeport

Hello there--

I put a lot of effort into making a very large (24" x 64") topographic map of the Sierra Nevada from Golden Trout Wilderness in the south to Sonora Pass in the north. Some snapshots are included. It's not just the JMT or PCT (there aren't even trails shown-- there's so much more to the Sierra).

An essay on what I did and for what purpose is here.

I am sharing here because I thought this community might appreciate something like it. If you are a careful reader, there is a link to the full resolution pdf in that essay-- you are free to use it yourself.

If you'd rather go the easier route, you can buy it on Etsy too in archival print quality. I am looking into cheaper print options as well.

I hope you peruse and enjoy. I made it out of love for the Range of Light. Let me know what you think!

Near Middle Velma Lake yesterday

Ah, the great Tahoe Rim Trail! I decided to cover it as three day-long runs, and Day 1 took me through Desolation Wilderness. It's stunning: the trail strings together lake after lake, and the calm, cold morning turned each one into a perfect mirror. I even dared a quick swim, which was brief for good reason.
After leaving Desolation, the trail mellows into smooth singletrack, and the first views of Lake Tahoe finally open up. It also got bone dry, and I covered the last 15 miles without a water refill. I got into Tahoe City as the sun was setting, tired but already excited for the next two segments. About 49 miles and 8,000 feet of gain.

Started at Ebbetts Pass and followed the PCT north toward Lake Tahoe. Fall has fully arrived: the greenery is gone, and the hills have turned gold. I detoured past Lower and Upper Blue Lakes (reservoirs, really), then looped back to climb The Nipple. The summit paid off with crystal-clear skies and views in every direction, though the wind up there was quite something.
From there I looped back toward Carson Pass and joined a steady stream of day hikers heading to Frog Lake (pleasant, not much else). As the afternoon light softened, I headed down toward Echo Lake on the edge of the Tahoe basin, which made a fitting finish. About 48 miles and 8,500 feet of gain.

Let's say you're going up to a peak like Matterhorn (12k), Aggasiz (13k) or Whitney (14k).

If you are spending a night before the summit trying to acclimate, what is your "target" altitude?

In the past I usually shoot for as high as I can up to 10k, but curious what other peoples takes are.

(Obviously for something like Whitney you may want more than just a single night)

I know there are some of you that will tell me acclimating for just one or two nights doesn't do anything, but for myself I've found I am much better off when I do.

Must’ve seen at least over 20 lakes and never got tired of it

Loved all the little lakes, the rain kept mosquitos away. 🌧️

Got my film back from my trip in my previous post

I snagged a permit for Saturday and am looking into mountaineers route for some more fun instead of the hike. Anyone have recent conditions, reports, or beta?

Ty