5 Snarky and True Answers to Seemingly Unknown Questions about Hiking
No, I don’t know how far it it, but it’s probably…definitely farther then I told you. And as you walk away, I’ll feel a little bad about it. Just a little. Yes, hiking with a speaker blaring music does make you an asshole. Thanks for asking. Yes, you should pick up that piece of trash…
Weekend Trip to Kennedy Meadows
It was 7:58. A Friday night. The sun still just above the mountain ridge and already Alena and I had retreated to our tent for the night. Only a thin layer of netting separated us and our dinners from the countless vicious mosquitoes that were systematically probing our tent, looking for a way in to…
Showing Off the Best of Santa Barbara for My Sister’s Weekend Visit
A few weekends ago my sister came to visit us in Santa Barbara. Like me, she is also a UCSB alumni. Also like me, she did not explore many of the fun things to do in down town Santa Barbara that I have only found living here as an “adult”. As such, we spent the…
Day Trip to Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
Living in Santa Barbara means that I do not have to travel far to see spectacular natural beauty. Whether it be strolling along our amazing beaches, hiking the beautiful mountain trails or a quick walk down to Alice Keck Park to see the native plants, birds and bats that make it a local paradise, this…
How much does it cost to hike the JMT?
I did so much research while I was planning my John Muir Trail thru-hike. All the articles, blogs and forums I scoured talked about the things one must bring, how to pack it all, what to eat and how fast (or slow) to hike. Not one of them mentioned how much it really costs to…
JMT 2018 – My 10ish Days on the John Muir Trail
I just got home from this year’s attempt at solo thru-hiking the JMT Southbound. I struggled at first, but shortly fell into the groove of trail life. It is a truly a beautiful trail, but it is definitely frickin hard! My body ended up breaking down too much for me to complete the trail again…
My Beautiful Struggle – The Mental Side of Solo Hiking (part of) the JMT
Just before the sunset, after I had set up my camp and made my dinner, was when I struggled the most. When I hike solo I am alone with my thoughts. Maybe more than I’d like. I am not quite a person that thrives in prolonged solitude, as I deeply enjoy human interaction. I love…
It’s JMT Time! My 20 Day Hiking Plan.
The time has finally come. Next week I will be on the trail, hiking the almost 200 miles from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park to the peak of Mount Whitney. Many of my friends and family are asking what my itinerary will be, what I’m eating and what I’m bringing on this second try of the…
Are Fancy Merino Wool Hiking Socks Worth the $20+ Price Tag? Darn right they are!
This could have been my shortest Post ever… Yes they are totally worth it! I first bought some fancy Darn Tough merino wool socks back in 2014 when I was planning a 3 week trip to Argentina and the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. I needed socks that could easily be washed by hand, be great for…
The Best Way to Recover Your Feet After Long Runs and Hikes: A Little Green Ball
The Due North Foot Rubz massage ball is the single best piece of sports recovery equipment I have ever used. Better than the often hyped foam roller. It is a perfectly simple tool, designed to allow one to easily and quickly self administer amazing foot massages. I first came across this little guy about 3…
What I Learned From Last Year’s Failed Attempt Hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT)
In late August, 2017 I attempted to hike a 195 mile stretch of the John Muir Trail, from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite to Mount Whitney. I saw it as a beautiful and inspiring challenge. The already difficult endeavor was exacerbated by my limited time off from work and my relative inexperience backpacking, let alone thru-hiking…