17-18 November 2022 Ernie Maxwell Trail to Saddle Junction and back, then Ernie Maxwell loop to Tahquitz Peak and Saddle Junction (20 miles, + 5,500/-5,500 feet). My friends Guppy and Double Down are having their floors redone, so they decided to spend a few days at a cabin in Idyllwild. When they asked me to…
Sedona, AriZoZona
4-7 November 2022 Chimney Rock Pass Loop, Fay Canyon Trail, Mescal Trail, Courthouse Butte loop, Red Cliff Trail, Baldwin Trail loop(15 miles, +2,000/-2,000 feet). Time for another birthday trip with ZoZoZoom. Her birthday was in August, but this year she wanted to do a trip to Sedona, which is much nicer in shoulder season. So…
Oakzanita Peak
29 October 2022 Oakzanita Peak Trail to East Mesa Fire Road (7 miles, +1,200/-1,200 feet). I’m back! I finally finished my financial research project, and it has been easier to focus on getting back outside. I’m ready! Half Cookie and I set our sights on Oakzanita Peak, a minor peak in Cuyamaca State Park. I…
So Bored!
31 August 2022 Brockway Summit to Tahoe City (19 miles, +2,500/-3,600 feet). Ack! It happened again. Yesterday was so nice, and today I was really looking forward to a shower, food, beer, and bed in Tahoe City. But now I just feel SO bored! I usually really like hiking this time of year, when trails…
Back to the Tahoe Rim
30 August 2022 Mount Rose Summit to Brockway Summit (19 miles, +2,800/4,400 feet). A few years ago I tried to thru-hike the Tahoe Rim Trail. But the trail was completely covered in snow, making travel more difficult and water sources harder to access than I expected. I got completely dehydrated by the end of the…
Day 22: Mount Whitney!
15 August 2022 Tarns above Guitar Lake to Whitney Portal (14 miles, +2,900/-6,500 feet). Well it happened again! Half Cookie’s sleeping pad deflated last night, just like it did on our last trip. So I offered to swap with her to keep her warm. My body temperature was fine, but the ground was quite hard…
Day 21: The Spectacular Bighorn Plateau
14 August 2022 Tyndall Creek to tarns above Guitar Lake (12 miles, +2,800/-1,900 feet). I have to apologize: today was very scenic and we took too many photos! I should probably have culled this set a little better, but I couldn’t kill my darlings. Anyhoo, our campsite last night was super comfy and this morning…
Day 20: Forester Pass
13 August 2022 Bubbs Creek to Tyndall Creek (11 miles, +3,200/-2,200 feet). We all got good sleep last night and it looks like another dry day. But we have a very long 7 mile uphill climb ahead of us, so time to get started! We got a very nice break at some campsites near 11,200…
Day 19: Rae Lakes and Glen Pass
12 August 2022 Sixty Lakes Basin outlet to Bubbs Creek (11 miles, +3,200/-2,700 feet). Today was my favorite day yet! The weather was perfect. Half Cookie finally got to see Rae Lakes again. And UltraShuffle was ear-to-ear smiles going over Glen Pass. We woke up in our picture-perfect campsite, had a leisurely breakfast, and then…
The JimmyJam Hiking Club 