Lessons learned on the John Muir Trail
The whooshing sound of the wind whipping through the tops of the pine trees was interrupted by a large crack of thunder. Brilliant flashes of lightning illuminated the tent. Lying…
Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” comes to Murphys
I was looking for the actor Sean Lewis, who is slated to play the lead role in “Hamlet,” which will be performed outdoors at Bryce Station Vineyards, July 20 through…
Get inspired at Inspiration Point
My wife and I had spent a good part of the morning trying to find the trail head to Duck Lake near Lake Alpine but the snow (still plentiful in…
Sequoias’ namesake park deserves a visit
Grand as they are, it’s easy to overlook giant sequoias, even for those who visit the Sierra Nevada range often. Tahoe skiers and Yosemite climbers don’t…
Eat better on the trail with hiker’s cookbook
If you love backpacking, and love good food, but rarely enjoy them both at the same time (like me), then you’ll benefit from reading “The Hungry Spork: A…
“Fool’s gold” can forge golden memories
We reached the foot of the mountain early, which should have tipped us off; climbing trips never go ahead of schedule. But the summit looked inviting and achievable, so the…
Bidding farewell to Royal Robbins
We bid a sad but fond farewell to Royal Robbins, who died this week at age 82. The noted climber who pioneered routes on Half Dome and El Capitan not…
“On the Nose” recounts airy adventures
On his first attempt to climb The Nose of El Capitan, Hans Florine and his partner survived a near-death experience and retreated. But they succeeded on their second push…
Trans-Sierra ski trek: “The Mountains Let Us Through”
Setting out under heavy packs near the gateway town of Lee Vining, we knew the day ahead would test our strength. Sixteen miles separated us from our first destination, the…
Snowy destinations abound in wintry Yosemite
As we gazed over Tuolumne Meadows and countless snowy pinnacles, we saw not a soul and scarcely a sign that people had ever been there. It was hard to believe…