Backpacking to Dusy Basin in Kings Canyon National Park

After Alex’s and my trip to Sahale Glacier we decided to head south for a quick mini-moon backpacking trip in the Sierra. We were hoping that we would have more luck than we did in Washington and that we would get to experience more fall weather. Well, it turns out our trip to Kings Canyon National Park was a repeat of our trip to the North Cascades, but that doesn’t mean it was a bust. Far from it! Once again we were able to experience the height of fall colors and then wake up to a fresh dusting of snow on the peaks.

Kings Canyon, Backpacking Trips, CaliforniaSonja SaxeOctober 30, 2018 Comments

Backpacking in the Ansel Adams Wilderness

I looked out at the mountains from our vantage point at the Minaret Vista parking lot and furrowed my brow. The mountains, which should have been clear and crisp from our distance appeared vaguely through a smoky haze. The Lions Wildfire that was sparked by a rogue lightning strike on June 1 was only partially contained and the smell of smoke was overwhelming.

Inyo National Forest, Backpacking Trips, CaliforniaSonja SaxeJuly 12, 2018Comment

Third Time's the Charm: Backpacking to Glacier Point

Over New Year’s weekend Alex and I headed to Yosemite National Park to complete a backpacking trip we we’ve been trying to do each January the past two years. Delayed flights and historic snowstorms on the previous trips thwarted our attempts, but on this third try we finally succeeded.

Yosemite, Backpacking Trips, CaliforniaSonja SaxeJanuary 19, 2018 Comments

A Day in the Desert: Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is a place of extremes: It holds the title for hottest recorded temperature on the planet (134 F), it’s home to the lowest point in North America (282’ below sea level), and it’s the driest place in the US (getting only an average of 2” of annual rainfall). It’s inhospitable and unforgiving, but if you look past its harsh first impressions you’ll find the park is undeniably beautiful.

Death Valley, CaliforniaSonja SaxeOctober 31, 2017 Comments

Chasing Sunrises and Sunsets in Joshua Tree

Earlier this month the RV company, AdventureKT, gave Alex and I the opportunity to take one of their RV's for a spin through Southern California. We have never traveled in an RV before and AdventureKT's fleet is beautiful, so we immediately said "yes!" We flew down to LA, picked up our home for the weekend, and headed for the desert.

Joshua Tree, CaliforniaSonja SaxeOctober 30, 2017 Comments

One Night at Second Lake

In January I planned nearly all of my trips for 2017. I knew that permits for some of the places I wanted to visit would be tough to come by so I made sure to secure them the moment they became available. For the long July 4th weekend I had (barely) snagged a couple of permits for a 4 day/3 night backpacking trip through the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

Inyo National Forest, Backpacking Trips, CaliforniaSonja SaxeJuly 12, 2017 Comments

A Quick Hike to Potato Harbor Overlook

After our never-ending day hike to Mount Whitney Alex and I hightailed it to Ventura to check into a hotel and get some rest before waking up at 6am to head to the Ventura Harbor and catch the Island Packers ferry to Santa Cruz Island. Whew!

Channel Islands, CaliforniaSonja SaxeJune 26, 2017Comment

Summiting Mount Whitney

At midnight on Friday, June 9th I awoke from a fitful bout of rest to the distinct sound of my alarm ringing. Instinctively, I reached to snooze it, but when my blurry gaze fell upon the dial that read 12:00am my reality hit me. Snoozing my alarm didn't mean that I wouldn't have time to shower before work it meant that I would delay my attempt to summit the highest peak in the contiguous US: Mount Whitney. Suddenly sleep was the furthest thing from my mind.

Sequoia, CaliforniaSonja SaxeJune 20, 2017 Comments