We’re headed up to the east side of Yosemite this weekend for a quicky overnight in the Tioga Pass region. So I went out to the local REI to pick up the topo map for the area.
I always bring a topo map and compass on all trips into the backcountry, by the way – even [...]
Can a couple of out-of-shape climbers make it up the Matterhorn by a classic technical route? What is up with “Sierra fourth class”? Can your underwear really make its way into your intestinal tract? Emilie and Patrick find out…
Is solo backpacking stupid? Is it about the journey or the destination? Can hiking in flip-flops grant you “myth” status? Emilie finally reaches the destination, the summit of Mt Whitney, and has her answers…
I packed the gear the night before, Dara checked the weather, and I was even somewhat awake at 6 am. It seemed like sneaking out on a Wednesday morning to drive to Lake Tahoe was shaping up to be an excellent idea. I had taken the day off from work
While Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised to keep California State Parks open, he didn’t stress how drastic some changes would be to deal with the 14.2 million dollar reduction in the Park budget.
A summary of the service reductions in store for
After months of waiting, two popular bouldering areas located in the hills above Santa Barbara have reopened to public use. The Brickyard, a remarkable sandstone boulderfield that holds such classics as Yeti (V4) and Grotesque Old Woman (V7), and
Get outside. It makes You happy! This L.A. Times piece highlights an interesting study carried out by psychologists from the University of Rochester.
Subjects were shown sets of images and were then immediately asked a set of questions. Those th
I know, I know. I write a blog called Sierra Journal and I haven’t yet climbed the classic of all Sierra classics? Somehow time and events have conspired against me when it comes to the great Mount Whitney. The Mountaineer’s Route
The Cables Route is the standard day hike up Half Dome. It's an all-day affair and is no joke – particularly in inclement weather conditions. Yet another reminder to be careful out there – even on seemingly easy terrain. Weather can t
It's a basic rule of the outdoors that's been repeated to every boyscout and Bay Area hiker since time immemorial. If you run into a mountain lion, stand your ground, look big, throw things. Well, not so much, says a new study from
