Category: The Sierra

Trail Peak and Cottonwood Pass – 15 miles in the wilderness

@serafinahikes

I hiked 15 miles to Trail Peak and along the Cottonwood Pass Loop from the Cottonwood Pack Station (Horseshoe Meadows).  I had been wanting to explore more of this wilderness for sometime. All year long I think about summer in the sierra, and visiting places like this. The Golden Trout Wilderness is located in the southern sierra, and is a pristine wilderness, filled with rocky granite peaks, such as Mount Langley, Cirque Peak, and my destination for the day, Trail Peak. The way to Trail Peak, included a climb up Trail Pass, and hiking on the PCT. I passed several PCT hikers, and JMT hikers here. The marked trail to this peak on Alltrails maps is not a trail at all. After leaving the PCT, making the approach to trail peak, the choice is yours since it is entirely off trail to the peak.  This hike was very steep and  included class 2 scrambling, along with lots of boulder hopping, where you get to choose your own adventure.

A 19.5 mile hike to Cottonwood Lakes and New Army Pass

@serafinahikes

In 2021 I obtained a permit to hike the JMT starting from Cottonwood Pass, late in the season, during the first week of September. I had been dreaming about hiking this trail for sometime. I knew all about the PCT, Kennedy Meadows, and the idea of entering the Sierra solo felt both scary and like… Continue reading A 19.5 mile hike to Cottonwood Lakes and New Army Pass

Hiking to Lake One, Two and Three in Big Pine Lakes (10 miles)

@serafinahikes

After more climbing I found myself hiking alongside a series of cascading waterfalls once again. The fast flowing water was beautiful, but I knew not to get too close. You would not want to fall in here. I was now standing just above the first of many towering waterfalls along this trail. I was finally entering the John Muir Wilderness once again! The scene kept changing and transforming. I was now surrounded by an enchanted forest. I reached my first milestone of the hike, the Lon Chaney cabin. The scene kept changing from towering forests to mountain vistas of wildflowers and granite.

Volcanic Rocks and a Lava Dome in the Eastern Sierra

@serafinahikes

Fossil Falls is an interesting geologic formation, located off Hwy-395 on the way to Lone Pine. The black basalt rock formation was formed by an actual waterfall, from erosion fire and water of ancient lava flows, through erosion. 

Day 1: A 30 Mile Backpacking Trip from Glacier Point

@serafinahikes

I would be backpacking 30 miles in the Sierra in Yosemite National Park. If you're wanting to backpack in the Sierra, depending on the trailhead you wish to depart from, there can be restrictions. National Parks like Yosemite don't make it that easy to obtain permits. You must reserve them online and pick them up in person. The lines to enter the park can be very long, and it's not as straightforward as one would think. I will explain how I obtained my permit, and some tricks for getting a permit for Half Dome when you're planning on backpacking in Yosemite.