Get Outside and Explore
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
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.
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.
A Return to the High Sierra Trail This summer I was able to venture once again towards the Sierra. It was my first time camping in Sequoia National Park at Lodgepole Campground. It is located at around 7000 feet in elevation, east of the town of Visalia, and the gateway to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.… Continue reading Hiking to Eagle View on The High Sierra Trail (HST)
Yosemite is a breathtaking place, made famous by people like John Muir, and documented for all the world to see by photographers such as Ansel Adams. You will want to get your camera ready, and have an extra phone battery. The journey into Yosemite begins at Tunnel View. Today we were chasing waterfalls, enjoying Yosemite in the summertime.
Serafina Hikes 