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I'm just back from a week working on a volunteer trail crew in the Mokelumne Wilderness. The trip into Moraine Lake was organized by the American Hiking Society, and led by staff from the US Forest Service. And it was full of fun, adventure, and damn hard work. We had a mighty hailstorm (and a...

They are still working on the Tioga Pass Road through Yosemite. Thick ice and a damaged road bed is making the process much more difficult than usual. The latest opening of the road in history is July 1. That might change this year.

Weather is cool, and the snow in the Sierra is still plenty deep. Hard to do much hiking there...

High Sierra Quarry, the latest in my series of mysteries set in the High Sierra, is now out! You can find it at the usual places, including bookstores and Amazon, and even in the ranger stations in the Stanislaus National Forest. "When a young woman hiker is reported missing, the Forest Service...

Sonora and Ebbetts Passes are now open--although the raods are narrow channels through tall walls of snow. Still, we're getting closer! Only Tioga Pass, at 10,000 feet in Yosemite, is still closed.

Have you camped in a National Park recently? Recreation.gov has no policies concerning this...

Just an update about these books. The fifth in the series, "High Sierra Quarry," should be out by the endof the month. And I am delighted to be able to announce that the USFS has decided to sell these books at some of the ranger stations in the Sierra--including the Summit Ranger Station near...

California may try to help...Check this out: ktla.com/news/california/california-campsite-reservation-bill-passes-state-assembly/ Credit if you cancel before seven days. And if you don't show on the first night, the whole reservation is cancelled and the site opened up.

As Fossna notes, volunteers can also help out in a variety of ways. Some of our program include issuing wilderness permits, counting visitors on trails, and even answering questions at the trailhead. All of those free up paid staff to take on larger tasks, or supervise crews in the wilderness.

I spend a fair amount of time as a volunteer in the National Forests. Last year, it was about 250 hours. We count those hours because the USFS encourages its staff to develop a volunteer program and use it to increate the amount of work that can get done in the National Forests. The good...

I've been participating here from a distance, since I spent five weeks cruising the rivers of Europe--it was work, I swear! Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Saone, Bordeaux...lots of water, lots of wine, and a ton of photos. If you're interested in a non-backpacking adventure (longest day's hike was...

Very nice. You are quickly approaching the time when she will outhike you. Been there, done that!

It must be spring, because the hot air balloons are blooming over my house...

I am just home from being the wine host on a cruise around South America–a month-long trip that included some hiking, a lot of wine, amazing culture, fantastic food, and more sea days than we ever expected. That’s what happens when you sail around the bottom of South America–one of the wildest...

June, and most of early summer is gloomy at Pt. Reyes. You won't get snow, but your gear will soaked every morning with fog and dew. It's not a deal breaker, but don't say I didn't warn you. Best is.late August through October--clear skies, sunny weather.

Wonderful photos--and some great hikes there. Too bad about the weather, huh? Looks like paradise to me!

How should they address the damage by the Castle fire? Public comment period ends in March...

Was able to spot it again last night, despite the full moon. (i went out early, before the moon got too high in the sky.) It seemed brighter and easier to see--although that may simplyi have had to do with the sky being a little darker last night. Still worth an effort with binoculars!

Has anyone else seen the “Green Comet? https://www.space.com/comet-c2022-e3-ztf-closest-approach-feb-1 Returns every 50,000 years, so if you miss it this time, you’re SOL. I’ve managed to spot it with binoculars from my house in downtown Napa, but it was quiet dim. Unimpressive, if it weren’t...

More fun: More cool stuff from the show: A photo--and the a link to more--including a video www.backpackthesierra.com/post/more-lighter-art-in-napa