Saddlebag campground is my favourite place as fall approaches. Cold night temperatures drive away the crowds, but perfect weather during the day opens up splendid Tuolumne Meadows alpine objectives. Last year I traversed North Peak and Conness and this year I had already done a car-to-car of Matterhorn. When the Sierra Mountaineering Club scheduled an early October trip I wanted to use the opportunity to climb Cathedral. I’ve been eyeing it for 2 seasons and felt ready. Read more...

The Evolution Basin is one of the most beautiful areas in California. Several 13,000 foot mountains hold sublime glacial lakes and high alpine meadows. As if aware of this, nature jealously guards the area, with there being no easy and short approaches to the basin. As with many of the places on the John Muir Trail, my first experience with the Evolution Basin was in August 2014. It had been a boring few days and I was glad to finally enter Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the true High Sierra, to sunny weather and clear skies. Read more...

My interest in Banner Peak and Mt. Ritter began when I encountered them while hiking the John Muir Trail in August 2014. Immortalized by Ansel Adams, the 2 mountains framed by Garnet Lake and Thousand Island Lake are well known and frequently climbed. Banner Peak and Mt. Ritter: A picture I took of Banner and Ritter from Garnet Lake in July 2014 I snagged permits for Ediza Lake several months ago, with an intention to climb both Ritter and Banner via their scrambling routes from the Ritter/Banner saddle. Read more...

Much of the majesty of the Sierra Nevada lies in the fact that accounts of its exploration are well preserved and promoted. The mountains and their stories are intertwined in accessible books and a vibrant internet community. Daniel Arnold’s “Early Days in the Range of Light” is a fantastic contemporary introduction to this beautiful range. It’s first chapter follows William Brewer’s ascent of his namesake peak, and was my inspiration for a trip deep into the Sierra backcountry. Read more...