Section 3 of the Kings Canyon High Basin Route (KCHBR) begins at Junction Meadow and ends at the South Fork Kings River at the bottom of the Cartridge Pass Trail. We found this section to be the slowest-going and most sketchy section of the route (although we did not hike Section 5). This
Mac’s Backpacking Gear List 2021 (v3)
I don't typically get to the third iteration of my gear list until the end of the summer or into the fall, but so much has changed in such a short amount of time recently, that I feel disingenuous not updating my list. What's changed from my previous gear list? Here are some of the items that
How to Hike the PCT Without a Bear Canister
On a recent trip to Sequoia National Park, I noticed a paper taped to the wall at the backcountry permit office. Specifically, this piece of paper. I asked the ranger, "I was under the impression you were required to have a bear canister everywhere in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, but
Kings Canyon High Basin Route: Section 2
Section 2 of the Kings Canyon High Basin Route (KCHBR) begins at Colby Pass Trail in Cloud Canyon and crosses Talus Pass, Thunder Ridge Pass, and Longley Pass before dropping to Bubbs Creek and meeting up with the Pacific Crest Trail/John Muir Trail at Junction Meadow. Following the Colby Pass
Pacific Crest Trail Bear Canister Requirements
If there's one piece of gear that causes Pacific Crest Trail hikers the most headaches, it's the bear canister. Most northbound PCT thru-hikers pick up their bear canisters at Kennedy Meadows and then ditch them at either Sonora Pass (Kennedy Meadows North/Bridgeport) or Echo Summit (South Lake
Kings Canyon High Basin Route: Section 1
Section 1 of the Kings Canyon High Basin Route (KCHBR) begins at Twin Lakes Trailhead at Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park and ends where the route intersects Colby Pass Trail in Cloud Canyon. After leaving Lodgepole via the Twin Lakes Trailhead (also known as the Silliman Pass South Trail), the
(Un)popular Opinion: Why Your Trail Family Sucks
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I meet a hiker from Australia near the turnoff for Mount Whitney. This hiker appears to be experiencing something bordering on an existential crisis. The origin of her plight? Whether she should detour from the PCT and hike to the summit of Mount Whitney. First,
Sawyer Squeeze vs. Platypus QuickDraw: A Detailed Comparison
The Platypus QuickDraw is the newest direct competitor to the Sawyer Squeeze - a water filter staple among backpackers and thru-hikers. They have a lot in common and may seem like carbon copies of one another at first glance. However, if you're someone who has spent as much time around lightweight
Sierra Designs Convert 2 Review
The Sierra Designs Convert 2 is a modular, two-person, four-season(ish) tent with plenty of living space for one and an acceptable amount of living space for two. It's not quite a four-season mountaineering tent, nor is it a three-season backpacking tent. That said, it's suitable for four-season