This was one of my favorite little one nighters I've done so far. So much to see in such a short little time!

5 miles up and off of the North Cascades Highway brought me to Lake Lewis, just outside the eastern boundary of North Cascades Nat'l Park, where I set up camp. I didn't see another soul the entire trip once I got on the climbers trail to get there, and the sunset and dinner I got to enjoy on the lake in the evening sun in solitude was everything I could ask for.

The next morning after a hearty breakfast and some coffee I made my way further up the glacial basin, stopping by Wing Lake before scrambling up past the dead glacier and a bunch of nasty scree to the basin rim. After noodling around a bit up there, I made the final somewhat precarious scramble up to the summit of Black Peak, which sits at #20 on Washington's highest peaks. Despite its jagged and mean look, it was a gentle giant in terms of summiting, and well worth it. It always feels impossible to process everything up at the top, and it was no exception this time.

10/10 little trip!

Sharing some photos I took during my time on the JMT in 2024 going NOBO, starting in Mt. Whitney. I did this it in about 21 days with one zero day, and three resupplies.

This hike is the crown jewel of the Sierra Nevada in my opinion. I've backpacked there for over 14 years and this trek ticked so many boxes for me. A personal highlight was Evolution Valley along with its surrounding lakes.

Alpine lakes every day? Yup

Mountain passes with panoramic mountain views? Check

The feeling of true isolation for hours? Yes, which was a blessing a curse

Memories that I will cherish for the rest of my days? 100%

I debated bringing my professional camera for the added weight but in retrospect, glad I did. I brought a Canon R6 Mark II with a 24-105mm Lens which added about 4 pounds to my pack weight.

I hiked solo, which initially wasn't the plan, but decided to still persevere as the timing couldn't have been better given my current circumstances.

Met some great people on the trail who came from all over the world with all different types of hiking experience. Also met some people who had to tap out due to either loneliness or hardships they could no longer endure.

Regardless, I'm insanely grateful to have done this. I can't help but to look back at these pictures with a huge grin on my face.

If you like these photos, shameless plug to my Instagram where I share Sierra Nevada and mountain adventures.

I'll share part two of my favorite photos later on for the second half of the journey!

This was a trekking experience in Kudremukh, Karnataka, through dense forests and beautiful mountain trails. The trek took several hours, with a mix of forest paths, steep climbs, and open stretches with stunning views. I travelled to Kudremukh by car and started the trek early in the day. The weather was cool, pleasant, and slightly humid, which made the long walk much more comfortable. The forest trail was peaceful, with plenty of greenery and natural shade along the way. It was tiring at some points, but the scenery and overall experience made it completely worth it. I would definitely go back again to explore more of Kudremukh’s trails.

i’m always curious how other people handle water. i tend to carry more than i probably need because running out sounds like a terrible way to end a day. but carrying several extra liters gets heavy really fast

do you plan your route around reliable water sources, carry most of it from the start, or do a mix depending on the trail?

I've done maybe five trips out, all two or three nights in the Whites. I'm at about 31 pounds before water and I've already spent money on the tent and the bag, so what's left is a pile of small stuff I know I don't need and take anyway. I spend the first hour of every hike doing math on what I should have left in the car instead of looking at anything.

When did it stop being the thing you thought about all day?

I'm getting into backpacking and currently prepping for my first trip (5 days). However, assuming everything goes well, I'd like to do longer trips in the future. I've been to REI twice now, I've gotten fitted, I've spent hours in the store, and I'm still struggling to make a decision. I actually bought the Osprey Aura 50L, but am now starting to really regret it. 50L is great for a few days, but I worry it's too small for longer trips, and with how expensive packs are, I don't want to have to buy a ton that fit different needs. I also feel like the Aura 65L is way too big.

The Aura was by far the most comfortable for me. The hip belt on the Gregory packs felt like it kept sliding up and most of the other Ospreys felt tight and heavy.

I think something in the 55-58L range would be ideal. I tried the Ariel 55L and it wasnt bad...just nowhere near as comfy as the Aura. The employee who helped me at REI advised against the Eja because of its lack of durability.

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I am in the market for an ultralight 2 person backpacking tent. I have my eyes on several brands and models.

They are:
NEMO Hornet
NEMO Dragonfly
Big Agnes Tiger Wall
Big Agnes Copper Spur

The specs on all of these appear to be pretty similar and their prices are within $100ish dollars.

Anyone have specific recommendations for one of these over the other?

He pensado mucho en viajar durante mucho tiempo, se que el inglés es el idioma universal entonces intento bastante entenderlo aunque sea lo básico, pero es necesario aprender más idiomas? O tendría muchos problemas si solo puedo seguir con el inglés? Realmente se me complica demasiado

Soooo. I’m about 6’5” and need to find a good lightweight tent that I can fit into without my head (hair) or feet touching the walls. I tried out the MSR hubba hubba LT2 and love the features of it but one problem. I’m too big for it!

What do you guys recommend?

In the title. I was considering a featherstone quilt but want to make sure I didn't overlook a quality afforable lightweight quilt. Thanks very much.

Hey, I’m travelling around southern Italy this month and trying to figure out a good coastal spot where I won’t need a car to explore the area. I was initially looking at Sardinia, but it seems like renting a car is pretty much necessary to get around. I’m now thinking of staying in Naples and doing day trips to places like Positano and other nearby coastal towns. Are there any other areas you’d recommend where I could explore the coast without needing a car?

Hopefully this reaches people who know! I want to hike the SHT section past Colvill that goes right along the lake, but there aren’t any official campsites on it so I would have to hike a long way to make it through in one day.

I did see there are 2 watercraft campsites, but apparently only watercraft campers can use/access them! Is this true?

I love to travel and backpack both urban/Rural and Hiking. I'm looking for the best hard plastic containers for keeping and packing foods while on the go. Any recommendations for this?

Hello folks,

I'm getting my gear ready to start weekend backpacking in the wilderness, going full force in late 2027. My plan is to maybe do four 2-3 day trips a year, is the Mini 2 still a viable option? I wanted to buy it now so I can get familiar with it and use it on my day trips. Or should I save up more and get the Messenger Plus or Mini 3 instead?

Honestly all the info out there is pretty overwhelming, but I saw some sales going on and decided to just pull the trigger now. Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

I've been on the road for about five weeks now, solo. The novelty's worn off in the last week or so and I'm going through the motions more than actually enjoying it, but I can't tell if that's normal mid-trip fatigue or an actual sign I should wrap up early. I've tried taking a couple of slower days in one place instead of moving constantly, but it hasn't really shifted how I feel.

For people who've been on long solo trips before, how did you tell the difference between a rough patch to push through and an actual signal to head home?

Start your day at the breathtaking Karela National Park, known for its diverse wildlife and lush greenery. Take a guided tour through the park's trails, spotting exotic birds, deer, and if lucky, even a tiger. Cost: $10 for entrance fee. Time spent: 3 hours.

Hey everybody. I plan on doing the presidential traverse in a few weeks with a buddy. Doing a 1 overnight, *maybe* 2 night. I'm hoping to stay at one of the RMC tent sites but it occurred to me just now that with the weather being so unpredictable up there and it starting to get cold at night should I upgrade my sleeping stuff? Or do you think what I have will work fine?

We'd be going on a day that it isn't supposed to rain, but the winds can be brutal up there. I'm also hoping to do some more stuff throughout October or at least until it starts to snow.

I'm not very experienced in backpacking but I'd consider myself a fairly experienced day hiker. And what I have done has been in like June and July.

For tents I currently have 3, all of them are pretty budget friendly - I have a REI Co-op Passage 2p, an Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1p and a Helix 1p.

For pads I have a Nemo Tensor pad and I also have a Sea to Summit self inflating one but I like the Nemo more cause it's lighter.

For sleeping bags I have 15f and 30f down sleeping bags.

I'm mostly wondering about the tent though. I think the rest of my stuff is fine. Especially with all the Labor Day sales going on, it'd be cool to take advantage of that if I did need need to upgrade.

Thanks

I’m type 2 diabetic. Freeze dried meal options that aren’t potato or pasta based are a trick to find.
Any suggestions, freeze dried or otherwise?

Day trip to Muskoka, best hikes with great lookouts and scenery? I have a list before but tell me which to add/remove and if they're all possible in one day.

Hardy Lake

Torrance Barrens

Arrowhead

Huckleberry Rock

Lions Lookout

Walkers Point

Eagles Nest on McCrae

High Falls

Which of these, or replace them with others, are best for a one day trip? And if you think two days is best, then do you have recommendations for where to stay for one night?

I'm about five weeks into a four month trip through Vietnam and Cambodia, and I booked hostels for the first three weeks before I flew out. I've broken that plan twice already, both times because someone at a hostel table told me to go somewhere else instead. I keep getting told to just wing it, but I've also watched two people pay nearly triple for the last dorm bed in Hoi An because they turned up on a Friday with nothing.

How far ahead were you actually booking by the time you'd been out a couple of months?