Long distance hiking

John Muir Trail Day 18/19: Burrito Regret and Silver (Staircase) Pass 

John Muir Trail Day 18/19: Burrito Regret and Silver (Staircase) Pass 

After eating ourselves into a food coma and sleeping on the ground in Mushroom City, my husband, Cliff and I received the best possible news on Day 18 of the...

Dec 31, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
John Muir Trail Day 17: Anus Graffiti, Middle Finger Pass and VVR Influencers

John Muir Trail Day 17: Anus Graffiti, Middle Finger Pass and VVR Influencers

Climbing out of the tent on the morning of Day 17 on the John Muir Trail felt like an all out brawl between my sore body, tired mind and the...

Dec 30, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
John Muir Trail Day 16: Revenge of the Resupply Day and the Torturously Stunning Selden Pass

John Muir Trail Day 16: Revenge of the Resupply Day and the Torturously Stunning Selden Pass

Taking those first steps to begin hiking after a resupply day on the John Muir Trail always seems to be the hardest. Leaving Muir Trail Ranch was the worst yet...

Dec 29, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
John Muir Trail Day 15 Pt. 2: Being a Police Officer Again When the Trail Asked

John Muir Trail Day 15 Pt. 2: Being a Police Officer Again When the Trail Asked

It was Day 15 on the John Muir Trail and our pace was fast as we crossed over a river that delivered us from Kings Canyon National Park into the...

Dec 28, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
John Muir Trail Day 15: Perfect Campsites and the Glorious Evolution Valley (I Live Here Now)

John Muir Trail Day 15: Perfect Campsites and the Glorious Evolution Valley (I Live Here Now)

After the absolute highs of summiting Muir Pass, we descended northbound down the massive rocky expanse and into a sprawling valley that ushered us through the Ionian Basin and ultimately...

Dec 24, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
John Muir Trail Day 14: My Regrets from Summiting the Iconic Muir Pass

John Muir Trail Day 14: My Regrets from Summiting the Iconic Muir Pass

The sound of sporadic, quiet conversation passing by our tent had me waking up as the sun was rising on Day 14 of the John Muir Trail. I listened, while...

Dec 23, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
John Muir Trail Day 13: No Easy Days on the JMT- Golden Staircase to Muir Pass

John Muir Trail Day 13: No Easy Days on the JMT- Golden Staircase to Muir Pass

Waking up on Day 13 of the John Muir Trail meant no mountain summits or passes for the day.  You would think my husband, Cliff and I would have been...

Dec 22, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
John Muir Trail Day 12: What’s the Big Deal About Mather Pass and the Golden Staircase?

John Muir Trail Day 12: What’s the Big Deal About Mather Pass and the Golden Staircase?

We woke up on Day 12 of the John Muir Trail at the foot of Mather Pass feeling energetic enough to actually appreciate the stunning landscape surrounding us. The credit...

Dec 21, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
John Muir Trail Day 11: Being an Anti-Influencer & UnPro-Hiker from Pinchot Pass to Mather Pass

John Muir Trail Day 11: Being an Anti-Influencer & UnPro-Hiker from Pinchot Pass to Mather Pass

The morning began cold and crisp at our peaceful campsite. Quaking aspens encircled our little tent, with my side door unzipped to overlook the river and deer grazing on the...

Dec 20, 2024 : Bernadette Rankin
I Have A Permit–What Now?

I Have A Permit–What Now?

After the stress of figuring out the permit process, worrying about whether or not you'll snag one and then the giant sigh of relief when you get that sweet confirmation...

Dec 18, 2024 : Shannon Adams