Stiglu.com - Journal

This was a wildflower hike with Larry, Karen, Roberta, and two dogs - Grrr and Rusty. We started at Caples Lake and hiked to Emigrant Lake with several breaks to photograph flowers.

View the Emigrant Lake Photo Album

Larry, Eric, Mike, and I hiked the Showers Lake Loop starting from Schneiders Cow Camp. The wildflowers were in bloom. There were fewer mosquitos and a little more snow in area than the Raymond Lake hike.

View the Showers Lake Photo Album

Today I did a 12 mile hike with Paul, Karen, Scott and Beverly. We took the Pacific Crest Trail to Raymond Lake and saw some of the most beautiful scenery in California. I think this is now one of my favorite places to go; and it’s so close! This time of year the flowers are in full force as well as mosquitoes. There was just enough snow to make for dramatic landscapes and the sky was also pretty dramatic while we were on the trail. We witnessed a small fire that started from a lighting strike. It didn’t rain much but we were presented with a pounding show of thunder and lightning. I will definitely need to make this hike an annual tradition!

View the Raymond Lake Photo Album

Backpacking gear is often a central discussion around the campfire. Even complete strangers on the trail will strike up a conversation about gear with each other. It is an immediate way to break the ice.

Creating a gear list is an art of balancing comfort versus weight for the expected backcountry conditions. It is an evolving process and each hiker should create their own gear list that builds upon their experience from previous hikes.

I don’t consider myself to be a gear head, but I do put a lot of thought into my choice of gear for overnight trips. My gear has saved my life many times, and over the years I have whittled my pack weight down to a level that is comfortable for me both on the trail and in camp while maintaining backcountry safety.

Check out my Summer Gear List