Backpacking High Pass Loop - Buck Creek, Napeequa Valley, Little Giant

Join us on this unforgettable Glacier Peak Wilderness 4-day backpacking trip from Buck Creek to Little Giant Pass via High Pass and Napeequa Valley.

BackpackingTimea ZilcsakOctober 2, 2020Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Trail, Multi Day, Central Cascades, Leavenworth, Alpine, Classic, Creek, Favorite, Forest, Lakes, Loop, Mountain, Meadows, Pass, Ridge, Sunset, Views, Wilderness, Waterfall, Wildlife, Nature, Outdoors, Featured, Camp Comment

Backpacking Yellow Aster Butte with Views of Mount Baker and Shuksan

Backpacking to Yellow Aster Butte, a 3-day trip with spectacular views of Mt Baker, Shuksan, Tomyhoi Peak, endless meadows, tarns, and scrambling options.

BackpackingTimea ZilcsakSeptember 5, 2020Backpacking, Hiking, Trail, North Cascades, Mount Baker, Overnight, Alpine, Classic, Favorite, Forest, Lakes, Mountain, Meadows, Ridge, Views, Wildflowers, Tarn, Mount Shuksan, Featured, Camp Comment

Backpacking Park Butte with Stunning Views of Mount Baker

An overnight backpacking trip to the Park Butte Meadows and Fire Lookout Tower with a short side trip to Mount Baker’s Easton Glacier and climber’s camp.

BackpackingTimea ZilcsakAugust 22, 2020Park ButteBackpacking, Hiking, Trail, North Cascades, Mount Baker, Overnight, Alpine, Camp, Classic, Crevasse, Favorite, Fire Lookout, Forest, Glacier, Lakes, Mountain, Meadows, Ridge, Views, Volcano, Wildflowers, Featured Comments

Backpacking Spider Gap and the Glacier Peak Wilderness

Join us on this wonderful 7-day backpacking trip to the Glacier Peak Wilderness via Spider Gap, Lyman Lakes, Image Lake, and Buck Creek Pass.

BackpackingTimea ZilcsakAugust 1, 2020Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Trail, Multi Day, Central Cascades, Leavenworth, Alpine, Camp, Classic, Creek, Favorite, Fire Lookout, Forest, Lakes, Loop, Mountain, Meadows, Mines, Pass, Ridge, Sunset, Views, Wildflowers, Wilderness, Wildlife, Nature, Outdoors, Featured Comments

Backpacking the Goat Rocks Wilderness (video)

In this video, join us on our 5-day walk in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Known for some of the best views on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Goat Rocks is a wonderful place to go backpacking.

BackpackingDaniel ZilcsakJuly 27, 2018Video, Hiking, Overnight, Multi Day, Backpacking, Backcountry, Washington, South Cascades, Alpine, Camp, Classic, Creek, Favorite, Forest, Lakes, Loop, Mountain, Meadows, Pass, Ridge, Scrambling, Snow, Summit, Sunset, Views, Volcano, Waterfall, Wildlife, Wilderness, Wildflowers, Nature, Outdoors, Featured, Most Popular Comments

Backpacking Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail (video)

In this video, walk with us along the spectacular Wonderland Trail around the majestic Mount Rainier.

BackpackingDaniel ZilcsakAugust 26, 2017Article, Hiking, Backpacking, Backcountry, Multi Day, Washington, Mount Rainier National Park, Alpine, Camp, Classic, Creek, Crevasse, Fire Lookout, Glacier, Lakes, Mountain, Meadows, Off Trail, Pass, Ridge, Snow, Sunset, Sunrise, Views, Volcano, Waterfall, Wildlife, Wilderness, Nature, Outdoors, National Park, FeaturedComment

A Simple Food Plan for First Time Backpacking

Whether going backpacking for the first time or just want to see somebody else's take on food and related gear, here's our recommendation.

GearDaniel ZilcsakJuly 30, 2017Article, Backpacking, Backcountry, Camp, Equipment, Guide, Gear, Outdoors, Overnight, Multi Day, Food, Hiking, Most Popular Comment

Backpacking Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches

A short backpacking trip leads you to the heart of a remote Pacific Ocean beach for the most spectacular sunsets. Here’s what Shi Shi is about, and more.

The Secret to Getting a John Muir Trail Permit

The secret to a JMT permit? No magic incantations, just persistence and flexibility. Here's a short list of tips we believe will get you one this year.

Daniel ZilcsakJune 30, 2017John Muir Trail, California, Sierra Nevada, Backpacking, Multi Day, Hiking, Article, Guide, Outdoors, Backcountry, Permit, Yosemite National Park, National Park, Lottery, Most Popular Comments

Speaking at The Mountaineers' Walking the Wild Series

Come join us for a glass of wine and enjoy our presentation of the John Muir Trail. We prepared a narrative with lots of photos, stories from the trail, logistics, and more.

NewsDaniel ZilcsakJune 28, 2017John Muir Trail, Backpacking, Hiking, California, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park, Event, The Mountaineers, Photography, National Park Comments

The Best Guide Book, Maps, and Navigation Apps for the John Muir Trail

Here's our recommendation for a good guide book, maps, and navigation apps for your John Muir Trail hike, with a funny intro we call "the cover guy story".

GearDaniel ZilcsakJune 16, 2017John Muir Trail, California, Sierra Nevada, Backpacking, Multi Day, Hiking, Article, Guide, Outdoors, Equipment, Backcountry, GearComment

How Did We Decide to Hike the John Muir Trail

How did we pull the trigger to try a multi-week backpacking trip, when our previous "record" was merely five or six days in the wilderness? It turns out all we needed was a spark.

Daniel ZilcsakApril 19, 2017John Muir Trail, California, Sierra Nevada, Backpacking, Multi Day, Hiking, Article, Backcountry Comments

Favorite Podcasts That I Always Bring Along

I love listening to a half hour of good science before I go to bed. Here's my top science podcasts that I always bring along on my travels, especially in the backcountry.

GearDaniel ZilcsakJanuary 3, 2017Podcast, Science, Astronomy, Space, Article, Backpacking, Internet, Tech, Gear Comment

Gallery: Along the John Muir Trail

A collection of about 50 favorite photographs from our 18 day John Muir Trail thru-hike from earlier this summer.

Daniel ZilcsakDecember 1, 2016John Muir Trail, Hiking, Gallery, Photography, Trail, Backpacking, Backcountry, Wilderness, California, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park, Alpine, Landscape, Nature, Outdoors, National ParkComment

A Mountain Lion Encounter on the Pacific Crest Trail

If facing such a situation, I've always wondered whether it's safer to stay in your tent and make noise, to make a fire, or to seek other's company.

NewsDaniel ZilcsakNovember 17, 2016Wilderness, Wildlife, Backpacking, People, Backcountry, Outdoors, California, Sierra NevadaComment

Internet Connectivity on The John Muir Trail

Sharing the hot spots of internet connectivity we encountered along the John Muir Trail and our experience staying connected and sending updates from the trail.

GearDaniel ZilcsakAugust 5, 2016Tuloumne MeadowsJohn Muir Trail, California, Sierra Nevada, Social Media, Backpacking, Multi Day, Yosemite National Park, Article, Internet, Guide, People, Tech, Gear Comments

Backpacking the John Muir Trail - Our Complete Story

This is a concise guide and the story of our 18-day backpacking trip along the 215-mile John Muir Trail.

BackpackingDaniel ZilcsakAugust 1, 2016John Muir TrailJohn Muir Trail, California, Sierra Nevada, Guide, Backpacking, Multi Day, Hiking, Article, Lottery, Permit, Featured Comments

Backpacking Marmot Pass and Buckhorn Mountain, a Weekend Trip

An Olympic National Park classic, Marmot Pass is an ideal destination for a weekend backpacking, panoramic views from Buckhorn Mountain and sunset camping.

BackpackingTimea ZilcsakJuly 23, 2016Marmot PassAlpine, Backcountry, Washington, Camp, Creek, Forest, Trail, Olympic Peninsula, Meadows, Nature, Pass, Ridge, Summit, Wildlife, Olympic National Park, Overnight, Backpacking, Favorite, Article, Views, Featured, National Park Comment

A Journey on This Pale Blue Dot