The second day backpacking, there was much ridge views and even a peak to bag (Rattlesnake Mountain) along both the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the Boundary National Recreation Trail.
For more info, check this link: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/11/twizt-red-devils-rattlesnake-mountain.html
#California #RougeRiverSiskiyouNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouNationalForest #SiskiyouCounty #RedButtesWilderness
#backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #PCT #PacificCrestTrail #BigfootTrail
If you’re a user or potential user of my peak bagging app Peakist, there is an update coming soon to add the 2026 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge with it’s 2 new towers.
I had hoped this could go out with a larger feature update that is coming along but I’m going to push the Tower list update and the new features will follow after.
For #MountainMonday I have this excellent view from the summit of Pyramid Peak, photographed during a recent hike in the Santa Rosa Mountains of Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
That was ~8.5 miles/13.7 km out and back with a total elevation gain of 3045 feet/928 meters according to my fitness tracker... calves are still aching today... 😅
#Desert #Hiking #Mountains #LandscapePhotography #AnzaBorrego #PeakBagging #SanDiego #PeakBagger #SouthernCalifornia
Day 2 had the one peak to bag with its Buena Vista as well as some beautiful lakes to stop by: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/buena-yosemite-buena-vista-lake-and.html
#YosemiteNationalPark #California #MariposaCounty #MaderaCounty #YosemiteWilderness
#hiking #backpacking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #Yosemite #peakBagging #peakbagger
A few feet from the very top of the HIGHEST peak in ALL of California's coastal ranges (taller than the coastal ranges of Oregon and Washington, too) and this thing pops up into view.
...
First look at the mighty Mount Shasta while on the way up Mount Eddy. Eddy stands 9k feet (2751m), with 5k feet (1556m) prominence, but Shasta overshadows it a bit at 14k feet (3417m).
Day 3 was moving day and had lots of free time, so I got to hike the Wilderness high point, which happens to be the Mendocino National Forest high point too!
More here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/06/south-yolla-bolly-mount-linn.html
#California #TehamaCounty #MendocinoNationalForest #YollaBollyMiddleEelWilderness
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #peakbagging #peakbagger #volunteering #NRT #BigfootTrail
I was very pleased that I made it up to the top of Cerro Grande. A few months ago, it would have been out of the question, but now I'm on some meds that are helping a lot. The doctors are still mystified as to what's actually wrong with my heart and what that means for the long term, but at least I can hike and hike while they figure it out.
Also: lots of #elk bugling. I couldn't find the sound recorder app on my phone, so I used Merlin to record a few clips.
Big new TestFlight build for Peakist, my #peakbagging, #hiking app. Adds support for tracking your grids (hikes in every season or month) and exporting visit data.
Also several more New England lists.
Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Full support for all the shiny new OS versions (and the old ones too)
Today's hiking group destination was Deception Peak, elevation 12,320'. I am, sadly, not up to a climb like that right now, so here's a photo from 2020.
Day 4 was for returning, but there was enough time for one more peak and a visit to the triple point. Water from there variously goes into the Smith River (via middle fork), the Illinois River (via east fork), and Klamath River (via Clear Creek).
The details: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/06/preston-youngs-peak.html
#California #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouWilderness #SiskiyouNationalForest #RogueRiverSiskiyouNationalForest #SiskiyouCounty #DelNorteCounty #SmithRiverNationalRecreationArea
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #peakBagging #peakbagger
Valerie Norton
Patrick McConnell
Alexander S. Kunz
Akkana Peck