Traveling in Bear Country

Late season storms aside, I’ve been looking forward to ditching the ski gear and switching to hiking and climbing. After all, summer camping in the Sierra is easier in almost every respect than winter. There is one big difference, however: in summer, we share the mountains with bears. I must say I ordinarily harbor no ill will toward bears, but as a hiker I find they present an added layer of complexity that (more…)

Posted in Camping, Health, Hiking, Tips | 1 Comment

How to Melt Snow for Water

With oppressive temps currently baking Southern California, I thought I’d escape for a moment by listing a few tips on melting snow for water that I’ve learned these past few seasons snow camping. What’s attractive about melting snow instead of carrying water is you can save a lot of weight (more…)

Posted in Camping, Tips | 3 Comments