A late-season hiker contemplates the downed cables beneath the final pitch of Yosemite's Half Dome. Normally, the cables form a stairway of sorts up the smooth granite slabs to the summit, but the forest service has taken the cables down for the approaching winter, making the ascent far less palatable.
PCT: Onion Valley to Cottonwood PassThe Pacific Crest Trail from Onion Valley to Cottonwood Pass—a five day, fifty mile hike through the interior Sierra.
North Palisade: the U-NotchGlaciers, couloirs, and rock in the heart of the High Sierra: 14,242' North Palisade is a true California classic.
Mt. Whitney: Mountaineer's RouteFor adventurous hikers, John Muir's Mountaineer's Route offers an unforgettable Whitney climb.
Mt. Langley: Cottonwood Lakes LoopA strenuous but scenic day hike up Mount Langley's Class 3 East-Southeast Ridge and down Army Pass.
Mt. San Jacinto: Round Valley TrailEscape the desert's merciless heat via the Palm Springs Aerial Tram and Mount San Jacinto's Round Valley Trail.
Grand Canyon: Walter Powell RouteMy brother and I go off the map in the Grand Canyon to find Walter Powell's 1869 rim-to-river route.
Mt. Shasta: Avalanche Gulch7000 vertical feet of superb July skiing down Avalanche Gulch, 14,162' Mount Shasta's popular climbing route.
Sandstone Peak: Mishe Mokwa LoopOcean, canyon, and city views abound in this easy day hike to the top of Southern California's Santa Monica Mountains.
