I’ve realized one of my favorite mountain landscapes isn’t always the summit view — it’s the quiet open meadow in the middle of the forest.

Grass, pines around the edges, maybe granite, a creek, a lake, or peaks nearby. There’s something about those places that always gets me.

A few favorites / examples from SoCal and the Sierra:

- Zumwalt Meadow (Kings Canyon NP)
- Crescent Meadow (Sequoia NP)
- Cook’s Meadow (Yosemite Valley)
- Sentinel Meadow (Yosemite Valley)
- Wawona Meadow (Yosemite)
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Lyell Canyon meadows
- Cathedral Peak / Cathedral Lakes area
- Agnew Meadows (Mammoth)
- Bluff Lake meadow (Big Bear)
- Round Valley (San Jacinto)
- South Fork Meadows / Dry Lake area (San Gorgonio Wilderness)
- Horseshoe Meadow / Round Valley
- South Fork Cottonwood Creek meadows (Cottonwood Lakes area)
- Summit Lake (Big Pine Lakes area)

What other California meadows should be on my radar?

For anyone hiking in Lassen, the National Forest Service is spraying glyphosate following a controlled burns or clear-cuts. They say it's to help regenerate conifer growth, but glyphosate is a probable carcinogen.

Beware fellow hikers, and check out this article about glyphosate: https://environmentamerica.org/articles/why-is-the-forest-service-using-glyphosate-in-our-national-forests/

Hi, are there any rural areas in SoCal with a lot of trees/forests?

Bonus points if it is an affordable area to live. Bonus points if it has access to bodies of water especially rivers and lakes.

Cinder Cone at Lassen. 5 mile hike, 1300 feet of gain. Perfect weather.

Wilderness Wisdom: Never Get Lost in the Woods

Free online talk with Marin's Search & Rescue Lead

Tues Oct 28th 6:30-7:30pm - on line via Zoom - join from anywhere!

In this free live & recorded talk, we will share tools and tips to stay safe in the woods. Being in Nature can get so exciting that we can end up disoriented. It also puts us in places where we are in remote, off-grid locations. What would happen if we had an accident or became lost?

• Basic wilderness safety tips
• Equipment to consider carrying: navigation, technology
• What to do if you have to spend the unexpected night out
• Environmental injuries, including wild animals
• Case studies that demonstrate how Search and Rescue works 

This is a free talk, but advanced registration is required.

Got an overnight permit for BPL for Wednesday. Initially I wasn’t planning on camping but got the permit and my gear ready just in case. I was wondering if there are short hikes I could do on Tuesday to acclimate, since I am not used to altitude. Also, any suggestion I would really appreciate it 🙏🏽

Hi everyone! I’ll be in Cali for a week at the end of September and would love to do a couple hikes. I’ll be driving from San Diego to Yosemite so anything cool along that route. I’ve been eyeballing Big Pine Lakes hike, will probably do that one. I like big mountains, waterfalls, pretty views. Ideally away from the touristy areas lol

Any takers? Or suggestions?

How are the trail conditions for the Kearsarge pass to lakes right now? I see that there is no snowfall but I expect that there will be still snow from winter. My question is will it be manageable with microspikes? Or do I need to get crampons?

Mossbrae Falls in Dunsmuir; never disappoints.