Ohlone Wilderness Trail

Date: January 17th, 2026

This spring has been relatively dry (until the storms in mid-February), and all of January had fantastic weather for being outdoors: partly cloudy/sunny with the relatively cool winter air. The hills in the bay were green from the rains at the end of December, and I was looking for some hiking to do. I didn’t really want to backpack since I didn’t want to take up an entire weekend, and realized this was a good time to try to hike the Ohlone Wilderness trail in a day. It was sort of spontaneous; I saw some posts about people doing this online and decided why not. I’ve wanted to hike this trail for awhile now and the conditions were right.

I hiked from Lake Del Valle to Mission Peak; it would be easier to get back home from the Mission Peak side and I wanted to get the larger climb up to Rose peak done first. The night before I just threw in a random assortment of bars, trail mix, and dried mangoes for fuel, and carried in 4L of water with three electrolyte packs along with a filter. In hindsight I didn’t need to carry that much water at a time; there were plenty of water sources along the way but I just wanted to be prepared.

I had my dad drop me off at the start at Lake Del Valle around 7:15 AM, right after they officially opened at 7 AM during this time of the year. A group of trail runners were starting at the same time but were just running up to Rose Peak and back, and I hiked/jogged with them for half a mile before they took off. I wanted to make sure I paced myself so that I could make it all the way to the end. I got to the top of Rose Peak around 10:40 AM and sat down to eat some snacks. To my surprise, another group of trail runners were coming up to the peak, and among the group were a couple of coworkers that I had run with before! They were doing the same trail and had started a little later than me. I decided to run with them on the downhills, and keep up for as long as I could. It’s always nice to have some company to motivate me to go faster.

We jogged the downhills and hiked up the uphills while we chatted for a bit. The scenery before  Rose Peak was nice but nothing new to me; the East Bay hills always have that familiar look to them especially after hiking around here so often. However, the rolling green hills on the Sunol side of Rose Peak were incredibly lush, and there was one part where the trail became less distinct and went through an open field that felt like I was in a video game.

The “downhill” to Sunol and Little Yosemite had more uphill in it than I expected, and we were constantly changing from running to hiking. I eventually continued on past the trail runners as they stopped to refill their water. I kept on until just before reaching the Sunol valley where I got about another liter of water for the upcoming climb to Mission Peak. I didn’t stop for long in Sunol as I was already behind my schedule of reaching Mission Peak. I planned on meeting my friends at the top and descending down with them. I booked it up as fast as I could and passed a group of kids on a backpacking trip, some of them carrying a comical amount of cooking gear. I started getting a bit of a cramp less than a mile from the peak, but drinking some more electrolytes and eating a bar staved that off.

I reached the top of Mission Peak around 3:15 feeling pretty good except for sore feet and descended down to Fremont with my friends.

 

Big Sur: Boronda Trail to Timber Top Camp (2025)

Dates: October 18-19, 2025

I was itching to get back outside for a quick backpacking trip, and with the Sierras getting colder I looked closer to the coast. I’ve had my eye on this Timber Top campsite for a while now for the views, and the weather this past weekend looked perfect. I left the Bay Area around noon on Saturday and was also back on Sunday by noon.

I carried up 4.5L of water since the campsite is dry, but after I came back with over a liter left I would have been fine with 3.5L. Always better to have more and I could have used some to lightly wash up at the top. There is apparently a spring just past halfway up on the trail on a branch off to the left (north) along Lafler creek that you could refill water from. I saw the branch off point but did not go investigate.

Day 1: Boronda Trailhead to Timber Top (3 miles, +2,500 ft elevation gain)

I wanted to get up camp before sunset, so I started driving down to the Boronda trailhead just past noon and got there around 3PM. Even the drive down was more beautiful than I expected; I fully understand why people drive Highway 1 now. I’ve only ever gone down to Point Lobos in the last several years and don’t remember the last time I’ve gone farther. The weather was truly perfect; the skies were cloudless but I had the clouds of the marine layer below me.

Parking was easy; there was plenty of room along the side of the road for the approximately 7 cars parked at the trailhead. I pretty much did not stop hiking on the way up (except for the occasional photo) and passed a few groups that were doing the same trip. The views of the ocean were incredible, but the uphill grind was non-stop all the way to the top. There were a few short sections that were slightly flat and shaded that I greatly appreciated; my calves felt stretched the entire time on the steep ridge trail.

Peak chair placement at the home near the trailhead.

I got to Timber Top camp proper in about 1.5hrs, and then headed a little past it to find an open campsite on the ridges that had an unobstructed view of the ocean. There was a chain of three sites branching off of the main ridge, and I settled down on the middle one.

Hachiware on another great adventure.

I did a little painting (I really need to sit down and practice painting foliage more, and just slow down in general) before setting up my camp and getting settled for the sunset. There was just a slight breeze that fully died down some time in the middle of the night. Definitely a top ten sunset that I’ve ever seen; there’s something just magical about being above a cloud layer and seeing the shadows of the clouds get deeper and deeper as the sun sets. As it got to true darkness, I did a little stargazing before heading to sleep.

Day 2: Timber Top to Boronda Trailhead (3 miles, 2,500 ft elevation loss)

Just like the sunset, I woke up to a similarly incredible sunrise above the clouds of the marine  layer. I had a very restful sleep, unlike some of my other nights out in the wilderness this year, and was able to enjoy the morning while drinking some miso soup for breakfast. I took some more photos before packing up and heading back. It was a perfect weekend getaway, with plenty of time for the rest of the day to get other things done.

Waking up.

Sunrise.

Another group descending below me.

Emigrant Wilderness: Crabtree to Bear Lake (2025)

Dates: September 13-14, 2025

A quick backpacking trip with friends out in Emigrant Wilderness again. The short hike in and out let us have a late start to the day and spend more time at camp.

Day 1: Crabtree Trailhead to Bear Lake (4.4 miles, +700 ft elevation gain)

Since the hike to the lake was so short, we left the Bay Area at a comfortable 9AM and drove to Sonora to get lunch. We accidentally ordered too much food for lunch since we didn’t realize the full size sandwich was not two ~4 inch halves, but actually four sections of a foot long sandwich. Don’t get me wrong, it was delicious but we were way too full after. Thankfully there was still another hour of driving afterwards to get to the trailhead to let us digest.

The trail was quite sandy and dusty, and every step kicked up a good amount of dust. We took a short break at Camp Lake before getting to Bear Lake. The front side of Bear Lake was quite busy, which we expected given the unlimited permits in Emigrant and the shortness of the hike. We went along the edge of the lake and found a nice secluded spot with a fire ring and a nice granite slab next to it.

Camp Lake

We ate an assortment of cured meats with cheese on tortillas, dehydrated meals, and our left over lunch sandwiches for dinner. With all the time at camp, we were able to get a campfire going and just relax next to it. After the sun set, we laid on the granite slab next to the site and stargazed before heading into our tents for the night.

The busy Bear Lake.

Hachiware resting by the fire.

Stargazing never gets old.

Day 2: Bear Lake to Crabtree Trailhead (4.4 miles, +200 ft elevation gain)

In the morning, we got the fire going again to warm up and do some cooking. I carried in two sweet potatoes wrapped in foil that we cooked in the fire, and we also reheated some quesadillas that we also brought along. We had a lazy start to the day before retracing our steps from yesterday back to the trailhead. The hike out was ever faster and we were able to get back to the bay in time for a quick stop at Meadowlark for ice cream. :) 

Fog over Bear Lake.

Strawberry on strawberry lemonade diablo.

This trail is a good one for anyone just getting into backpacking, but I’d definitely recommend trying to go further to another lake if you want more solitude.

Emigrant Wilderness: Granite Dome Loop (2025)

Dates: August 30 - September 1, 2025

I spent the Labor Day weekend backpacking with some new friends out in the Emigrant Wilderness, doing a 38 mile clockwise loop around Granite Dome, starting and ending at Kennedy Meadows (AllTrails). This was my first time in Emigrant Wilderness and the landscapes did not disappoint. With the self-issue, no limit permits, I will definitely be back here.

Day 1: Kennedy Meadows to Sheep Camp (9.6 miles, +3000 ft elevation gain)

We left the Bay Area around 5:30 AM and got to the trailhead just past 9 AM after a quick stop at the Summit Ranger station to pick up a permit. Most of the first day was uphill, passing by the Relief Reservoir and heading up the canyon along the Huckleberry Trail to Sheep Camp. We got a taste of all the classic Sierra views that would continue into the next two days: lush forests, hints of meadows, and the never-ending granite walls and staircases. We had sunny skies with small patches of clouds throughout the entire holiday weekend.

Hiking past the Relief Reservoir.

Sheep Camp was a nice place to set up for the night; there were several other groups there but it was not too crowded. Water access here was no problem with the creek running right through the middle.

Thousand Island Lake Backpacking (2025)

Dates: August 2-3, 2025

I recently took a few friends on their first ever backpacking trip to Thousand Island Lake, having heard so much about the lake and the views there.

We took the River Trail directly to the lake from Agnew Meadows, and returned the second day via the JMT passing Emerald, Ruby, and Garnet Lake before taking the Garnet Lake cutoff back to the river trail (didn’t get around to visiting Shadow Lake unfortunately). We had fair weather the entire weekend, without a single cloud in the sky.

Day 1: Agnew Meadows to Thousand Island Lake via River Trail (9 miles, +2000 ft elevation gain)

We had to take the shuttle from the Mammoth Adventure center to the first stop, Agnew Meadows. The shuttle is very convenient to take on the way in; just buy a ticket at the Adventure center and get on the shuttle, which runs every 20 minutes for most of the day during the weekends.

Water sources were readily available along the River Trail and we didn’t need to carry more than a liter at a time. The elevation gain was pretty well distributed along the whole distance, and there was no part that was significantly difficult. The trail was a little sandy for the first few miles, which was a little annoying to walk along since each step kicked up a good amount of dust. We had regular breaks along the trail, taking in the sights and eating our snacks. When we finally crested the hill and turned toward the outlet of the Thousand Island Lake, we were greeted with the view of Banner Peak rising into view over the trees. It took us some time to find a good place to camp along the shore since we didn’t want to be too far from the water and many places were marked for restoration. There were a decent number of people camped here for the night, which is not surprising given its popularity and intersection with the JMT and PCT. (Turns out more sandy sites were higher up along the shore than I expected.) For dinner, we brought along burritos that we bought in Mammoth right before we got on the shuttle. Not the greatest burrito in the world, but it was still slightly warm and delicious after a long hike.

Approaching the lake.

The view of Banner Peak and the Thousand Island Lake exceeded my expectations. The changing sunlight during sunset and sunrise created a beautiful warm glow on the peak that faded into the night; however, the night was not any more incredible under the light of the stars and moon. I woke up several times at night to capture photos of the Milky Way rising over Banner Peak, reflected in the still water of the night. It was nearly silent after the wind died down past sunset, with only the occasional blip of noise from nearby animals.

Perfect reflection.

Yosemite: Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne Backpacking (2025)

Dates: July 4-6, 2025

Moving upstream from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir where I was just a few months earlier, I spent the long 4th of July Weekend back in Yosemite backpacking the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. I invited a friend, and another backpacker I met online tagged along. We left Thursday night to avoid the July 4th traffic and stayed a night in the White Wolf backpacker’s campground. We got there just past midnight and quickly set up wherever we could find space and got to sleep. The weather was calm, with no wind and clear skies, so I cowboy camped under the stars to avoid having to set up my tent.

Looking straight up at the backpacker's campground.

Day 1: White Wolf to Pate Valley (10.8 miles, +400 ft, -4,000 ft)

After spending the night in the backpacker’s campground, we drove to the Tuolumne Meadows wilderness center and got our permits. A climber who was staying at the White Wolf campground was also looking to get to Tuolumne Meadows and I gave him a ride since we were headed that way anyways.

With permit in hand, we took YARTs back to White Wolf to start our journey. A couple (hi Thomas and Emily!) was backpacking the same route and took the same YARTs trip as us. We would continue to pass each other back and forth over the next three days.

The first part of the trail was easy going, starting off as a gravel fire road and becoming a normal backcountry trail that gently sloped downwards towards Harden Lake. From here, it became a series of steep switchbacks that descended quickly into the valley, a true test of your knees and ankles. The trail was in relatively good condition, just a little overgrown at first. Halfway down there is a clearing with a good view point of Hetch Hetchy from the back, a familiar but different view from the ones I had when hiking the Hetch Hetchy loop back in May. There were pretty much no mosquitoes along this segment of the trail, and the air kept getting warmer as we descended. We set up camp just past the bridges that cross the river in Pate Valley.

Hello Hetch Hetchy again!

Done with all the switchbacks in Pate Valley.

Deep among the trees.

Day 2: Pate Valley to Waterwheel Falls (12 miles, +3,300 ft)

We had an easy-going morning before heading out for the hardest day of the trip. We meandered through the foliage of the valley alongside the river before climbing around Muir Gorge. We took a long break at the Register Creek crossing, dunking ourselves in the refreshing pool at the base of the waterfall. Many other hikers were stopped here doing the same, filtering water, or just enjoying lunch at the falls.

We had plenty of the time in the long summer day to finish these miles and were in no rush to get to camp. We took another long break right before Return Creek and Waterwheel Falls, dipping into the water again and just chilling on the granite slab by the river.

We camped right above Waterwheel Falls after a little bushwacking to the river shore where we found an existing campsite. The mosquito pressure was mild around here, and we could stay outside without too many issues.

Waterwheel Falls.

Overlooking the falls.

Day 3: Waterwheel Falls to Tuolumne Meadows (10 miles, +1,900 ft)

Waterwheel Falls from yesterday was just the warmup for the main event on our last day. We would be passing more multiple major waterfalls on our climb out of the canyon into Tuolumne Meadows. The views just kept getting better as we got further along the trail, with each waterfall, Le Conte, California, and White Cascade (not to mention all the smaller ones on the side) impressive in their own way. The mosquitoes were the worst on the way to and through Glen Aulin, but nothing that bad.

With pretty much all the climbing done once we reached Glen Aulin, we took a long break at the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp in front of the White Cascade. I did another quick painting there after soaking my feet in the cold water. The mosquitoes had also mostly dissipated from here on out.

Hachiware with a new buddy.

The remaining flat trail through Tuolumne Meadows was just as scenic, and we took one last break on a wide open expanse of flat granite that the river meandered through. Lying bare against the warm rock after dipping into the water was incredibly soothing, and I could have easily fallen asleep there. Alas, I didn’t want to get sunburnt, wanted to eat some fresh food, and also wanted to get back home at a reasonable time, so we got going. After a few quick stops at some of the popular points in the meadows and along Tioga Road, we drove home with another successful backpacking trip done. Thanks again to Arthur and Tommy for the company on this trip. I highly recommend this trail and in this direction; you won’t be disappointed by the views. 

Point Reyes: Coast Camp Backpacking (2022)

I've had this footage from this 2022 backpacking trip just sitting around for a long time; better to just export it as-is before it is lost to time.

My second backpacking trip ever, and my first one solo. It was a quick and easy trip to get warmed back up into backpacking since it was just a six mile counterclockwise loop from the Laguna trailhead. I distinctly remember the sound of the ocean, clarity of the night sky and the fog in the morning. After I got back to the car on the second day, I also did a quick day hike out to Tomales Point.

Dates: July 18-19th, 2022