Hiking 3

Welcome to my hiking gallery! I've been lucky enough to live and travel in some amazing places full of natural beauty, and I try to get out and explore as much as possible. Here's a little sampling; photos are taken by me unless otherwise noted.
2010 - 2017 // 2018 - 2021 // 2022 - 2024

Franconia Ridge Trail
October 2017
Franconia Notch State Park, NH
Elev. 5,260'
8.9 miles - 3,937' gain

Back to the White Mountains for one of the most popular hikes in New England! The weather held out (despite some strong winds and the top) and provided stunning views of slightly browning foliage from the tops of Mts. Lincoln and Lafayette.

Hi-Cannon and Lonesome Lake Loop
September 2017
Franconia Notch State Park, NH
Elev. 4,080'
5.1 miles - 2,427' gain

My first hike in the White Mountains, and since moving to the East Coast, did not disappoint - the weather was excellent, the views spectacular, and the foliage just starting to turn on Cannon Mountain.

Andrews Bald and Charlies Bunion
August 2017
Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park, TN & NC
Elev. ~6,000'
7.6 miles - 2,200' gain

After catching the total solar eclipse in KY, I made for the Smokies and did two short hikes at the top of the ridgeline. It was clouds, not smog, that gave the mountains their smoky appearance during my visit.

High Dune & the Dunes Overlook Trail
August 2017
Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park, CO
Elev. 8,175'
~4 miles - ~1,200' gain total

After climbing to an overlook in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, I backpacked over the High Dune for an unforgettable sunset and a night out in sand.

Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo Bridges
August 2017
Natural Bridges Nat'l Mon., UT
Elev. 6,300'
3 miles - 1,000' gain

One of many stops on the long road east to Harvard; this secluded park offered a series of short hikes to impressive natural bridges, along with a colorful landscape of canyons and impressive rock formations.

San Bernardino Peak
July 2017
San Bernardino Nat'l Forest, CA
Elev. 10,649'
16.5 miles - 4,700' gain

It hit 100 ˚F in the valley below, but we had a cool breeze and pleasant drizzle for our climb up San Bernardino - among the tallest of the peaks that encircle the Los Angeles Basin.

Scenic Point & other trails
June 2017
Glacier National Park, MT
Elev. 7,522'
8.0 miles - 2300' gain

Though some of the higher elevations in the park are still inaccessible, June is a great time of year to see torrential waterfalls and snow-speckled peaks throughout Glacier National Park.

Mount Baldy (a.k.a. Mt. San Antonio)
May 2017
San Gabriel Mountains Nat’l Mon., CA
Elev. 10,064’
11.3 miles - 3900’ gain

The same hike I did last October, only in reverse - and with significantly more snow.

Soldiers Pass, Brins Mesa, & other trails
Mar. 2017
Sedona, AZ
~19 miles total - 1,500' gain

Two exhausting days of hiking wasn't enough to take in all the gorgeous scenery that the Sedona area has to offer.

Inspiration Point
Feb. 2017
San Gabriel Mountains Nat’l Mon., CA
11.8 miles - 2,740’ gain

Another hazy morning in Los Angeles, and a wonderfully cold day for my first >10 mile trail run.

Mountain View & other trails
Jan. 2017
Mammoth Lakes, Mono Co., CA
Elev. 9,200’
~2.5 miles - 700’ gain

My first time on snowshoes in nearly a decade - I forgot how much more exhausting it is than hiking.

Mount San Jacinto
Nov. 2016
Riverside Co., CA
Elev. 10,834’
11.4 miles - 4,690’ gain

"The view from San Jacinto is the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth" - John Muir

Mount Baldy (a.k.a. Mt. San Antonio)
Oct. 2016
San Gabriel Mountains Nat’l Mon., CA
Elev. 10,064’
11.3 miles - 3900’ gain

A grueling trip up, but some of the best views you can get of LA and the high desert, and an especially exciting traverse along the Devil’s Backbone.

Mt. Lowe & San Gabriel Peak
Sept. 2016
San Gabriel Mountains Nat’l Mon., CA
Elev. 5,604’ and 6,161’
~6 miles - ~2,000’ gain

Only about 10 miles as the crow flies from Caltech, but it feels like a wilderness!

Ryan Mountain & other trails
Aug. 2016
Joshua Tree Nat’l Park, CA
Elev. 5,457’
3 miles - 1,050’ gain

For otherworldly landscapes and flora, and a quick escape from the sprawl of LA, it’s hard to beat Joshua Tree.

Fort Ord & Pacific Grove
Jul. 2016
Monterey Co., CA

Some urban hiking & quick walks through beautiful coastal California landscapes during breaks from our fieldwork in Marina, CA.

Cucamonga Peak
Jun. 2016
San Gabriel Mountains Nat’l Mon., CA
Elev. 8,859’
11.6 miles - 4,300’ gain

A strenuous climb up one of the tallest mountains in the San Gabriel front range.

Sheep Crossing & other trails
May 2016
Greer, Apache Co., AZ
Elev. 8,356’

Who knew Arizona could be so pleasant in the summer?

.Tongariro Alpine Crossing
April 2016
Tongariro Nat’l Park, Waikato, NZ
~14 miles

This epic hike on New Zealand's North Island took us past active volcanic vents, absurdly colored pools, and Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings

Abel Tasman Coast Track
April 2016
Tasman, New Zealand
14.2 miles

We only got to spend a day on the Tasman Track as we traversed NZ, but the gorgeous beaches and lush rainforest were definitely worth it.

Hooker Valley & other trails
April 2016
Aoraki/Mount Cook Nat’l Park
Canterbury, New Zealand
3.1 miles

Some short walks around the glaciers, lakes, and streams at the base of New Zealand's tallest mountain.

Routeburn & Caples Tracks
March 2016
Mount Aspiring & Fjordland Nat’l Parks
Southland & Otago, New Zealand
45 miles

An incredible three-night trek that took us through a wealth of different landscapes across the southern end of New Zealand.

Echo Mountain & Inspiration Point
Feb. 2016
San Gabriel Mountains Nat’l Mon., CA
11.2 miles - 2,709’ gain

Tucked right up against Pasadena, Echo Mountain provides impressive views over LA and an excellent sunset hike.

Heart of Rocks & other trails
Oct. 2015
Chiricahua Nat’l Mon., Cochise Co., AZ
10.8 miles

Breathtaking rock formations tucked away in an isolated corner of Arizona.

Mount Baden-Powell
Sept. 2015
San Bernardino County, CA
Elev. 9,406’
8.7 miles - 2,900’ gain

Short and steep, this climb provides excellent high desert views and a unique look at some ancient limber pines.

Mist Falls & other trails
Aug. 2015
Kings Canyon Nat’l Park, Fresno Co., CA
8.1 miles - 1,028’ gain

We got caught in a rainstorm in Paradise Valley, but it certainly made for some dramatic views.

Lassen Peak & other hikes
Aug. 2015
Lassen Volcanic Nat’l Park, Shasta Co., CA
Elev. 10,457’
5 miles - 2,000’ gain

A windy climb through some spectacular volcanic landscapes.

Bear Gulch / High Peaks & other trails
Jul. 2015
Pinnacles Nat’l Park, San Benito Co., CA
Elev. 2,700’
6.7 miles - 1,425’ gain

To escape the heat, we hiked in the evenings and spent our days spelunking in California's youngest National Park.

North Shore & other trails
Jul. 2015
Point Lobos State Reserve, Monterey Co., CA
~7 miles

Another quick escape to the rugged Central California coast during our summer fieldwork.

Rocky Ridge & other trails
Jul. 2015
Garrapata State Park, Monterey Co., CA
Elev. 1,850’
5 miles - 1,750’ gain

Great views abound in the Big Sur area of Monterey County - especially when the sun is setting.

Mount Wrightson
June 2015
Santa Cruz County, AZ
Elev. 9,453’
13.2 miles - 4,040’ gain

After an early start to escape the heat, this trek rewarded with fantastic views over the Sonoran Desert.

Marshall Gulch & other Trails
June 2015
Mt. Lemmon, Pima Co., AZ
Elev. 8,215'
3.5 miles - 1,015' gain

Towering above Tucson, Mt. Lemmon provides plenty of hiking opportunities.

Ice Box Canyon & other trails
May 2015
Red Rock Canyon Nat'l Conservation Area, Clark Co., NV
3 miles

Natural beauty a stone's throw from Vegas.

Little Colorado River & other trails
Jan. 2015
Greer, Apache Co., AZ
Elev. 8,356’

Long before it carves through the Grand Canyon, the Little Colorado starts as a trickle through Arizona's White Mountains.

Smith Mountain
Jan. 2015
San Gabriel Nat’l Monument, LA County, CA
Elev. 5,111’
7 miles - 1,820’ gain

A New Years' hike with lovely views of the San Gabriels.

Mount Washburn & other trails
Aug. 2014
Yellowstone Nat’l Park, Teton Co., WY
Elev. 10,243’
6.4 miles - 1,400’ gain

Snow in August, wolves, bears, and all sorts of other exciting encounters in the country's first National Park.

Monarch Lakes & other trails
Sept. 2013
Sequoia Nat’l Park, Tulare Co., CA
Elev. 10,400’
8.9 miles - 2,893’ gain

Turns out alpine lakes are very cold, even at the end of the summer, but we didn't let that stop us.

Yosemite Falls & other trails
March 2013
Yosemite Nat’l Park, Mariposa Co., CA
Elev. 6,700’
7.2 miles - 2,700’ gain

We weren't prepared for the vagaries of the weather, but the falls were beautiful in rain and sun.

Hidden Canyon & other trails
June 2012
Zion & Bryce Canyon Nat’l Parks, UT

Driving home to Seattle after graduating from Davidson College (NC), I stopped at two of my favorite national parks for a quick tour of Utah’s most majestic scenery.

South Kaibab & other trails
June 2012
Grand Canyon Nat’l Park, AZ
Elev. 7,260’
8.8 miles - 3,250’ gain

Though I didn’t get a chance to hike all the way to the river, I loved the views from above.

Garfield Peak & other trails
Aug. 2012
Crater Lake Nat’l Park, OR
Elev. 8,060’
3 miles - 970’ gain

A surreal example of the Northwest's volcanic (not-so-distant) past

Emerald Lake & other trails
July 2011
Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park, CO
3.6 miles - 685' gain

We visited RMNP many times during my summer in Boulder - with so many trails and interesting landscapes, there’s always something new to see.

Grays & Torreys Peaks
July 2011
Clear Creek & Summit Co’s., CO
Elev. 14,278’ & 14,275’
8.5 miles - 3,600’ gain

Two 14’ers in one morning!

Arapahoe Pass & Lake Dorothy
July 2011
Nederland, Boulder Co., CO
Elev. 12,080’
7.9 miles - 2,601’ gain

This beautiful hike up to the continental divide turned out to be a lot snowier than we expected.

Huron Peak
July 2011
Chaffee Co., CO
Elev. 14,012’
8.6 miles - 3,740’ gain

My first 14’er! This was a grueling hike, and my first experience with the difficulties of high-altitude hiking, but definitely worth it.

Schynige Platte - First & other trails
Fall 2010
Bern, Vaud, & Valais, Switzerland
~8 miles - ~3,000' gain

I spent a semester studying economics in Geneva, Switzerland, and frequently used my weekends to explore the Bernese Alps; the Interlaken area was a particular favorite.