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4,343 ft · Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, Napa County, California · December 5, 2020
The highest point in Napa County, and somehow the one hike out here that doesn't end with a wine tasting.
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377 ft · Sonoma Coast State Park, Sonoma County, California · October 17, 2026
A tiny detour off the Kortum Trail on the Sonoma Coast — parked in a small pullout on Highway 1, a short steep walk to a USC&GS survey disk set in concrete, and coastal views opening up as the morning fog broke.
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8,169 ft · Trinity Alps Wilderness, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California · September 12, 2026
A first-time visit to one of the Trinity Alps' best-kept secrets — a hike that feels like four different hikes stacked into one, climbing through forest to Bee Tree Gap, over spectacular Deer Creek Pass, and along a colorful ridge to an easy final scramble at the top of the Four Lakes Loop.
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1,628 ft · Shasta Lake, California (near Redding) · November 11, 2023
A modest little foothill summit above Redding with an outsized view — Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, and Mount Shasta itself all lined up at once, with fall color lighting up the oak woodland along the way. There's also a longer approach from the north via the Upper Sacramento Ditch Trail, noted below among the repeat visits.
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9,001 ft · Trinity Alps Wilderness, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California · September 18, 2026
The highest mountain in the Trinity Alps — climbed car-to-car in a single 14-hour push from the longer Canyon Creek approach, ending on a summit complex of exposed granite high points scattered with century-old survey markers.
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9,235 ft · Lassen Volcanic National Park, California · December 23, 2023
The second-highest peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park, done as a full winter climb — snow the entire way, firm underfoot in the 24-degree cold, with a direct crampon-and-axe finish straight up instead of following the summer switchbacks.
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6,334 ft · Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California · December 15, 2023
A steep pile of volcanic rubble standing right beside Interstate 5 — a satellite dome of Mount Shasta with a surprisingly graded trail and a 360-degree summit view timed for sunset.
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10,457 ft · Lassen Volcanic National Park, California (Cascade Range) · July 8, 2023
Nice hike this morning to Mount Lassen Peak — 10,457 feet, the highest point in the park and one of the largest lava dome volcanoes on Earth, with a steep and completely exposed trail the whole way up.
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14,032 ft · Sierra Nevada, California · August 1-2, 2026
A backpacking trip to Long Lake, a night under a stacked Sierra sky, and a cairn-guided sunrise push to the southernmost fourteener in the country.
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8,683 ft · Thousand Lakes Wilderness, Lassen National Forest, Shasta County, California · August 2, 2025
Two summits above the Thousand Lakes Wilderness in one morning — Crater Peak (8,683 ft) and Magee Peak (8,549 ft), an old volcanic cone with a ridge walk between them and Mount Shasta looming on the horizon the whole way.
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8,839 ft · Yosemite National Park, California · May 18, 2018
The iconic Yosemite summit — Vernal and Nevada Falls, the Sub Dome steps, and the infamous cables to the top.
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8,091 ft · Trinity Alps Wilderness, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California · August 9, 2024
The most-climbed summit in the Trinity Alps and the only one with a maintained trail to the top — a steep day-hike option in a range where overnight backpacking is the norm, with a former fire lookout site at the summit.
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9,025 ft · Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Siskiyou/Trinity County, California · October 19, 2024
A beautiful morning hike through Deadfall Lakes up to the summit of Mount Eddy — the highest point west of Interstate 5 in the country, with a front-row view of Mount Shasta from the top.
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4,966 ft · Castle Crags Wilderness, Castle Crags State Park, Castella, California · December 10, 2023
A chilly, early winter start on the Castle Dome Trail, climbing through quiet forest into the granite heart of the Castle Crags — a genuinely beautiful hike from the first step to the last.
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1,100 ft · West Side Trails, Redding, Shasta County, California · March 9, 2024
A quick, steady climb above the Westside neighborhoods to one of Redding's best viewpoints — a memorial bench, a wall of storm clouds, and Mt. Shasta and Lassen trading the spotlight in the distance.
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5,790 ft · Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah · April 13, 2026
The chains at Angels Landing — Walter's Wiggles, a permit-timed afternoon start, and one of the most exposed, unforgettable summit pushes anywhere in the national park system.
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6,617 ft · Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Siskiyou County, California · March 28, 2026
An unofficially-named summit above Castle Lake near Mount Shasta — an off-trail push past Heart Lake to a small, spectacular high point with Mount Shasta rising straight ahead.
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6,199 ft · Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California · May 11, 2024
The tallest peak in the Whiskeytown unit, a steep, unrelenting climb up the old summit road to 6,199 feet — Mount Shasta, the Trinity Alps, and Whiskeytown Lake all visible from the antenna-topped summit.
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2,326 ft · Swasey Recreation Area, BLM Redding Field Office, Shasta County, California · October 18, 2025
A local Redding classic — up the Escalator from the Wintu Trailhead to Mule Mountain Pass, with views of Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak from the summit ridge.
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2,571 ft · Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin County, California · June 9, 2019
A 16.7-mile round trip from Stinson Beach to the top of Mount Tamalpais — sea level to 2,571 feet and back, through redwood ravines, grassy ridgelines, and one of the best summit views in the Bay Area.
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3,442 ft · Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California · January 15, 2024
A long, steady training climb up the old lookout road above Whiskeytown Lake — snow on the upper switchbacks and a decommissioned fire lookout site at the top.
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8,340 ft · Lassen Volcanic National Park, California · October 12, 2025
Two volcanoes in one long day from the Cinder Cone Trailhead — Prospect Peak's shield-volcano summit first, then the short, brutally steep climb up Cinder Cone itself, with the Painted Dunes glowing red and orange below.
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9,222 ft · Lassen Volcanic National Park, California · August 9, 2025
Four remnant summits of the ancient Mount Tehama volcano in one off-trail day — Mount Diller, Pilot Pinnacle, Ski Heil Peak, and Eagle Peak, bagged in a row above Sulphur Works, with a highway walk back to close out the loop.
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1,483 ft · Briones Regional Park, Contra Costa County, California · November 26, 2020
A low East Bay ridge that punches above its 1,483 feet — golden hills, oak canyons, and Mount Diablo dominating the skyline the whole way up.
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9,926 ft · Yosemite National Park, California · August 6, 2016
A brutal, gorgeous day from the Valley floor — the Mist Trail, Little Yosemite Valley, and a ridge with the best view of Half Dome in the park. Done this way seven times now; there's also a much shorter approach from Tioga Road, noted below among the repeat visits.
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5,840 ft · Monumento Natural Cerro de la Silla, Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico · June 29, 2025
A hot, humid grind up Pico Antena, the most iconic summit on Monterrey's saddle-shaped symbol, rewarded with a sea of clouds, a curious coati, and a rooftop view of the whole mountain that evening.
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3,226 ft · Cleveland National Forest, near Descanso, San Diego County, California · June 15, 2025
Two San Diego backcountry classics from one trailhead — Eagle Peak's 360-degree summit views, then a steep drop into the canyon for a swim below Three Sisters Falls.
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6,533 ft · Los Coyotes Indian Reservation, near Warner Springs, San Diego County, California · May 25, 2025
The highest point in San Diego County — a long climb through Los Coyotes tribal land to a historic 1912 fire lookout, with Lupita by my side the whole way.
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4,203 ft · Vesuvius National Park, near Naples, Campania, Italy · April 25, 2025
Hiking to the rim of an active volcano with 2,000 years of history behind it — the Gran Cono trail above Naples, a steaming crater, and a day that also included the ruins of Pompeii.
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1,554 ft · Black Mountain Open Space Park, Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego, California · March 18, 2025
A quick North County classic in Rancho Peñasquitos — a steady climb through chaparral to a 1,554-foot summit sign, with benches along the way for taking in the sweep of the valley below.
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10,834 ft · Mount San Jacinto State Park, Riverside County, California · October 27, 2024
An awesome hike to the top of San Jacinto Peak with Lupita — the second-highest summit in Southern California, reached via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Round Valley, and Wellman Divide.
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4,189 ft · Cleveland National Forest, Alpine, California · February 24, 2025
A short, brutally steep San Diego County classic above Alpine — a false summit, a fog-shrouded true summit with a rock windbreak, and sweeping views whenever the clouds cooperated.
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3,836 ft · Cleveland National Forest, Japatul Valley, San Diego County, California · February 17, 2025
Two solid San Diego backcountry summits in one day out past Japatul Valley — a rope-and-boulder chimney scramble up Lawson Peak, followed by the bigger, bouldery high point of neighboring Gaskill Peak.
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11,503 ft · San Gorgonio Wilderness, San Bernardino National Forest, California · October 23, 2021
The highest point in Southern California, 'Old Grayback' — a very long day that turned into a very long night, with a sea of clouds at the top that made every one of those 5,800 feet worth it.
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1,567 ft · Monserate Mountain Preserve, Fallbrook, California · February 1, 2025
A short, steep North County classic above Fallbrook, climbing past hand-built 9/11 memorial trail markers to a summit with a flag, a benchmark, and views out toward the Pacific.
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1,527 ft · San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, Chula Vista, California · January 20, 2025
A short, steep South Bay classic in Chula Vista, climbing to the famous rock-and-flagpole summit cairn known as the Rock House, with views stretching from the Sweetwater Reservoir all the way to the bay and the border.
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5,353 ft · Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve, Julian, California · January 19, 2025
A mellow summit above the old gold-mining town of Julian, climbing through oak woodland to a view that stretches from the desert to the coast — despite the name, Volcan Mountain isn't actually a volcano.
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5,900 ft · Laguna Mountains, Cleveland National Forest, San Diego County, California · January 19, 2025
A quick second summit after Volcan Mountain — a rolling stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail out of Penny Pines, capped by a rocky scramble to one of the best desert overlooks in San Diego County.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · March 18, 2017
Six summits, one loop: Mount Diablo, North Peak, Eagle Peak, Mount Olympia, Mitchell Rock, and Twin Peaks, all bagged out of Mitchell Canyon in a single brutal, brilliant day. The one that got me hooked on this loop — I've been back for it twice more since, and once with a seventh summit added, written up separately.
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6,512 ft · Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, San Diego County, California · November 30, 2024
Two summits in one fall day out of Paso Picacho Campground — Cuyamaca Peak, the second-highest point in San Diego County, followed by the short, popular staircase climb up Stonewall Peak.
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2,696 ft · Poway, San Diego County, California · November 19, 2024
A relaxing chill hike to Iron Mountain summit near San Diego — a shaded oak-tunnel start, a steady climb up well-graded switchbacks, and 360-degree views from the second-highest peak in Poway.
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3,675 ft · El Capitan County Preserve, San Diego County, California · November 17, 2024
An awesome hike to El Cajon Mountain Peak with Lupita, including a great picnic — one of San Diego County's toughest day hikes, with a summit sign at 3,675 feet and a picnic spread to celebrate. Cheers.
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2,894 ft · Lake Poway Recreation Area, Poway, California · October 12, 2024
San Diego's most photographed rock formation — a steep climb from Lake Poway up Mount Woodson to the famous thin sliver of granite hanging out over the canyon.
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1,592 ft · Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego, California · September 29, 2024
A big thanks to Lupita for hiking the San Diego Peak Challenge with me — Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay, North Fortuna, and South Fortuna in a single day, 16 miles and 4,249 feet of gain.
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7,779 ft · Yosemite National Park, California · September 15, 2024
The best hike of my life, and I didn't even know it yet — a huge day out to the top of Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and Eagle Peak with an incredible group of friends, one of whom I'd fall in love with later on.
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11,526 ft · Near Yosemite National Park, California (Inyo National Forest) · July 3, 2024
An easy, high-payoff summit just outside Yosemite near Tioga Pass — a short climb for a huge view of the Sierra crest.
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13,061 ft · Yosemite National Park, California · October 1, 2020
Yosemite's second-highest peak — short on paper, deceptively serious in practice, with one of the best summit views in the range.
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10,064 ft · San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forest, California · July 17, 2022
The highest point in the San Gabriel Mountains, done the classic way — up the Ski Hut Trail, across the exposed Devil's Backbone on the way down, and a well-earned cold beer at the Notch before riding the chairlift the rest of the way to the car.
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9,235 ft · Desolation Wilderness, El Dorado County, California · June 3, 2020
A beautiful, wind-blasted summit above Lake Aloha and the Crystal Range with lingering snowfields — worth every step, even though it was so cold I only stayed five minutes at the top.
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10,855 ft · Yosemite National Park, California · August 5, 2023
A May Lake and Mount Hoffmann trip through the geographic center of Yosemite — the mosquitoes were absolutely horrible, but still worth it to get out there.
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10,381 ft · Mokelumne Wilderness, Carson Pass, California · August 31, 2019
A windy, exposed summit scramble above Winnemucca Lake — and the one where the wind nearly took my hat with it.
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7,968 ft · Lassen Volcanic National Park, California · July 7, 2023
A small, sharp summit right off the park road in Lassen Volcanic National Park — a quick use-trail climb followed by a short, easy scramble up onto the rock outcrop that caps the true summit.
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14,410 ft · Mount Rainier National Park, Washington (Cascade Range) · July 3, 2023
The biggest mountain on this whole list — a multi-day glacier climb up the Disappointment Cleaver route to Mount Rainier's summit crater, and then the extra push across the crater itself to Columbia Crest, the true high point.
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14,179 ft · Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California · August 19-20, 2022
A two-day backpacking trip up Shasta's quieter southeast side — the Clear Creek Trail, a high camp below the summit plateau, and a pre-dawn push up loose volcanic scree to the top of one of California's great solitary volcanoes.
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14,505 ft · Sierra Nevada, California · September 27, 2016
My first fourteener — a single overnight push up the Main Trail, headlamp to headlamp.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · February 20, 2023
A training hike more than a hike for its own sake — North Peak then Mount Diablo out of Morgan Territory Road, steep from the parking lot on, meant to get the legs ready for a bigger year of peaks ahead.
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9,983 ft · Desolation Wilderness, California · June 2, 2018
The highest point in the Desolation Wilderness — beautiful, and a genuine off-trail scramble through snow to reach the true top.
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9,735 ft · Desolation Wilderness, near South Lake Tahoe, California · June 2018
One of the signature Tahoe summits — past Floating Island Lake and Cathedral Lake, then a long exposed talus climb to a summit that looks straight down on Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake.
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2,517 ft · Fremont, California (East Bay) · January 31, 2016
A short, steep Bay Area classic — one of the best local training hikes for altitude climbs like Whitney.
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3,557 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · March 5, 2023
A half-day training hike straight up to North Peak with a 40-pound pack on my back, getting ready for bigger things this year — plus a genuinely great moment with some fellow hikers along the way.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · February 25, 2023
One of my favorites, and not just for the usual reasons — Diablo, Twin Peaks, and Mitchell Rock during the rare February 2023 storm that buried the whole mountain in real snow, something this park averages barely over an inch of a year.
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1,827 ft · Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, Contra Costa County, California · April 3, 2021
Sometimes called "the tough guy" of the East Bay Regional Park District — a steep climb out of Bollinger Canyon onto a ridge that just keeps rolling.
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8,216 ft · Tahoe National Forest, near Donner Summit, California · January 27, 2023
A quiet winter summit near Donner Summit, full gear day — crampons, snowshoes, and the ice axe all came out before it was over.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · January 22, 2023
A two-summit winter day starting from the quiet Marsh Creek Road trailhead — straight up the brutally steep Olympia Trail, then on to Diablo's main summit for views clear across the greened-up hills.
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13,002 ft · Ansel Adams Wilderness / Yosemite National Park boundary, California · October 16, 2022
The third-highest peak in Yosemite, reached the hard way — a 19-mile, almost entirely solo day out of Mono Pass to two 13,000-foot summits along the remote Kuna Crest.
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8,200 ft · Highline Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana · September 5, 2022
One of the most epic hikes anywhere — the Highline Trail along the Continental Divide to a knife-edge notch overlooking Grinnell Glacier's turquoise lake, capped off with a split-second, heart-pounding glimpse of a grizzly bear.
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9,109 ft · Tahoe National Forest, California · August 27, 2022
Two classic Sierra Crest summits above Donner Pass in one great day — Castle Peak's rocky high point and Basin Peak's more distant summit along the same ridgeline, with a short scramble right at the top that turned out tougher than it looked from below.
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13,120 ft · Yosemite National Park, California · July 24, 2022
The highest peak in Yosemite National Park, done in a single brutal day — nearly 30 miles round trip, a crossing of the last remaining glacier in the park, and a summit register placed by the Sierra Club in 1935.
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8,590 ft · Lakes Basin area, Tahoe & Plumas National Forests, Sierra County, California · July 1, 2022
A three-peak day in the Lakes Basin — Sierra Buttes, Mount Elwell with its views of Long Lake, and Haskell Peak — each from its own separate trailhead, driving between them.
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9,307 ft · Desolation Wilderness, Crystal Range, El Dorado County, California (Tahoe Ogul Peak List) · June 26, 2022
The full northern Crystal Range traverse in one push — Tells, McConnell, Silver, and Red Peak, almost entirely off-trail, linked together along a long, exposed ridgeline.
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8,949 ft · Tahoe National Forest, near Donner Pass, California (Tahoe Ogul Peak List) · June 19, 2022
A long, gorgeous ridge walk on the PCT out of Donner Pass, bagging two Tahoe Ogul peaks — Anderson Peak and Tinker Knob — with a stop at the historic Benson Hut along the way.
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8,014 ft · Tahoe National Forest, Placer County, California (Tahoe Ogul Peak List) · June 11, 2022
A remote, mostly trail-less summit above the American River Canyon on the Tahoe Ogul Peak List — 18 miles, 11 of them off-trail, a bear cub in a meadow, and a rattlesnake I nearly stepped on.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · May 28, 2022
Four Diablo summits in one long loop — North Peak, the main summit, Eagle Peak, and Mount Olympia — connecting Morgan Territory Road to Marsh Creek Road and back, 24.2 miles and nearly 7,900 feet of gain.
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8,703 ft · Desolation Wilderness, Eldorado National Forest, near Emerald Bay, California · May 21, 2022
One of the best short, steep payoffs in the whole Tahoe Basin — Granite Lake still iced over in May, then a 360-degree summit looking straight down on Emerald Bay, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake, and Tahoe itself.
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3,709 ft · Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, California · May 14, 2022
A gleaming white limestone summit above the Little Sur River that I could see from Post Summit and Manuel Peak — and that turned out to be just as tough to earn.
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3,456 ft · Ventana Wilderness, Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, California · April 17, 2022
Two summits above the Big Sur coast with some of the best ocean views anywhere — and some of the worst brush I've ever had to fight through to get them.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · April 2, 2022
All six Diablo summits again, but this time with Black Point tacked on for good measure — 26 miles and 7,200 feet of gain, easily the hardest version of this loop I've done.
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10,776 ft · Mount Rose Wilderness, Carson Range, Nevada · September 25, 2021
Not to be confused with California's Rose Peak — this one's an extinct volcano above Reno and Lake Tahoe, the third-highest summit in the Tahoe Basin.
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12,446 ft · Inyo National Forest / Hoover Wilderness, on the Yosemite National Park boundary, California · August 21, 2021
A beautiful, exposed summit right on the Yosemite boundary, and a lesson learned the hard way: bring gloves no matter the season, because 12,446 feet in a stiff wind will freeze your hands solid even in August.
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11,459 ft · Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, near Sonora Pass, California · August 14, 2021
Two 11,000-foot summits above Sonora Pass in one day — an easy walk-up to Sonora Peak followed by a much rougher ridge traverse north to Stanislaus Peak's loose, rocky high point.
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3,216 ft · Henry W. Coe State Park, near Morgan Hill, California · August 8, 2021
The high point of California's largest state park, reached by dropping into and climbing back out of canyon after canyon — including a legendarily steep shortcut up to Blue Ridge — under hazy, smoke-tinted August skies.
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11,569 ft · Emigrant Wilderness, near Sonora Pass, California · July 31, 2021
The high point of the Emigrant Wilderness, reached via the PCT south of Sonora Pass — a long day through volcanic terrain past a string of alpine lakes, capped by a summit register stuffed in a peanut butter jar.
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8,859 ft · Cucamonga Wilderness, San Bernardino National Forest, California · July 25, 2021
One of the highest peaks in the San Gabriels, reached via Icehouse Canyon — a long, steady grind that ends with the Inland Empire spread out below in the haze.
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9,006 ft · Granite Chief Wilderness, above Squaw Valley (Palisades Tahoe), California · July 3, 2021
Three summits off one ridge above Squaw Valley — Granite Chief, Needle Peak, and Lyon Peak — and finally a clean climb of Granite Chief after getting turned back by snow the year before.
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10,063 ft · Carson Pass, Alpine County, California · June 19, 2021
The spot where Frémont and Preuss may have gotten the first-ever look at Lake Tahoe in 1844 — two summits, one long ridge, and a Class 3 scramble to close it out.
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9,307 ft · Desolation Wilderness, El Dorado County, California · June 12, 2021
The high point of the Crystal Range's northern "Ogul" peaks — a long approach past a glass-clear lake, then straight off-trail up talus to the summit.
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9,975 ft · Desolation Wilderness, California · June 5, 2021
The Crystal Range's other two giants, right next to Pyramid Peak — a genuine off-trail scramble to bag both in a single brutal, beautiful day.
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3,486 ft · Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, Santa Clara County, California · May 16, 2021
A nice, easy hike to one of the most recognizable summits in the South Bay — good views of the whole area from the top of an old Cold War radar station.
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7,542 ft · Yosemite National Park, California · May 10, 2021
Two rewards in one very long day from the Valley floor: a straight look down the tallest waterfall in North America, then a dead-on stare at Half Dome from clear across the canyon.
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3,817 ft · Ohlone Wilderness, Alameda County, California · April 30, 2016
The very first trip out to Rose Peak — the highest publicly accessible peak in Alameda County, reached the long way from the Livermore side of Del Valle Regional Park.
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3,557 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · October 28, 2017
A two-summit day out of the free Regency Drive trailhead on Diablo's north side — Mount Olympia first, then on to North Peak, without ever touching the main summit.
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2,369 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · January 6, 2018
A straightforward out-and-back to Eagle Peak's narrow summit ridge — no multi-peak loop, just a clean winter climb and back down through Mitchell Canyon.
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2,720 ft · Pinnacles National Park, California · November 21, 2020
The tallest of the High Peaks — a short hike made unforgettable by ladder-like rock stairs bolted straight into the spires.
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1,791 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · October 17, 2020
A quieter, single-summit day out to Black Point — a rust-colored, chaparral-covered high point on the north side of the park with 360-degree views over the Delta and beyond.
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12,327 ft · Hoover Wilderness, near Yosemite's eastern border, California · October 2, 2020
One of my first real off-trail peaks — remote, rocky, and I didn't see another hiker all day.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · July 3, 2020
The classic Diablo loop plus a seventh, off-trail summit — Mitchell Rock, Twin Peaks, Eagle Peak, Ransom Point, Mount Diablo, North Peak, and Mount Olympia, 15 miles and a serious fight through manzanita to tag Ransom.
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1,688 ft · Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, Alameda County, California · February 2020
A green, rolling winter hike above Sunol Wilderness, up onto upper Maguire Peak looking down over its lower namesake and the folded hills beyond.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · August 3, 2019
A beautiful August morning to the summit of Mount Diablo — 13.6 miles round trip, with a distant smoke plume visible from the top, a reminder of how dry the hills get by late summer. Also done since as a trail run straight up the Summit Trail, noted below.
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9,271 ft · Mount Rose Wilderness, Nevada · October 5, 2019
Not the famous one — a quieter Nevada high point looking out over the entirety of Lake Tahoe.
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10,936 ft · Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, California · September 21, 2019
The peak that humbled me — failed my first attempt after running out of water at the false summit, came back prepared, and made it.
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2,946 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · February 3, 2018
A solo trip up one of Diablo's toughest short climbs — no loop, no other summits, just Mount Olympia there and back.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · January 20, 2018
The full Six Peaks loop with a scenic detour tacked on — a stop at the seasonal waterfalls on the Falls Trail through Donner Canyon before continuing on to bag all six summits.
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10,881 ft · Carson Range, Lake Tahoe Basin, California · September 3, 2016
A training hike before Whitney — the tallest peak in the Tahoe Basin, with the best lake view of any summit around.
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3,849 ft · Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County, California · May 22, 2016
The hike that started it all on this mountain — Eagle Peak first, then straight up to Diablo's summit, out of Mitchell Canyon.
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