Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!  On a regular basis, we’ll feature a favorite photo or two from a friend in the National Park community. Are you a National Park fan with a photo favorite you think would be great for this series? Send me a private message through the contact section of this blog!

About these photos»

• Place: These photos were taken along the John Muir Trail in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, a pair of contiguous national parks in California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains.
• Date: September 2014 – wow, time flies! It’s a testament to the spectacular nature of this trip that I still consider it one of my most prized national park experiences.
• Photo Credit: Alissa (Exploring Wild)
• Why they are some of my favorites: Besides being absolutely stunning and delightfully wild, the John Muir Trail was my first real taste of long distance backpacking. In many ways it was the trip that kicked off the obsession that has followed. I can still taste the excitement of that time when I look at these photos and remember the sunny days, chilly nights, endless views, and wind-swept granite basins.The marmot photo, in particular, brings back dramatic memories! After carrying all our food for eight days, while preparing our very last dinner of the trip, we turned our backs for one brief second and this guy pounced! He knocked our pot to the ground but thankfully, given our extra-large hiker appetites, the chili mac ‘n cheese did not spill. He was bold enough to return and pose for this photo!

  

Meet Alissa from Exploring Wild»

My name is Alissa and I am in love with outdoor adventure and thoughtful travel. My favorite way to explore the National Parks, and pretty much anywhere else, is under my own steam by foot or bicycle. I share what I’ve learned along the way at my website, Exploring Wild. —Written by Alissa from Exploring Wild

Where can we find Exploring Wild?

• Website: https://exploringwild.com/