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Desert Dream
Daylight turned to dusk and then darkness while I pedaled my bike beside the busy road. Cars and trucks sped by me on the 65-mph route, every one making me cringe, as Highway 62’s narrow shoulder got...
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‘Dark Wizard’ profiles Yosemite’s late great daredevil
Most people will never try rock climbing, much less big wall climbs like El Capitan, and especially not speed climbing that greatly increases risk. Fewer still would ever consider free soloing, which...
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Savor your Sierra sojourn
Backpackers will face multiple stream and river crossings. Legions of John Muir Trail hikers have experienced a mountain-sized learning curve, including me. Permitting, route planning, food and...
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Hike through history in Sequoia National Park
Four teenagers pause to catch their breath as they approach Mount Whitney. Flickering lights moved up the dark slope under a black and starry sky. We hurried to join them. Our objective was the summit...
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Reno’s Mike Krukow, former Giants pitcher, recalls his favorite game
Mike Krukow won the hearts of Giants fans as both a player and a broadcaster. Mike Krukow is about to “grab some pine.” A San Francisco starting pitcher from 1983-1989, “Kruk” has broadcast Giants...
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Kings Canyon provides peaks, passes and hunger pangs
Hikers carefully cross the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. An early-season hike after a big winter means high water in the river crossings. That made me worry about my German shepherd Gracie, who...
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Famed trek delivers “sense of awe” in Yosemite
Half Dome attracts more climbers than any other mountain in Yosemite. Keep your footing on the steep and slippery granite. Fight for breath in the thin air. Navigate a tight passage packed with hikers...
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Cycling for a cause
Thousands of cyclists labored to climb in the High Sierra’s thin air. Lungs and thighs burned as the grade steepened near the 7,145-foot Spooner Summit. Fatigue, dizziness, and cramps afflicted the...
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Plan and prepare for successful Half Dome climb
A close view of Half Dome reveals the face of “Tis-si-ak.” Josiah Whitney declared the summit “perfectly inaccessible” in 1869. If he only knew. Today Half Dome attracts up to 50,000 climbers per year...
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NPS rife with conflicts in Trump era
Pres. Trump’s management of the National Park Service has alarmed critics. America’s 433 national parks, monuments and sites evoke images of scenic mountains, forests, waterfalls and peaceful family...
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Visit Yosemite soon for best experience
Yosemite waterfalls like Vernal Fall should reach peak volume early in 2026. Photo by Matt Johanson Those considering a trip to Yosemite National Park this year may want to pack up and go soon....
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April storm extends ski season after dry winter
Hikers stroll beside a melting snowcave at Lake Alpine in Alpine County. Photo Matt Johanson A welcome snowstorm during the April 11-12 weekend dropped up to 3.5 feet of snow on the High Sierra,...
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Explore caves and history at Lava Beds National Monument
Spelunkers explore a passage of Hopkins Chocolate Cave. Photo Matt Johanson A long tunnel of sharp lava stalagmites stretched out just a few feet beneath a low ceiling of jagged stalactites....
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Binge-worthy films bring adventure to winter nights
Snowboarding champion Kimmy Fasani stars in “Butterfly in a Blizzard.” A once-prolific climber goes “toe to toe with his granite foe” in Yosemite. A champion snowboarder and new mom strives to balance...
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Winter Coat and Restoration Suit Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove
Photos by Matt Johanson for The Sierra Nevada Ally. Giant sequoias, always majestic and impressive, appear even more so beneath a coat of snow. When I toured Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park...
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Writing a guidebook pays off, really
Zach Padlo enjoys a dip in Benson Lake. Photo courtesy Matt Johanson A royalty statement that arrives in my mailbox twice a year always makes me smile, but not for the reasons others might expect....
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Inspiring California Climber Lived His Dream in 2025
Climber Mike Tagg celebrates reaching the summit of Starlight Peak, one of California’s tallest mountains. Ascending California’s 15 highest peaks marks a great achievement for anybody, but it was...
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Native Athlete Runs to Heal in New Film
Both Frank Quinn and his great grandson tested themselves in the Nevada desert. The Ally’s reporting on culture and community helps support better understanding and stronger communities built on...
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Trevor Thomas: “I got my life back”
Trevor Thomas and Lulu take a break on a Bay Area trail. Image courtesy of Matt Johanson Reaching the summit of Mount Elbert requires 4,000 feet of elevation gain in the thin air atop Colorado’s...
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“Hike Your Hike”
Tunnel Falls and other sights of Columbia River Gorge require a short PCT detour. Photo Matt Johanson / Sierra Nevada Ally “Hike your hike,” they say on the Pacific Crest Trail. There’s no one right...
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