Drew Robinson 
Mt. Baldy via the Ski Hut Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Southern California. The Ski Hut Trail is also known as the Baldy Bowl Trail, which should not be confused with the Baldy Bowl mountaineering route. This hike begins at the 6160ft trailhead of Manker Flats and gains 4100ft of elevation in 4 miles to the 10,064 summit of Mt. Baldy.
Black Mountain in Tehachapi is officially referred to as Black Mountain #3 to differentiate it from the other Black Mountains here in California. Standing tall at 5686ft, the summit of Black Mountain provides a bird’s eye view of Tehachapi and the surrounding area.
Mt. Baden Powell is a 9,407ft peak that can be accessed via an 8 mile roundtrip hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. The mountain is named after Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the World Scouting Movement (Boy Scouts). Mt Baden Powell is one of the largest peaks in the San Gabriel Range, and is the highest peak outside of the Mt. San Antonio massif.
Alabama Hills is a recreation area made up of scenic rocks and hills located in the Owen’s Valley. Sitting on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Alabama Hills has some of the most impressive low-elevation views a visitor can hope to see of Mt. Whitney and it’s surrounding peaks. In this post I’ll include instructions for this hike and information on camping at Alabama Hills, along with maps and photos.
The Salkantay Trek begins south of Machu Picchu in the town of Soraypampa at 12,800ft. Hikers cross over the 15,177ft Salkantay Pass on day one, and then continue for 40 miles of mostly downhill trails on their way to Machu Picchu. In this guide, I’ll provide all of the information a traveler will need to enjoy a hike of the Salkantay Trek with a final day at Machu Picchu.
The Ausangate Trek is a 43 mile backpacking trip that runs through one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Andes. Starting at 12,000ft and reaching high passes close to 17,000ft, the Ausangate Trek reaches some seriously high elevations. Along the way, you’ll pass by small villages, glacial lakes, towering snow capped peaks, and herds of alpacas. The Ausangate Trek is an adventure of a life time, and I’ll be covering all of the details in this guide.
When the first iterations of the iPhone were released, the camera performance left a lot to be desired. With the latest version of the iPhone 7, there aren’t too many situations that leave me wishing I had packed my Sony a6000. I’ve had my iPhone 7 since it was released in 2016. Over the past few months, I’ve been able to test it in full and will share my experience in this review.
The Sony 16mm f/2.8 is a lens that’s all about compromise. There’s a lot to love about this 3.5oz pancake lens that can turn a Sony mirrorless camera into a pocketable hiking and travel dynamo. At only .8″ in length, only the Sony 20mm comes close as a pancake lens option for a Sony a6000/6300/6500. The best part about the Sony 16mm, is that it only costs $250.
Catalina Island is located 30 miles from coast of Southern California, making it a great option for a spectacular weekend getaway. What many visitors don’t know is that Catalina has a network of trails that cover the 22 mile long island. Here are 20 photos from hikes I’ve done that I hope will make you want to get out and enjoy the trails of Catalina Island!
The Huntington is a private, non-profit institution that was founded by Henry Huntington in 1919. During his life, he put together one of the world’s finest research libraries, accumulated a world renown art collection, and cultivated a botanical garden with plants coming from geographic regions all over the world. In this guide, I hope to provide an overview of The Huntington and a visiting plan for those hoping to see as much as possible in one day.