Our main goal on this cross-country trip was to be comfortable and not rush. This trip would be a true test of our Wayfarer Van and our 9 month old puppy. We decided to divide our 27 hour trip into three 9-hour days with plenty of stops and walks along the way. We departed home on May 25. We eased in to our journey with a pitstop in Chicago on the eve of my sister’s baby shower. We continued our first day of driving for a two night stay at a friend’s house just outside Sauk City on the…
Young Lakes offers an “easy” escape into the Yosemite backcountry and the high sierra wonderland. Young Lakes is located off of Tiago Road just north of the Tuolumne Meadows. Overnight parking and bear boxes are located on the road near Lembert Dome. Overnight parking is prohibited in the Lembert Dome lot. Starting elevation: 8,584 feet Elevation at Young Lakes, lower lake: 9,880 feet Total elevation gain: 1,460 feet Total miles: 13.8 miles including Dog Lake spur The trail climbed steadily through lodgepole pines with views of the white granite of Lembert Dome skirting the edge of the trail to the…
Eights hours is the amount of time it takes to cross the border into the Green Mountain State (Vermont) from our home in Ohio. Crossing the Vermont border always feels something like a mother’s hug. Things get a little quieter. There are no billboards that line the highway. The distractions & stimulation are less. This would make our second annual trip to Vermont in the fall. We left early Saturday and arrived as the sun was setting. The Bennington Welcoming Center was a nice surprise as our sweet, old dog, Grace, was getting restless from the long car ride. After…
Cranberry Wilderness Night 1, 6/30 Location: Cranberry Campground (Outside Richwood, WV) Directions: Forest Rd 101 to 76 Site: 51 Fee: $10/ per night Site 51 is located near the lavatory and the Cranberry River is across the road. The Cranberry Wilderness area is only a few hundred feet away and there is a large lot for backcountry camping. If you follow rd. 76 out the opposite direction there are a number of river site between Big Rock and Cranberry Campground. The Cranberry Campground has a large number of RVs. It does not feel off the grid. Night 2, 7/1 Location:…
