My friends at Santa Barbara Adventure Company reached out with an amazing opportunity to visit the island and check out their Adventures Sea Cave Kayaking Tour. I’ve been kayaking a few times, but never on the Channel Islands, and have never explored sea caves.
The minute I stopped waiting for others to join me on trips was the day I fell in love with solo traveling, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Unfortunately, the number one thing that stops women the most from traveling solo is the sence of not feeling safe or capable of doing things alone. Imagine living your life waiting for others? I’ve gathered 10 of my favorite simple and secure saftey tips for solo female travel.
Lake Dorothy, a high alpine lake in the Eastern Sierra, is accessible via a 5.8-mile trail starting at Convict Lake. Located in Inyo National Forest, the lake is best visited between May and October. However, a major creek crossing before Mildred Lake is not recommended as of December 2023. Wilderness permits are required for backpacking.
In late December, I embarked on a solo backpacking trip in Joshua Tree National Park, tackling the 12-mile Stubbe Springs Loop trail. Although carrying a heavy pack with limited water, the well-maintained trail offered diverse desert views. The detour to Fan Canyon was a highlight not to be missed. The experience was a fitting end to the year.
After completing the Colorado Trail, I explored the Great Sand Dunes, home to North America’s tallest sand dune at 750 feet. Despite a short visit, I plan to return for sunrise. Nearby Zapata Falls Campground offers convenient camping. The park offers activities like sandboarding, hiking, and stargazing, best enjoyed in spring or fall. Remember water, sunscreen, and proper attire.
The Blue Lakes Trail in Ridgway, CO offers a moderately challenging 8.7-mile round-trip hike with 3 alpine lakes: Lower, Middle, and Upper. Despite some stream crossings, the non-technical trail is well-maintained. The mid-September hike, featuring moody weather and transitioning wildflowers, offered a serene experience. Despite unideal weather, the stunning lakes made for a memorable day hike.
Vetter Mountain, located in Angeles National Forest, CA, is a trail that offers a 3.8-mile round-trip hike to an active fire lookout, named after a dedicated forest ranger, Victor P. Vetter. The hike is moderate and requires at least 2 liters of water due to no water access on the trail. The trail is best navigated by taking the fire road to the top from Charlton Flat Picnic Area, offering rest stops and picnic areas along the way.
The Lamarck Lakes trail is a 4.6-mile round-trip located near Bishop, CA in the Eastern Sierra. Starting from North Lake Campground, it gains 1,564ft in elevation and crosses Lamarck Creek twice. The hike to Upper Lamarck Lake from Lower Lamarck Lake is just over half a mile. A backpacking wilderness permit is required.
The Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park offers amazing views of three amazing alpine lakes: Heather, Emerald and Pear Lakes. The trail is popular for day-hiking, but I would always recommend an overnight trip whenever possible.
It’s the last week on the Colorado Trail and we’re not finishing with ANY dry weather in the forecast. We’re leaving Lake City and hiking with a small group. I packed out some Fireball to carry to the end, and officially accepted the trail name.
I knew what I was getting myself into when I committed to the Colorado Trail but I didn’t think the trail would steal my heart the way it did, I blame the San Juans.
Trip Date: August 23-29, 2023 Location: Tennessee Pass to Boss Lake Reservior CT Mile: 142.9 – 235.4 It’s the first day back on the trail after a nero in Leadville. A ‘nero’ is hiking near zero miles for the entire day. Back at Tennessee Pass, we’d make our way to Twin Lakes where we’d confirm …
Mentally I starting to compare my JMT journey to my current Colorado Trail thru hike.
To be completely honest, this national park was not on my radar as I made my way to Colorado to thru hike the CT this summer, but when I drove by a sign for Black Canyon of the Gunnison I knew I had to make a quick stop- just to check it out!
I begin my thru-hike mid-July going Southbound to Durango. Here is everything I am packing for my Colorado Trail thru-hike.
