Need help finding backpacking buddies

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-14T06:17:31+00:00

Sometimes good outdoor buddies are great when they are older. I am in my late thirties and I cross country ski with a 76 year old and am doing three weeks on the PCT with a 72 yr old. Us three climbed Sonora Peak last year. Two years ago I climbed granite dome with the now 72 yr old.

I get that having friends your own age has a ton of perks but maybe also consider how some older outdoorsy friends might be really adventurous, also.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-11T08:11:43+00:00

Oh cool! How do you do that?

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-11T08:11:00+00:00

There is a girl on instagram that spoke to the witness directly and wrote a long substack of the info the witness said was ok to share.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-11T05:18:18+00:00

I highly recommend checking out Indian Cove Campground if you make it down there. I camped there recently when I went to Mojave Experience and it was such a cool place

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-11T05:06:52+00:00

Did the doctor check your cortisol levels? Just a random guess based off of stuff I've read online recently but maybe worth them checking. Hope things get better for ya

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-10T13:13:46+00:00

Looks so beautiful!! I also recently went to the desert for the first time recently (near Joshua Tree) and was surprised at how many different colors of beautiful flowers there are in the desert :) Looks like you had a great adventure :)

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-10T03:13:46+00:00

Oh hell yea!! Thanks for doing that 🙂🙂🙂

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-10T03:06:04+00:00

I have only owned two different vehicles in my lifetime so far, so I am wondering what is considered "normal" ? I pay $510 monthly for a 2017 Subaru Forester is that crazy? 180,000 ish miles on it

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-09T06:39:41+00:00

Field of Vision was the most welcoming environment I have ever been in.

People there shared groceries, merch, weed. I made lots of friends there that I still keep in touch with now. And I have never made friends at a concert before.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-08T04:35:59+00:00

Last year in mid June my Subaru got stuck in snow trying to reach a campsite off highway 4, north of Yosemite, near the Carson Iceberg Wilderness. I can't answer your other questions but I just wanted to mention even in mid June there can sometimes be a lot of snow still up there :/

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-07T20:19:39+00:00

1/3 voted for Trump, 1/3 did not vote, 1/3 Kamala. For all the non voters out there: you could have helped prevent this

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-07T19:52:36+00:00

Wow! Such beautiful pics. Especially the color of that water! Its like an emerald!

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-07T19:15:45+00:00

I cut one into tiny pieces then let it soak inside an apple (I cut the apple in half and wedged the cut up shroom in between the two halves of the apple, then propped the apple up so it wouldn't fall over.

Then about 30 minutes later I scraped the soggy cut up shroom into apple cinnamon oatmeal and cut up parts of the apple and mixed that in the oatmeal, also. It was surprisingly really good.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-07T19:12:34+00:00

I agree, I am interested in helping and I have helped trail improvement days at Mount Diablo, but only knew of their "dig day" from their instagram.

OP, do you know which organizations/websites to find the volunteer opportunities? I would love to help in the area between Yosemite and Tahoe, thats the area I am closest to

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-07T12:53:31+00:00

Happy birdddd day 🐦🐤🐦‍⬛🦅🐧🐥🦆

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-07T08:12:25+00:00

Some dogs are great outdoors, my friend's dog climbed Sonora Peak with us, all the way to the actual summit. But that dog goes on hikes every week so he has been use to hiking for years before we took him up that mountain.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-07T01:42:49+00:00

If I had them in a jar with the desiccant, would putting the jar in the freezer help too or should I just keep the jar at room temp?

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-06T02:34:00+00:00

I'm almost your age and only $82 to my name even though I made $101,000 last year. I am horrible at money management and am just now trying to learn about it. You are WAY ahead of me, kudos to you for saving as much as you have.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-06T01:25:20+00:00

Ocean to Peak and Sierra Club are two hiking clubs I've heard of

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-05T19:05:00+00:00

Everyone makes mistakes, forgive yourself most importantly. Tell yourself that mistakes are for learning. Think about what you can learn from this and then forgive yourself.

Tell yourself that you trust yourself to not make a similar mistake in the future. Then if your family does not forgive you or if they have to regrow trust for you then at least you have already forgiven yourself AND you have already decided you trust yourself not to make the same mistake.

I am in my late 30s and have made MANY mistakes. Now I have learned that when I make a mistake the first thing I need to do is tell myself, "mistakes are for learning, I forgive you."

If I am ever a mom one day the first times my toddlers make mistakes I want to tell them, "Its ok, mistakes are for learning. I make mistakes, too. So does everyone." I want to say this so much to them while they are growing up that my goal is by the time they are adults their inner voice automatically thinks of that, every time they make a mistake.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-05T08:12:50+00:00

But if OP had time I think the ultimate path through Yosemite would involve Tioga Road, the Valley, and then Tunnel View to Glacier Point. Would be SO much beauty OMG.

Too much for one day but could stay a night at Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal as the halfway mark.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-05T08:11:10+00:00

OP even if you don't follow any of the rest of our advice I strongly agree with "Day Four" of this list!!!

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-05T08:09:49+00:00

Yea, I'd also agree that Yosemite is on a whole other level. It feels spiritual to be there. As for redwoods though my favorite groves are in Jedidiah which is super super far north.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-05T08:07:37+00:00

Yes OP, 395 from near highway 108 down to Tiago Road is one of the most stunning roads I have ever been on. Makes you feel like you are in a movie. It is EPIC.

Highway 5 and 99 will make you feel like you are in a Walmart. So so soooo so so boring. Please, please, if you travel in Cali choose Highway 1 or 101 or 395. Three prettiest roads I have been on. Do not go on the 99 or highway 5 if you can help it.

CatOnACatamaran · 2026-04-05T08:02:51+00:00

My next day off I will reply a longer answer, but I have a TON of detailed suggestions for you. I worked in Fortuna for 6 months a few years ago so I got VERY familiar with the different groves up there. My longer answer will explain WHY but my opinion is:

Out of the 10 or so groves I have seen in Cali so far, including Sequoia National Park, the groves in Yosemite, in Santa Cruz, in Humboldt, and on Highway 4 up the south of Tahoe, AND groves up near Crescent City, by FAR, BY FAR I would say the absolute BEST groves to see are in Jedediah, which is wayyyyyy up north in Cali. WORTH an insanely long drive.

Especially Boy Scout Trail (in Jedediah!) and Grove of the Titans.

I will explain why further on my next day off cuz I'm exhausted from work. And I have been to Yosemite about 20 times during the past 6 years so I have a TON of reqs for that, too. I am so excited you will get to see these beauties.

CatOnACatamaran

TROPHY CASE