Yosemite, Travel, and The Landmark Project on This weeks Podcast
There’s a moment—and I don’t know exactly when it happens—but if you’ve spent any real time in a place like Yosemite National Park, you know it.
It’s that feeling when you’re leaving… and you’re already thinking about coming back.
That’s really where this conversation with Matt Moreau started.
Not with gear. Not with business. Just that simple idea—why do some places stick with us like that?
Matt is the founder of The Landmark Project, but what stood out to me right away wasn’t the brand. It was the fact that he’s one of those guys who built something out of the same thing most of us feel… just wanting to be outside more.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
Watch on YouTube:
You Can’t Stay Away from Places Like Yosemite
We got into Yosemite pretty quick—because honestly, it always comes up when talking the Best National Parks in conversation.
And Matt said something that hit pretty close to home:
“You can spend a week there and never get tired of it… and when you’re leaving, you still pull over one last time.”
That’s it right there.
I’ve done it. More times than I can count.
You’re packed up, you’ve already seen everything you came to see, maybe you’ve been out for a few days in the backcountry… and still, you’re pulling over at one more turnout. One more look. Just trying to hold onto it a little longer.
For me, that’s usually somewhere around Tenaya Lake. I don’t even care if it’s out of the way. I’ll drive back into the park just to sit there for a few minutes.
And I think that’s where Yosemite changes for people.
It stops being a checklist… and starts becoming a place you return to.
👉 If you’re planning your first or next trip, start here: Yosemite Travel Guide
A Brand That Started the Same Way We All Do
Matt’s story isn’t some big startup launch.
It’s honestly closer to how a lot of us approach the outdoors.
“I was just designing shirts for places we loved… and giving them to friends.”
That’s it.
No grand strategy. No marketing plan. Just making something that meant something to him.
And over time, it grew. Shops picked it up. Parks picked it up. Now you’ll find The Landmark Project in stores all over the country.
But the part I kept coming back to is that it never really lost that original intent—just making something that reflects the places you care about.
👉 You can check them out here: https://thelandmarkproject.com
That First Backpacking Trip (We’ve All Been There)
This might’ve been my favorite part of the whole conversation.
Because it was real.
No polished “outdoor expert” story—just the truth about starting out.
“I think I brought a cast iron pan… wore jeans on a 60-mile trip…”
And yeah… we’ve all done some version of that.
Overpacked. Underprepared. Brought things we thought we needed and forgot things we actually did.
I’ve seen people on trail with 70-pound packs, full gallon jugs of water strapped on like they’re heading into the desert.
But that’s part of it.
That first trip—whether it’s in Yosemite, the Sierra, or anywhere else—that’s where it starts. That’s where you figure it out.
Yosemite Isn’t Just the Valley
We talked a lot about Yosemite—but not in the way most guides do.
Not just:
- Half Dome
- Yosemite Falls
- The Valley loop
It was more about what happens after that.
When you start heading up into:
- Tuolumne Meadows
- The lakes
- The quieter trails
That’s where Yosemite opens up.
For me, that’s always been the difference. The first time you go, you see Yosemite.
The second, third, tenth time… you start experiencing it.
If You Can’t Get a Permit… Look Next Door
This is something I wish more people understood.
And Matt said it pretty simply:
“If you can’t get that permit… just look next door.”
He’s talking about national forests.
And out here in the Sierra, that’s everything.
Some of the best days I’ve had outdoors weren’t in a national park at all. They were:
- Forest trails
- Alpine lakes off lesser-known routes
- Places without signage, without crowds
Same mountains. Same views. Completely different experience.
Designing Around Memory, Not Just Places
What I didn’t expect going into this conversation was how much of Matt’s work is tied to memory.
Not just places—but how those places feel.
“What I want people to feel… is that memory of being there.”
And that’s something I think a lot of Sierra travelers connect with.
It’s not just:
- The lake
- The trail
- The summit
It’s what happened there. Who you were with. What it felt like in that moment.
That’s the stuff that sticks.
Giving Back to the Places We Use
We closed out part of the conversation talking about something that’s becoming more important every year—responsibility.
The Landmark Project works with:
- 1% for the Planet
- Smokey Bear wildfire prevention
- Conservation-focused partnerships
“We just wanted to be part of the solution…”
That line stuck with me.
Because if you spend enough time in places like Yosemite—or anywhere in the Sierra—you start to see the pressure.
More people. More impact. More need to take care of it.
If you would like to try out the Landmark Projects gear, they have given our readers a special 15% off discount. Just add the code SIERRAREC15 at checkout for applied discount to your entire order.
A Few Quick Hits to Close It Out
We wrapped the episode with a few lighter questions, but they say a lot:
- Park he’d go back to right now: Grand Teton
- Post-hike food: Pizza (and yeah… Yosemite pizza counts)
- Must-have gear: A real first aid kit (not the one I usually throw in last minute)
Final Thought
You don’t need a perfect itinerary to start.
You don’t need the best gear.
Most of the time, you just need that first trip.
Because once you find a place that sticks with you… you’re probably not staying away.
