Real Stories from the Sierra
Welcome to Trail Tested—your go-to destination for real-world hiking and backpacking experiences across the Sierra Nevada. This page brings together all our firsthand adventure stories, written after boots hit the dirt and gear is put to the test. From family day hikes and waterfall treks to multi-day backcountry loops, each post offers practical tips, scenic highlights, and honest gear insights from the trail. Whether you’re planning your next trip or just love reliving the adventure, this is where the Sierra Rec community shares what it truly feels like out there.
Trail Tested Stories
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Marmot AirFleece Review: The Layer I Didn’t Know I Needed in the PNW
For years in the Sierra Nevada, a fleece this warm was a specialized piece of gear for me. I might have carried one while snowshoeing, camping in colder conditions or heading into the mountains when the forecast clearly called for another layer. It was not something I automatically placed in my pack for every spring…
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Marmot Trailway Pants Review: From PNW Mud to the Yosemite Backcountry
My first real outing in the Marmot Trailway hiking pants began on a rainy spring morning near Bellingham, Washington. We headed to Blanchard State Forest for a seven-mile loop connecting Lily and Lizard lakes. It is a classic Pacific Northwest hike: a casual forest climb, two hidden lakes and trails that remain in good condition…
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Marmot Wraptor 30 Review: Zipper-Free Comfort Put to the Test
A Trail Tested Gear Review by Sierra Rec Staff The Marmot Wraptor 30 promises to eliminate one of the most irritating parts of sleeping in a traditional mummy bag: the zipper. Instead of sealing you inside with a long side zipper, the Wraptor uses overlapping flaps, snaps and a low-profile magnetic closure to create a…
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Matador 45L Global Travel Pack Review: Crisscrossing the West
By Charlie Pankey The Best Travel Backpack I’ve Ever Owned I’m 56 years old, and for most of my life my travel strategy could best be described as… a duffel bag. Throw everything inside, zip it shut, and hope I remembered socks. If you asked my wife to describe my packing style, she’d probably refer…
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Sherwin’s Trail Network: Mammoth’s New High Desert Playground Opens
Mammoth Lakes, CA — July 2025 | This weekend, the Mammoth Lakes community marks a milestone long in the making: the official opening of the Sherwin Trails Recreation Area, a vision nurtured since 2009 and now brought to life with a new paved trailhead, restrooms, and the first of many miles of planned trails at…
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Highland Lakes Dispersed Camping & Gardner Meadow Loop Hike
Words & Photos by Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine Sponsored by Mountain House, EXPED, and Nestout Summer is finally here, and with it comes our favorite way to explore the Sierra: boondocking adventures that get us closer to trailheads, earlier on the trail, and deeper into the wild. This past weekend, we kicked off…
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Trail-Tested: Lake Almanor Recreation Trail
Ride, Paddle, and Savor the West Shore By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine If you’re searching for a place to slow down, breathe in the high mountain air, and reconnect with the simple joys of outdoor travel, Lake Almanor’s western shore is waiting. Anchored by one of the most scenic and accessible trails in…
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Hiking to Leavitt Lake: A Hidden Sierra Adventure off Sonora Pass
By Charlie Pankey, Sierra Rec Magazine Escape the crowds and experience one of the Eastern Sierra’s most rewarding early-season alpine hikes. Hiding just off Highway 108, Leavitt Lake is a rugged, high-elevation gem near the summit of Sonora Pass that offers solitude, snowmelt waterfalls, and glacier-fed beauty just as the Sierra awakens in late spring.…
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Chasing Waterfalls on Deer Creek: A Trail Experience Through Canyon Gorges, Fish Ladders, and Spring Runoff Magic
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine There’s something ancient about the sound of a fast-moving creek echoing through a canyon. It’s a sound that draws you in—pulls you toward mystery, motion, and a little bit of magic. On a warm spring morning just west of Chester, California, I found myself exploring that sound along…
Field Tested Gear
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Gear Review: XShot Sport GoPro Pole
XShot Sport Delivers Sleek and Strong Extended Pole for GoPro and Phone Gear Review Sierra REC – The power of the action shot has transformed the media we consume and the expectations in which our devices work for us in capturing that one great image that will be shared or liked by all. So when I…
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New Fuel 100 Electro Bites Baked Treat A Unique Alternative for Endurance Training
Gear Review Sierra Rec, December 2015 – Are you part of that elite athlete crowd that looks at a 50-mile run and says let’s do it? Or Maybe your part of that “training to be elite” cycling group that is set to take on the Death Ride in High Sierra or just loves to feel…
