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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Cathedral Lakes Backpacking Guide: Upper vs Lower Lake Experience
Cathedral Lakes Trail Guide: Yosemite’s High Sierra Icon Cathedral Lakes is one of those hikes that almost everyone does in Yosemite High country—and almost everyone experiences differently. This is the hike that I recommend to friends that want to experience Yosemite, but might not want a full back country commitment. This was my first hike…
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Winter Wanderings: Hiking the Sierra Canyon Trail in Genoa
As snowstorms swirled across the Sierra Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin last Saturday, I felt the familiar pull to lace up my boots and hit the trail. Staying close to home in the Carson Valley, my longtime hiking buddy, Tom, and I decided to explore the Sierra Canyon section of the Genoa Trail System.…
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Celebrating the New Sawtooth Loop Trail in Truckee
Truckee Ca. – Last night, the Truckee Trails Association, alongside the Tahoe National Forest, held a vibrant ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the Sawtooth Loop Trail in the Sawtooth Day Use Recreational Area. This trail is a winding single-track loop through a mix of high desert and Jeffrey Pine Forest. It gains…
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Still Hiking in Sierra City
A day trip to Sierra City and the Wild Plum Loop trail experience December in the Sierra. As soon as you say it, you assume this article would be about incredible snow and winter recreation. However, over the past 10 years, there have been plenty of years where December has had plenty of dirt hiking…
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New Carson Valley Appaloosa Trail adds 1.1 miles of Tree-lined Mountain Fun
The Carson Valley is my home base, but it is surprising how few times I have hiked one of its oldest trail segments in town, the Fay Luther trail network. That may speak more about the variety of excellent trails we have to choose from , but it could be that I am always so…
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Experience the Alta Trail in Sequoia National Park
A Day Hike Experience in the Giant forest of Sequoia including the Largest Trees in the Park Sequoia National Park: Our first visit to Sequoia National Park was anything but ordinary. In the early summer of 2023, the Park only had one entry point from the Kings Canyon gates north of the Park, and the weather…
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Sixty Eight Miles and Growing Trail Network in the Carson Valley
The Carson Valley Trail Association Announced the Completion of the New James Lee Park loop Minden Nevada – May 3, 2023 – This past week the Carson Valley Trail association had their annual members showcase meeting where they highlight the work completed in the past year, discuss the issues they currently face and provide a…
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The Views from Koip Pass Ansel Adams Wilderness
Sierra Rec Magazine – August 29, 2022 – A couple of weeks ago, my friends and I embarked on a hiking adventure in the breathtaking Mono Pass regions. Little did we know that this journey would lead us to encounter the talented regional photographer, Michael Weindel, returning from his exploration of the magnificent Koip Pass.…
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A Weekend of Discovery in The Blue Lakes Basin
I have hiked around the Blues Lakes region in Alpine County northwest of Raymond peak for a good part of 10 years. I love to spend the day or evening at Twin or Tamarack lake, which are seldom visited, versus the camping and use areas of Blue lakes. But until this last weekend, I had…
Field Tested Gear
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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 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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Field Tested: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor III GTX Review
Why a Lifelong Sierra Hiker Ended Up Falling in Love with a Gore-Tex Trail Shoe Quick Take Best For: Day hiking, technical trails, Pacific Northwest hiking, Sierra Nevada granite, creek crossings and hikers who value confidence over speed. Trail Tested: Four months of real-world hiking in Western Washington, including muddy trails, wet roots, creek crossings,…
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Trail-Tested Review: Crazy Creek Pack Table
A compact camp companion that adds a clean, stable surface wherever you set up Not every piece of gear changes how you travel, but some quietly make camp life easier. The Crazy Creek Pack Table falls squarely into that category — a small but surprisingly useful addition that quickly earned a regular spot in our…
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When the Wind Wins: A Father-Son Camping Trip That Didn’t Go as Planned
Part of what I love about Sierra Rec is that it gives me an excuse to always be testing something outdoors. Whether it’s backpacking gear deep in the Sierra, trying a new piece of equipment at a local campground, or experimenting with ways to make family camping easier, every trip becomes a bit of a…
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Trail-Tested Review: Oboz Katabatic RT Low GTX in the North Cascades
A Sierra Mindset Meets PNW Conditions I’ll be honest—this is my first time wearing anything from Oboz. And it didn’t happen in the Sierra. It happened here in the Pacific Northwest, where “trail conditions” mean something completely different. Back in the Sierra Nevada, waterproof shoes were a seasonal tool—something you’d think about for early summer…
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Trail Tested Gear: Gregory Arrio 22 Plus Size Daypack
A Comfortable, Thoughtful Fit for Bigger Frames on Real Trail Days For the past five months, I’ve been putting the Gregory Arrio 22 Plus Size daypack through the kind of use most daypacks see in real life — fall hikes, moving days, travel, and quick trail escapes when a few extra layers and snacks make…
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FORM Moldable Insoles Review: Support That Translates From Trail to Everyday Miles
After six weeks and nearly 50 trail miles per pair, FORM’s Maximum Support and Reinforced Maximum Support insoles proved to be a meaningful upgrade for comfort, alignment, and long-day durability. Why I Tested These The reason I took this gear test on was simple and personal. I deal with recurring foot and hip pain when…
