Off the Grid

Trail log

1. Mt. San Jacinto

   10,834 ft

   Multi-day backpacking trip with Troop 685 to the second-highest point in Southern California. I slipped on icy granite near the summit and caught myself with my poles. From the top you can see the Coachella Valley windmills and the sun setting over the Pacific. The next day I led a ten-scout cleanup.

2. Sequoia National Park

   +1,500 ft before dawn

   My first weeklong scout camp. I spent the first days counting down until it was over. Then we hiked about 1,500 feet up for a sunrise, and I wanted the week to last longer.

3. Alaska

   weather: yes

   A backpacking trip with wind, rain, and hail strong enough to flatten a tent. I came home with a lesson about checking critical gear yourself instead of assuming someone else did.

4. Mission Bay & local trails

   sea level

   Kayaking and day hikes around San Diego with my family.