Trinity Alps 2025
Trinity Alps Day 1: Stuart Fork, Morris Meadows, Emerald Lake
14 miles, 3570′ ascent, 825′ descent
Trinity Alps Day 2: Stuart Fork, Deer Creek Trail, Four Lakes Loop, Siligo Meadows, Little Stonewall Pass
18 miles, 4686′ ascent, 2954′ descent
Trinity Alps Day 3: Van Matre Meadows, Stonewall Pass, Red Mountain Meadows, Granite Peak, Stoney Ridge Trail, Stuart Fork
15.75 miles, 2002′ ascent, 6560′ descent
It’s been so long since I’ve hiked in real heat that I could have made better choices with a few pieces of my gear. *Wonderland Gear pictured*
SLEEPING BAG: I own a 20F ZPacks wide bag but haven’t used it since I got my 0F ZPacks bag. I first got the 20F bag for my 2013 PCT thru hike but was consistently cold in temperatures below 40F. I wish I had taken it on this trip because my usual 0F bag was just way too warm. Even draped across the top of me as a quilt, I mostly couldn’t pull it up over my shoulders. Note, I do always wear base layers while sleeping because it keeps my sleeping bag cleaner and I can’t stand to have my sticky skin touching the sleeping bag fabric.
SLEEPING PAD: Again, I could have chosen a cooler option like my thermarest prolite small.
UMBRELLA: So often, I carry my golite umbrella on California’s North Coast but I rarely use it. I used it once this spring when it started to sprinkle during a short hike. But I was grateful to have it on this hike given the heat and terrain. I took a break under it at Luella Lake and when I road walked through the heat of the day after exiting Stoney Ridge Trail.
CLOTHING:
Didn’t use: wind jacket, rain skirt, buff. I’m sure glad I left my rain jacket at home.
Draped alpaca hoodie over my head during dinner the first night but was too hot. Was creating a barrier between me and the few insects.
SUN HOODIE: On Day 1 I wore my rei northway shirt. On Day 2, I tried out my eddie bauer sun hoodie which saved my sanity with all the flies and mosquitoes along Stuart Fork Trail. I just bought this shirt at Costco and really love it. I have a Patagonia sun hoodie which may do a better job around the face but it’s just tight enough that it constantly pulls down on my trucker hat. I was impressed by the light weight $13 eddie bauer sun hoodie and happily wore it on Day 3 also. It even has thumb loops. My only complaint is that the end of the sleeves don’t have enough stretch so I can’t pull them up onto my arm very far.
BEAR CANISTER: A bear canister is recommended but not required in the Trinity Alps. I guess it was peace of mind. Not sure if the 2.5 pound canister was worth it. I did see bear scat and tracks in the trail just below Emerald Lake the morning of Day 2. My biggest harassers in camp were the deer at Emerald Lake and rodents at Little Echo Lake.
SONY CAMERA: I have a kind of love hate relationship with my camera. I love to get nice pictures, but hate to carry it on my backpack strap. If I don’t have it easily accessible, I know I won’t use it. After a long day of hiking, the weight on my left shoulder is just too much to bare.
BATTERY: 10,000 mAh was enough to charge my phone twice and add a little to my garmin watch. Garmin Inreach will last 3-4 days.
TENT: Hindsight is always 20/20 but I could have safely made the choice to leave my tent fly at home, saving even more weight.
| DESCRIPTION | OZ | LB |
| zpacks 52L arc blast with hip belt pockets | 18 | |
| zpacks 0F wide long bag with draft tube | 27.1 | |
| big agnes platinum fly creek UL1 + ba groundsheet | 35.8 | |
| 80.9 | 5.1 | |
| thermarest Xtherm long | 16.5 | |
| gossamer gear 1/8″ pad | 4 | |
| msr pack towel | 0.7 | |
| toilet kit: | ||
| (snow stake, tp, hand sanitizer, wipes, fem) | 3 | |
| pills/prescription: | ||
| (ibuprofen, anti-diarrhea, anti-hist, vicodin, thyroid hormone) | 2 | |
| calcium, multi-vit | 2 | |
| zpacks wallet | 1 | |
| trash compator bag/paint strainer stuff sacs | 2 | |
| zpacks front utility fanny pack | 2 | |
| golite umbrella | 8 | |
| cocoon pillow | 3.8 | |
| 2 1L smart water bottles | 2.8 | |
| 11.5oz bottle | 1.1 | |
| first aid/sewing/repair kit: | ||
| (bandaid, needle, ray way thread, air mattress patch, qtip, leukotape, tenacious tape) | 1 | |
| sawyer water filter + 32oz bag | 3 | |
| zpacks pack cover | 1.4 | |
| swiss army manager knife | 1 | |
| toothbrush/floss/paste | 2 | |
| night guard | 1 | |
| sunscreen/hibiclens/lotion/essential oils | 2.5 | |
| permit | 1 | |
| bv500 bear canister | 40 | |
| 101.8 | 6.4 | |
| icebreaker long john bottom (for sleeping/camp only) | 5.5 | |
| icebreaker long john top (for sleeping/camp only) | 5.6 | |
| injinji socks | 1.6 | |
| jockey underwear | 1.4 | |
| appalachian gear all-paca fleece | 11 | |
| buff | 1.2 | |
| handkerchief | 2 | |
| zpacks rain skirt | 2 | |
| sun gloves | 1.5 | |
| patagonia houdini jacket | 3.7 | |
| 35.5 | 2.2 | |
| google pixel w/ case | 7.7 | |
| anker powercore 10000mHa | 5.7 | |
| sony a6300 body wirh lens 55-210 | 28 | |
| stickpic + cell holder | 1.1 | |
| pixel buds a | 2.5 | |
| cords, plug | 2.4 | |
| garmin inreach explorer+ | 7.5 | |
| petzl tikka xp headlamp | 3 | |
| 57.9 | 3.6 | |
| total | 276.1 | 17.3 |
| clothing worn: | ||
| prana stretch zion pant | ||
| rei northway plaid shirt | ||
| eddie bauer sun hoodie | ||
| jockey underwear | ||
| glamorise bra | ||
| injinji socks | ||
| hankerchief | ||
| dirty girl gaiters | ||
| trucker hat | ||
| leki trekking poles | ||
| sunglasses | ||
| chapstick | ||
| new balance men’s fresh foam x hierro v7 |
Journey Return 