Ansel Adams Wilderness Backpacking

For Fourth of July weekend 2022 I planned months in advance for my very first permit backpacking trip. I've spent a lot of time hiking in the Sierra Nevada, and decided to do a two night backpack into what's widely considered the most beautiful part of the entire range. I ended up hiking a total of 41 miles in three days from just outside Mammoth Lakes at the PCT junction. I spent one night at Thousand Island Lake and a second night at Ediza Lake with some of the most perfect weather conditions I could have wished for. I was able to get a perfect campsite at Thousand Island Lake, and did a night sky Milky Way shoot just a few feet from my tent, which turned out absolutely incredible. I've seen many truly spectacular sights in the Sierra Nevada...and this trip ranks as one of my favorites ever.