Fall colors in the Sierras Dell • One complete three-stage backpacking

• One complete three-stage backpacking route through the San Juan Mountains

Materials: Aluminum

waves crashed into the cliffs throughout the entire night

Four compression straps

Fall colors in the Sierras Dell • One complete three-stage backpackingThe timing couldnt have been more perfect. The permit quota season had ended just two days earlier, so I didnt need a permit. At the same time, it was the very start of autumn, and the leaves of the large deciduous trees had turned brilliant shades of yellow and gold, giving the valley an almost magical atmosphere. I took this photo in 2025 while hiking the Rae Lakes Loop, following Woods Creek toward the John Muir Trail. It remains one of my favorite