Hi Reader,

Did I ever tell you I live just 45 minutes southeast of Yosemite? Tbh, it was a bit of a lucky accident. I moved to Mammoth Lakes for the skiing and to be near family, and a national park in the backyard was the bonus.

When the park opens from the east each summer, I make it my mission to get there often. I went last Sunday for a full day of hiking and came home with wrecked legs, which translates to a good day in outdoor speak.

The Challenge That's Worth The Effort

While winter in the Sierra is for skiing, summer is for ambitious hikes. And not the easy loops, but the ones that make you a little nervous at the trailhead.

Earlier this summer I finally hiked Seven Lakes Point. It's a straight-up climb near home in Mammoth where you either scramble the lava tube or summit Dragon's Tail. The reward is the best view around, though it's not for those afraid of heights (ahem, me).

But the bigger payoff is the company. Last week we took my sister up to North Dome for her first trek. It's a big hike, but you end up level with Half Dome, looking straight across instead of craning up. I hadn't hiked it in a minute, and I couldn't tell you why because this is the kind of mission that should be an annual ritual.

The Mountains Are Calling

Now for a bit of a PSA from someone who lives in the area. Nearly all visitors to Yosemite funnel into the park from the west and spend the first hour in a line of cars. Instead, come from the east via Tioga Pass. Your reward is that you start with the high country first: the granite, the cold lakes, and the thin air, and it is often without any crowds.

Base yourself in June Lake or Mammoth Lakes (here's where I'd stay), hike in the mornings when the light is best, and let the afternoon go slow. My anchor is always Tenaya Lake, for the calm, the clear water, and the granite walls rising straight out of it.

And my second favorite view of Half Dome (after the North Dome hike) is from nearby Olmsted Point. (The only catch? This entrance to the park is only open part of the year, because it closes with the first snow.)

Caught My Eye

Speaking of good things that take some effort to uncover, I realized the wine I have been reaching for this summer is actually made by a neighbor.

Mitch Cahoon runs WineSpread Panic Cellars right here in Mammoth. He works grapes you rarely see in California: Picpoul, Carignan, Mourvèdre, from off-the-radar corners like Madera and Lake County instead of Napa.

A chilled bottle of his Picpoul or Carignan is exactly the celebratory sip I want after a big hike. He delivers around the state, so go grab whatever he's pouring:

One For You

Hit reply and tell me: what's a hike, experience, or a trip that pushed you outside your comfort zone, and who was standing next to you at the top? I read every one!

P.S. If a California trip in the Sierra done right is on your mind, tell us what you’re dreaming up, and we’ll build a trip tailored to you.