Distance: 6.4Elevation Gained: 1,400'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 3:15Critters: Marmots, Great DanesPros:- Alpine scenery- Alpine lake- Mountains surrounding the alpine lake- Wildflowers galoreCons:- Lots of dead pine trees that fell victim to pine beetlesDetails:Beehive Basin was the last of the hikes I had planned to do in the Big Sky area. I tagged it on almost as …
Montana, Day 4: Cinnamon Mountain
Distance: 8 milesElevation Gained: 2,650’Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 3:34Critters: NonePros:- Expansive 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains in the Gallatin/Big Sky Area- Meadows covered in wildflowers- Legit mountain climbing with only half the effort!Cons:- The thunderstorm that rolled in limited my time up topDetails:Cinnamon Mountain lies within Gallatin National Forest and rises above the canyon as a bump that …
Montana, Day 3: Lava Lake
Distance: 5.7 MilesElevation Gained: 1,600'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 3:05Critters: One brown bearPros:- Lava Lake is stunning- The trail follows a busy creek the entire wayCons:- Bear gave us the heebiesDetails:Lava Lake was high on my to-do list for hiking in Montana. The lake itself closely resembles the classic glacier lake; it sits in a long, u-shaped …
Montana, Day 2: Porcupine Creek
Distance: 3.9 Miles (Porcupine Creek), 2.6 Miles (Snowmobile Trail)Elevation Gained: 500'; 700'Difficulty: Easy, ModerateTime: 2:02; 0:56Critters: NonePros:- Quality hiking time with Kelly and Dave- Beautiful open sagebrush, pine, and juniper woodland- Views of Lone Mountain and the surrounding mountainsCons:- None, unless wanting more is a conDetails:On our second day in Montana, Kelly, Dave, and I …
Montana, Day 1: Engagement
Distance: 1.9 MilesElevation Gained: 600'Difficulty: ModerateTime: 0:47:00Critters: NonePros:- I'm engaged to be married to Kelly Clifton- Nice hiking right across the streetCons:- Steep!Details:Obviously, very little about this particular blog will have anything to do with hiking. On the first day in Montana, I proposed to Kelly Clifton while we lingered on the deck in the …
30 Hikes in 30 Days
I just completed one last hike in June to bring the number of hikes I've taken in June to 30. This means I have taken 30 hikes in 30 days, which I did to celebrate Kelly's accomplishment of taking 31 yoga classes in 31 days. In some ways, this turned into a quantity over quality exercise, …
Halfway
The year is now almost halfway over, which means it is time to review what I have done during the last three months since the last time I posted a "quarter-review." I'm a few days early for the mid-point, which is July 1st, but I will be taking a little break from hiking while I …
Oceanside
I like where I live. June: 103.2 MilesYear-to-Date: 724.8 Miles
Mt. San Gorgonio
Distance: 17.2 Miles (over two days)Elevation Gained: 5,500'Difficulty: StrenuousTime: 13:00 (Estimated since this was a backpacking trip)Critters: Larcenous chipmunksPros:- Highest peak in Southern California- Beautiful high country topography and flora- Incredible views- Sense of accomplishmentCons:- Rampant air pollution in the low-lying basinsDetails:This way, pleaseMt. San Gorgonio is a Southern California superlative. At 11,503', it is …
The Three Saints
Hiking Bucket List Goal #1: Climb the Three SaintsFrom left to right: Mt. San Antonio, Mt. San Gorgonio, and Mt. San Jacinto. Taken from Santiago Peak.The "Three Saints" refer to the three dominant mountains in the Los Angeles region, Mt. San Antonio (Mt. Baldy), Mt. San Jacinto, and Mt. San Gorgonio. Each peak is notable …
scott turner hikes 