Nellie Lake Trail - Kaiser Wilderness - Huntington Lake

Not sure how popular Nellie Lake Trail is during the busy season, but in the off-season there is nobody... Literally, boarded up cottages, covered up signs and silence... My friend and I decided we needed a challenging hike. Boy, did we get what we wanted. Whether it is from high starting elevation or cooler weather, the hike was very very hard. Alltrails tracked 8.6 miles (+1 mile since I did not start tracking until 1 mile into) with quite a bit of elevation. The hike starts next to Huntington Lake. We parked right by it and hiked to the trail head. Apparently, you could also drive up to the trail (maybe 0.25 miles).

The views were good, but not amazing. The lake was completely empty. We stayed there maybe 15 min to eat lunch and headed back. It was a bit too chilly (close to freezing at that point + the wind). Regardless, if you want a challenge, go for it! If you want solitude, hike the trail during the off-season.

Four Mile Trail - Yosemite National Park

Another beautiful hike I completed a few weeks ago. Four Mile Trail is one of the top rated trails in Yosemite National Park. It goes from Yosemite Valley all the way to Glacier Point. In the summer, it is packed, but in October - November the number of people vacationing in the park thankfully decreases allowing us, locals, enjoy the peace and solitude of the trail. I am probably exaggerating solitude, because even in late October there are quite a few people attempting this hike.

It is a difficult hike because of the elevation gain and overall mileage. Don't be fooled by the name of the trail, it is certainly not a four mile hike. Alltrails clocked 9.4 miles total. With elevation gain of 3500 feet, it kick your butt. Acrophobe Factor: I am afraid of heights, really! But this hike did not make me feel scared at all. The views are worth every lost calorie to get to the top:

The view at the top - Glacier Point

A bit foggy and slightly smoky in Yosemite Valley