Guide Spotlight: Jack
Meet Jack Curran — a big-wall-climbing, doom-metal-marching, breakfast-cooking desert dreamer with a serious passion for sharing the wild with others. 🥾🎨🎸 🌲 How Jack Got Outdoorsy Jack grew up climbing trees and stomping puddles in rural Texas. 🌳🌧️ After high school, unsure of what came next, he took a NOLS course—and it lit a fire […]
Meet Your Guide: Maggie
Meet Maggie McCann, a 23-year-old guide whose roots in the 🌲 Oregon Cascades planted the seeds for a life of adventure and connection in the outdoors. With a degree in 🌍 Environmental Earth & Soil Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a WFR certification, Maggie brings both heart and knowledge to every trail […]
Meet Your Guide: Janus
At Lasting Adventures, we’re always excited to welcome new talent to the team, and our guide Janus brings an impressive blend of experience, curiosity, and a calming presence to every adventure. With a background in physics and computer science 🧑‍💻🔬, Janus may have taken an unconventional path into guiding, but once you hit the trail […]
How to Get to Olympic National Park
In the remote heart of the Pacific Northwest, Olympic National Park beckons as a natural haven, where a tapestry of diverse landscapes awaits your exploration. This pristine corner of the world, however, can be quite a complex destination for tourists to navigate due to its vast landscape and diverse ecosystems. But fear not, as we’re […]
Meet Your Guide: Olivia Hockley-Rodes
In this edition of our Guide Spotlight Series, we’re thrilled to introduce Olivia Hockley-Rodes—a bright, passionate, and adventurous soul bringing her energy and curiosity to her first season of guiding with Lasting Adventures in Olympic National Park! đź‘‹ Meet Olivia Name: Olivia Hockley-RodesHometown: Los Angeles, CAGuiding Experience: First year guiding, second season with Lasting AdventuresEducation: […]
Half Dome Equipment List
Guide-Approved Essential Equipment List for Half Dome After leading thousands of day hikers and backpackers to the Half Dome summit over the years, we have a pretty good idea of what equipment to pack to ensure a safe and memorable experience. Here’s our guide-approved Half Dome equipment list: Essential Half Dome Equipment A quality day […]
Top Ten Waterfalls in Yosemite You Have to See
Yosemite National Park is home to some of the most breathtaking waterfalls in the world. With dramatic plunges, powerful cascades, and serene alpine settings, these waterfalls are more than just scenic—they’re unforgettable experiences. Whether visiting in peak flow season (typically spring) or catching misty rainbows in the summer, here are ten waterfalls you won’t want […]
Meet the Guide: Caroline Shipley
From the small town of Krum, Texas to the wide-open deserts of Joshua Tree, Caroline Shipley is chasing her dream—and helping others find theirs along the way. With three years of guiding under her belt and a heart full of curiosity, she’s bringing her love of the outdoors, food, and connection to her first season […]
Meet the Guide: Chloe Huggins
From Kentucky’s Red River Gorge to Yosemite’s Cloud’s Rest, Chloe Huggins has followed her curiosity, energy, and love for wild places into a career helping others discover the outdoors. Now in her fourth year of guiding and first with Lasting Adventures, Chloe brings a contagious enthusiasm and an impressive knowledge base, from geography and geology […]
Yosemite Reservation System: What to Know & How to Avoid Hassles
Big changes are coming to how visitors access Yosemite National Park. The National Park Service has just announced a new reservation system for select dates in 2025, and if you’re planning a visit, it’s essential to be prepared. If you show up during those hours without a reservation, you’ll be turned away—unless you meet one […]
Half Dome FAQ
Half Dome FAQ: Answers to our clients’ most frequently asked Half Dome Questions Since 1997, Lasting Adventures has become the largest operator in the Yosemite wilderness and the only guide service that consistently guides the most individuals and small groups to the summit each year. Here’s a brief list of Half Dome FAQ’s that come up […]
Meet the Guide: Eli Flaim
We’re thrilled to introduce Eli Flaim, one of the newest additions to the Lasting Adventures team! Originally from Kirksville, Missouri, Eli’s journey into the world of backpacking started with a university wilderness program, and he’s been chasing mountain trails, rock faces, and adventure ever since. This summer, he’s bringing his passion, creativity, and serious hacky […]
Meet the Guide: Sarah Alley
We’re excited to introduce Sarah Alley, one of the incredible guides on our Lasting Adventures team. Growing up among California’s forests and mountains, Sarah developed a deep connection to the outdoors early on. Today, she brings that passion — along with a sense of humor and a spirit of adventure — to every trip she […]
Yosemite Valley Backpackers Campground: A Vital Component for Many Backpackers in Yosemite
UPDATE: Yosemite has announced that the Yosemite Valley Backpackers Campground will be fully open in 2025! In April of 2025, Yosemite posted on its website that the Yosemite Valley Backpackers Campground would be closed temporarily, with limited spaces available in an alternative location for 36 nightly backpackers. No other information or timeline was provided. Calls […]
Finding Campsites in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is a place like no other, and with the rise of social media, everyone now knows it. It’s a place of significance to the indigenous peoples of California, as well as to the history of the United States of America. With unique geological features and a rich history of outdoor recreation, it’s […]