Instagram story viewer> @kelleyehikes> Posts

Kelley Buell

@kelleyehikes

874

followers

841

following

Science Teacher👩🏼‍🔬
Amateur Athlete
🥾🎒+🗻🏔🏃🏼‍♀️+🏂

POSTS STORIES REELS

The most beautiful experience I had throughout my EBC trek was the closeness I felt with my Mom. It was like the thin atmosphere high in the Himalayas made the veil between our material world and those dimensions that lie beyond more tangible. There were so many beautiful moments where I could feel her presence so powerfully: She was standing next to me as a large but curious wolf stopped to investigate us climbing a hillside… and she held my hand as we witnessed the full moon rise over Ama Dablam on Christmas Day. But also, simultaneously, she was the wolf, she was the moon, and the mountain. She was everywhere and everything.

Ama Dablam held a special place in my heart… not only was it one of the most beautiful mountains I had ever seen, but I felt this connection to Mom every time it was in view- and it dominated the horizon for much of the trek past Namche. Shortly after the wolf sighting, I shared my awe for this mountain with my guide. He told me she was the Mother Mountain- in Nepali, Ama means mother… the long ridges on each side of her summit are the arms of a mother protecting her child. We were in the middle of an acclimatization hike to 5100 m (16,700 ft) and the emotion of this realization hit me like a freight train. I was able to hide my tears under the many protective layers I was wearing to shield me from the cold, but I completely lost the rhythm of my breath. I had to stop for several minutes to regain my breath as I struggled to bring my emotions under control, not an easy feat above 5000 m.

But there she was… with me amongst the highest peaks in the world, rejoicing in the beauty and awe, watching over me, and protecting me. I know how much she used to worry while I was off on these adventures… but now, she is here- no worry, no stress, just the peace and wisdom that transcends the dimensions of the cosmos. Just the gift of presence and the everlasting love between a mother and her child… a love that is larger, stronger, and more enduring than the biggest mountains on this planet. 💗🏔️✨
—
#amadablam #mothermountain #himalayas #everestbasecamptrek #himalayantrek #doepicshit #liveyourdreams #motherlove #loveyoumom #withmealways by @kelleyehikes

Mt Yale— 14,200ft, Sawatch Range, CO.
The mountains are my teachers, they are my presence and peace. They empty me out and fill me up. They hold my heart when it is broken.
This one is for my Aunt Karen 🤍🕊️ by @kelleyehikes

Loving this zoom on Half Dome! I forgot how epic the views are from Clouds Rest- a Yosemite classic! 🩶

#halfdomeyosemite #halfdomecables #cloudsrest #yosemitenationalpark #hiking by @kelleyehikes

JMT Report Part 2: Days 7-13
[Stats from Garmin Fénix 7]

Day 7: 🏔️Seldon Pass 10,913’—resupply at Muir Trail Ranch 7687’—⛺️Evolution Lake 10,870’ [🥾24.4 mi, ⬆️ 4488’ ⬇️ 4190’]. Met @natalieproctor_ & @proctor2k at MTR—finally met other people hiking 20+ mile days like me! Fully loaded 34lbs pack from MTR 🥵 Camped with A+N at Evolution Lake. (Pic 2)

Day 8: Evolution Lake— 🏔️Muir Pass 11,970’— ⛺️Palisade Creek/ base of Golden Staircase 8,500’ [🥾20 mi, ⬆️ 2277’ ⬇️ 4724’]. Tried to keep up with A+N, but they are SO fast! So grateful for such fun company to camp and hike with! Yay! 💗💗 (Pics 3, 4)

Day 9: Golden Staircase—Mather Pass 12,094’—⛺️Lake Marjorie 11,130’ [🥾18 mi, ⬆️ 5141’ ⬇️ 2454’]. Golden Staircase not as bad as I thought. Mather Pass is GORGEOUS! We are the Wooly Marmots! (Pics 5, 6, 7)

Day 10: Lake Marjorie—🏔️Pinchot Pass 12,127’—⛺️Middle Rae Lake 10,571’ [🥾16.5 mi, ⬆️ 3615’ ⬇️ 4190’]. Toughest day—all feeling exhausted and cranky. Saw 2 bears today! 🐻🐻 (Pics 8, 9, 10, 11)

Day 11: Rae Lakes—🏔️Glen Pass 11,957’—Resupply near Bullfrog Lake—🏔️Forester Pass 13,120’— ⛺️Tyndall Creek 10,964’ [🥾20.7 mi, ⬆️ 5511’ ⬇️ 5085’]. @lucas_metalfab brought us a resupply from Kearsarge and joined the Wooly Marmots!! Double pass day! Forester is forever my fave Sierran Pass 🤩 (Pics 1, 12-18)

Day 12: Tyndall Creek— ⛺️Guitar Lake 11,515’ [🥾 12 mi, ⬆️ 2569’ ⬇️ 1995’]. Slept in, hit the trail at 10am. Short trail day, but still difficult. Bighorn Plateau 👌🏼✨ (Pic 19)

Day 13: Guitar Lake—🏔️Mt Whitney 14,500’—🥳 Whitney Portal 🚙 [🥾16.3 mi, ⬆️ 3441’ ⬇️ 6591’]. Full moon hike up 🌕 + Whitney sunrise 🌄 No better finale than that 😆 Descending Whitney Portal trail will forever be the worst trail on Earth 🥵 Time to EAT and sleeeep!! 🥳😋 (Pic 20)

Totals (via Garmin Fénix 7):
🥾Miles Hiked— 234.1 miles
⬆️ Elevation Gain— 50,768’
⬇️ Elevation Descent— 46,528’

#jmt #backpacking #sierra #friendsmakeitbetter #thruhike by @kelleyehikes

JMT Report Part 1: Days 1-6
[Stats from Garmin Fénix 7]

Day 1: Happy Isles/ Yosemite Valley 4,025’—Mist Trail—⛰️Cathedral Pass 9,700’—⛺️Upper Cathedral Lake 9,600’ [🥾18.5 mi, ⬆️ 6869’ ⬇️ 1296’]. FINALLY beginning the journey! Feeling ALL the feels!🤍 Killer elevation gain, feeling well trained/ready/prepared. Lots of bear poop around Cathedral Lake camp 🐻… slept maybe an hour. (Pics 2-5)

Day 2: Upper Cathedral—Tuolumne Meadows—⛺️Lyell Fork ~1.5 mi below Donahue Pass 10,203’ [🥾18.4 mi, ⬆️ 2545’ ⬇️ 1942’]. Making really good time on flatter terrain. Thunderstorms rolling in. Camped early to avoid getting caught in ⛈️ on the pass. Poured rain all night. Terrible sleep again due to loud rain. Stayed dry! (Pics 6-9)

Day 3: 🏔️Donahue Pass 11,073’—Thousand Island Lake—⛺️Reds Meadow 7705’ [🥾25.8 mi, ⬆️ 4143’ ⬇️ 6729’]. Early start- made it over pass before more 🌩️. Epic views! More stormy weather ⛈️ Broke a carbon trekking pole in river crossing & got soaked. Marauding bear in Reds Meadow campground, so no sleep again. (Pics 1, 10-12)

Day 4: Zero Day—6am soak in hot spring. Feeling sick/lost voice. Resupply at Reds Meadow. Hitch a ride to Mammoth. Buy new poles. Hotel stay- town food/ lots of juice, shower, and laundry.

Day 5: Shuttle to Reds Meadow—⛺️Nuumu Hu Hupi Lake 10,286’/Silver Pass [🥾21.5mi, ⬆️ 5347’ ⬇️ 2795’]. Start hiking at 10am, feeling good after rest day. Late arrival at camp. (Pics 13-15)

Day 6: 🏔️Silver Pass 10,778’—☠️Bear Ridge—⛺️Marie Lake 10,568’/Seldon Pass [🥾22 mi, ⬆️ 4822’ ⬇️ 4537’]. This was my lowest low. Mid day Bear Ridge—hot, dusty, & buggy, 2000’+ climb—broke me. Feeling lonely, questioning my choices. Wanting to quit. (Pics 16-20)

To be continued…

#jmt #backpacking #yosemite #mammoth #sierra by @kelleyehikes

It’s been about a week since I stood on top of the highest point in the contiguous United States for the fourth time — Mt. Whitney at 14,500 feet.

But this summit was very different.

For the first time, I climbed Whitney by the light of a full moon, reaching the summit in time to watch the sunrise from the top. More importantly, it was the culmination of something I’ve been chasing for a very long time: the fulfillment of a childhood dream— finally completing the entire 211 mile John Muir Trail from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney.

This was my third attempt at thru-hiking this remote and rugged route through the Sierra Nevada. And I guess third time really is a charm, because this time, I finally made it all the way through.

My first attempt was in 2002. I was young, inexperienced, and romanticized the idea that I could catch fish and forage for food to supplement my meals along the way. I also showed up with a 65 pound pack that I could barely lift off the ground. 😂 It was a humbling experience, but it sparked something in me- a lifelong fascination and love for the backcountry.

I tried again in 2018, this time heading north from Mt. Whitney. I had more maturity, more experience, and a much better understanding of what I was getting myself into. But this time, a massive wildfire and the resulting closure of Yosemite National Park stopped me from completing the trail.

And then came 2026.

This time, I had the knowledge, the experience, and, perhaps most importantly, the luck— the mountains and Mother Nature finally decided to allow me through.

Standing on top of Mt. Whitney as the sun rose over the Sierra, knowing I had finally completed the entire JMT, was an incredibly emotional moment. I’m still processing the journey and everything it took to get there.

For now, I just want to say thank you to all of the incredible people who supported me, believed in me, kept me company, brought me food, checked in on me, and helped make this journey possible.

I have about 5 million photos to sort through, so there will be plenty more to come over the next few weeks. 🏔️🌄

For now, I’m just grateful.
I finally made it. 💗

#ᴊᴍᴛ #mtwhitney #backpacking #grateful by @kelleyehikes

Last weekend, I had the privilege of leading a group of 13 middle schoolers on a 3-day backpacking trip into the Ventana Wilderness with @ventanawildernessalliance — and it was truly transformative. 🥾🌲✨

Throughout the journey, these students showed incredible resilience, adaptability, perseverance, courage, and strength of character. Watching them step outside their comfort zones, support one another, and grow through every challenge was deeply inspiring.

I’m so grateful for opportunities like this — to help students connect with the outdoors, with each other, and with themselves. Experiences in the wilderness have a unique way of building confidence, perspective, and community, and I feel lucky to witness that growth firsthand.

A HUMONGOUS thank you to the Ventana Wilderness Alliance Youth in Wilderness program for providing all the gear, food, and expert guides that made this trip possible! Now that I’ve finally recovered from such an exhausting (and rewarding) weekend, I’m looking forward to many more adventures like this! by @kelleyehikes

Made it out to Point Reyes National Seashore nature preserve for a quick backpacking trip with @kira.pascoe and @guliaaa525
Waterfalls, wildlife, wildflowers, deserted beaches, and lush forests… This place has it all! Such a sweet little trip with some spectacular ladies!!
—
#backpacking #girlsoutdoors #pointreyes #waterfall #wildlife by @kelleyehikes

An early spring camping trip to Yosemite (a couple weeks back) left me hankering for more time in the great outdoors! We crushed a sunset hike up Vernal and Nevada Falls - breathtaking views, cascading waterfalls, majestic granite domes, stunning rainbows, warm golden light, and a hilarious stumble down dark snowy trails under headlamps 😜 Not quite ready to part with spring skiing ❄️😢, but can't wait for more nights under the stars and more mountain adventures ⛰️✨
#yosemitenationalpark #vernalfalls #nevadafalls #yosemitefalls #spring by @kelleyehikes

The Trans-Catalina Trail felt like stepping into another world- wild, humbling, brutal, and ethereal ✨ From dolphins dancing beside our ferry at sunset, to craggy peaks and endless green ridgelines plunging into the sea, each mile unveiled the island’s hidden magic, leaving a trail of wonder and revelation in its wake.

~39 miles | ~9,000 ft gain | 2 gloriously strenuous days

Day 0: Ferry from San Pedro → Avalon, 1.5-mile hike to Hermit Gulch campground, freeze-dried dinners, asleep by 8pm.

Day 1 (~18 mi): Hermit Gulch → Airport in the Sky (lunch stop!) → long descent to Little Harbor campground. Another early bedtime thanks to short winter days and total annihilation 😜

Day 2 (~21 mi): Little Harbor → Two Harbors by 10am. Dropped heavy packs, snacks at the G-Mart, then out-and-back loop to Parsons Landing with lightweight running packs! Hot showers, dinner, crash hard at camp.

Day 3: Leisurely morning at camp, explore Two Harbors, ferry back to the mainland 🌊

Perfect weather, brutal climbs, and just enough “glamp-packing” comfort to make the entire journey a truly enjoyable and unforgettable experience 🩵✨

#transcatalinatrail #tct #backpacking #catalina #lifeisanadventure by @kelleyehikes

Running into 2026 and remembering all the wild and wonderful adventures of 2025! Wherever there is an end, there is also a new beginning. Welcoming the new year with gratitude, love, and heartfelt appreciation for all of you who have blessed me with your gifts of friendship and comraderie in this beautiful life 🩵
—
#happynewyearseve #2025memories #newyearnewadventures #reflectionoflove by @kelleyehikes

Warning: trail running can cause excessive sweating, swearing, and spontaneous outbreaks of happiness 😆Case in point: my return to racing at the Woodside Ramble 50k by @insidetrail . Spending 6+ hours running through the misty, rainy redwoods, with plenty of vert and the awesome, eccentric trail running community is my idea of a (type 2) fun time! 💚

I’ve learned a thing or two over the past few years… New fueling strategy? ✅ Stuffing my face with approx 75g carbs/hour gave me the energy I needed to stay strong through the finish. New strength training regimen? ✅ Thank you to @thecampsalinas for teaching me how to lift heavy things and helping to build my core strength and fatigue resistance. New 50k PR? Double check!✅✅ I shaved a solid 35 minutes off my previous personal best! Maybe I didn’t win the race (or even come close, lol) but the privilege of getting out there with all the other inspiring, incredible athletes and volunteers, and pushing my limits to redefine what is possible for me is a HUGE win in my book! 🙏☺️

#insidetrailracing #woodsideramble50k #50k #ultramarathon #trailrunning by @kelleyehikes