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Emily Dawn🦋

@wilderness_chick

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🥾 HAPPIEST OUTDOORS🌞🌸💫
Texas Gal currently residing in the Bay Area 🌉
✨Let’s go eat sweet treats & drink coffee in the mountains 🌿🧁☕️
HAPPY TRAILS 🫶

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Three perfect days in the Ansel Adams Wilderness 🤍

Day 1 🥾 → We still couldn’t believe we’d scored a last-minute permit the day before. We backpacked into Thousand Island Lake through endless fields of wildflowers, found the perfect campsite, spent the afternoon relaxing by the lake, and couldn’t stop staring at Banner Peak and Mount Ritter.

Day 2 🌼 → Set off early to explore Garnet, Ediza, and Iceberg Lake. Garnet Lake completely stole the show for me (seriously one of the prettiest lakes I’ve ever seen 😍). The fishing at Iceberg Lake didn’t disappoint 🎣, and we wrapped up the day back at camp watching one of the best sunsets of the trip as Sierra wave clouds drifted over Banner Peak and Mount Ritter.

Day 3 🌅 → Enjoyed one last peaceful morning at Thousand Island Lake before packing up camp and hiking back out.

This trip had everything—crystal-clear alpine lakes, endless granite peaks, incredible fishing, fields of wildflowers, perfect weather, and sunsets that didn’t even look real. I can officially see why Thousand Island Lake is one of the most iconic backpacking destinations in the Sierra. 💙

Trail Stats
🥾 ~40 miles
📈 ~6,000 ft elevation gain
🏕️ 2 nights at Thousand Island Lake
🎣 Great fishing at Iceberg Lake
🌼 Peak wildflower season
⛰️ Visited Garnet, Ediza & Iceberg Lakes

📸 All photos I’m in were taken by my good friend and amazing photographer @gtr_mike 🤩 taken in Ansel Adams Wilderness by @wilderness_chick

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2 months ago

I found girlhood in the mountains💅

Between early mornings on the trail, shared meals at camp, tired legs & laughing way too hard after a long day outside, I found a community I’ve always longed for.

Over the last decade, I’ve met some incredible women through Instagram, hiking groups, and simply putting myself out there and saying, “Hey, want to go adventure?” It’s been pretty amazing watching strangers become trail friends & trail friends become people you genuinely look forward to seeing again.

There’s something about backpacking that creates a different kind of friendship. You see each other when you’re tired, dirty, hungry, covered in mosquito bites, stinky 🙈… but completely yourself. You share the hard miles, the quiet moments, the epic summit moments, the laughs & you learn how to show up for each other whether it’s through conversation or acts like boiling extra water for your friends.

Finding your outdoor community can feel intimidating. Sometimes you have to be the one to send the message, join the group, or show up to a hike where you don’t know anyone. But those little moments of putting yourself out there can turn into some of the best friendships.

The mountains have given me so much, but the people I’ve met along the way are my favorite part. 🫶

Here’s to more miles, more stories & more women finding their place outside 🤍 taken in Sierra Nevada Mountains by @wilderness_chick

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3 months ago

One of the most epic places to spend a few days hiking, fishing & laughing amongst good company 🫶

📍Sabrina Basin, Bishop, CA

Some of my highlights from this trip include giggling at the lake named “Dingleberry Lake” 🤭, enjoying the stunning views of Hungry Packer Lake & telling my friends I would wake up to see the Milky Way but then proceeding to sleep. HIGHLY reccomend spending some time in the Sabrina Basin! 🥾 taken in Sabrina Lake Basin Trail by @wilderness_chick

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3 months ago

WE NEEDED THIS 💅👯‍♀️✨
Where are my mountain girlies at? 🙋‍♀️💕 taken in Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains by @wilderness_chick

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2 days ago

This is your sign to go chase fall colors in the Eastern Sierra! 🍂✨

Save this post for your next fall adventure because these spots are worth adding to your list! 🍁

📍 South Lake
📍 Mist Falls
📍 McGee Creek Canyon
📍 Lee Vining Canyon

Aspens are nature’s sparkle, and the Eastern Sierra really knows how to show off. 💛 Spent the weekend wandering through golden trees, soaking up mountain views, and wishing fall lasted just a little longer.

A little reminder to stick to established trails, leave the leaves where they fall, and help keep these beautiful places beautiful! 🌿

📸 October 10–11, 2026
📍 Eastern Sierra, California

#EasternSierra #FallColors #AspenSeason #SierraNevada #CaliforniaFall taken in Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains by @wilderness_chick

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2 days ago

On October 10th, Gisselle & I summited Vagabond Peak in the Eastern Sierra! ✨🏔️🌞

We started the morning in the dark after eating some leftover fried rice and cold instant coffee, hitting the trail at 6 AM with headlamps on and fresh legs. As the sun came up, we made our way past some absolutely gorgeous alpine lakes, including Brown Lake and Green Lake, before heading higher into the rugged granite landscape with a population of 3 or 4 jackrabbits 🐰

This hike was seriously STUNNING. Between the alpine lakes, endless mountain views, and scrambling our way to the summit, the Eastern Sierra really knows how to show off!

And here’s a funny little story about how I met Gisselle. 😂 We actually met because I sold her a sleeping pad on Facebook Marketplace! Apparently, selling used backpacking gear is also a great way to make new hiking friends. Who knew a sleeping pad transaction would eventually lead to us climbing a 13,000-foot mountain together?! 😂🏔️

We originally had Cloudripper in mind too, but Vagabond Peak ended up being our summit for the day as there was a big storm forecasted for later that day and clouds had started to roll in. No complaints here because the views were incredible!

#VagabondPeak #EasternSierra #JohnMuirWilderness #SierraNevada #PeakBagging BishopCalifornia taken in John Muir Wilderness by @wilderness_chick

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3 days ago

Another day, another mountain to climb! 🏔️🌲✨
Spent the day exploring Castle Peak in Tahoe National Forest, scrambling up rocky sections, soaking in those Sierra views, and enjoying one of my favorite times of year in the mountains. Fall in the Sierra is hard to beat. 🍂 And because apparently I can’t go anywhere without packing an extra pair of shoes, I brought my new Pagosa Cozy slippers from @xeroshoes along for a little summit lounging. 😂 They’re lightweight, packable, and have a roomy toe box, which makes them pretty great for slipping into after a hike. 📍Castle Peak | Tahoe National Forest, CA #ad #xeroshoes #xeroshoespartner #CastlePeak #TahoeNationalForest taken in Castle Peak, Tahoe National Forest Trail by @wilderness_chick

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4 days ago

Aspens are nature’s sparkle, and the Eastern Sierra is showing off right now. 🍂✨

If you’re heading out, be sure to check out South Lake, Mist Falls, McGee Creek Canyon, and Lee Vining Canyon for some beautiful fall colors! 🍁 Hard to beat this time of year in the Sierra!

And a little reminder to Leave No Trace while enjoying the fall colors! 🍂 Stick to established trails, avoid trampling delicate vegetation, and leave those beautiful aspens (and their bark!) untouched so everyone can enjoy the magic.

📍 Eastern Sierra, California
📸 October 10, 2026

#EasternSierra #FallColors #AspenSeason #SierraNevada #BishopCalifornia taken in Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains by @wilderness_chick

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5 days ago

❄️ Winter is coming! ☃️🌨️

A little early-season snow driving over Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park today, October 12! 🏔️

A little history about this beautiful stretch of the Sierra Nevada! ⬇️📚

Did you know the name Tioga has Indigenous roots? The name is traced to the northeastern United States and is commonly interpreted as meaning “at the forks.” It eventually made its way west and became associated with the Tioga Mining District during the silver-mining boom of the late 1800s.

But the history of this route goes back much further!

Long before the road was constructed, Indigenous communities traveled and traded across the Sierra using the Mono Trail, which much of the original Tioga Road followed. The Mono Lake Kootzaduka’a Tribe and other Indigenous communities maintain deep cultural and ancestral connections to this landscape today.

In 1882–1883, the Great Sierra Wagon Road was constructed to supply mining operations near Tioga Pass, eventually becoming part of the scenic route we travel today.

At 9,943 feet, Tioga Pass is one of California’s highest highway passes. With winter approaching, the road typically closes sometime in October or November and reopens in late spring or early summer, depending on snowfall.

🚗 Planning one last Sierra adventure? Early-season storms can bring temporary road closures, so always check conditions before heading out!

📞 Yosemite Road Conditions: (209) 372-0200, then press 1 and 1.

📞 Caltrans Highway Conditions: 1-800-427-7623.

A little snow, a little history, and a reminder that winter in the Sierra is right around the corner! ❄️ taken in Tioga Pass Road by @wilderness_chick

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6 days ago

A little peak bagging around Donner Pass! ⛰️🌲 Knocked out Mt. Judah & Donner Peak, caught some beautiful fall colors, drank some good coffee, and spent some time exploring around Truckee. Pretty dang good way to spend a fall weekend in the mountains! 🍂☕️💚

A little history from the trail! Mt. Judah is named after Theodore Judah, the engineer who helped make the Transcontinental Railroad through the Sierra Nevada a reality. Donner Peak gets its name from the infamous Donner Party, who became stranded in these mountains during the winter of 1846–1847. Pretty wild to think about all the history tucked into these mountains!

Views from the top of Donner Pass 🏔️

Such beautiful views of Donner Lake from up here 🫶

P.S. Wearing one of my favorite @americanbackcountry tees! They make some seriously cute adventure shirts, and my code EMILY-20 gets you 20% off if you see something you like. 🌲💚

WE LOVED THESE MOSSY TREES 🌲

So happy my friend @molly_troop came to visit! 💕

Fall colors coming through 🍁🍂🍃

More mossy trees 💚🌲💚🌲💚

Some of our day hikes took us along parts of the PCT

Swung by @drinkcoffee_dostuff who makes an AMAZING lavender latte ☕️

@littletruckeeicecreamery has DELICIOUS ice cream, I’ve had it twice in the past 2 weeks 🤪🍨

🚂 Fun fact: The Truckee Railroad Museum is actually housed inside an old Southern Pacific caboose right in downtown Truckee! It’s free to visit and packed with little pieces of the town’s railroad history, including the Transcontinental Railroad. Such a cool little stop while exploring town!

These petroglyphs were carved into the granite by Indigenous people long before the railroad, highways, and all of us hikers came through. Thousands of years of history in a place most people drive right past. Pretty incredible to think about all the people who have traveled through these mountains before us. ❤️

Donner Lake for sunset 🌅

Walking through a little piece of history! 🚂⛰️ These old railroad tunnels were carved through the Sierra granite in the 1860s for the Transcontinental Railroad. Pretty dang cool that you can still explore them today!

Saw these cool looking clouds while coming into Truckee ☁️ taken in Sierra Nevada Mountains by @wilderness_chick

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10 days ago

I keep thinking about later.

Later, when there is more time.
Later, when there is more money.
Later, when work isn’t so busy
and the timing is better.

There are mountains I haven’t seen yet.
Roads I haven’t taken.
People I haven’t met.
Cold mornings and long trails
and places I don’t even know the names of yet.

And somehow
I am supposed to save all of that
for later?

We talk about time
like we know how much of it we have.

Like there will always be another summer.
Another flight.
Another chance to say yes.

But we don’t know that.

So I want to go now.

I want to swim in the cold water.
Take the long way home.
Sleep under the stars.
Watch the sun come up somewhere
I had to work to get to.

I want scraped knees
and tired legs
and stories that take too long to tell.

I want to stand beneath things
that were here long before me
and will be here long after
and remember how briefly
I get to be here at all.

Maybe that sounds a little reckless.

But I think it would be far more reckless
to spend this one wild life
waiting for the right time to live it.

The mountains will still be here someday.

I might not.

So when someone asks,
what if we do it later?

I think I know my answer.

We can die later.

Right now,
I want to live. taken in Switzerland by @wilderness_chick

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12 days ago

My friends come in many shapes & sizes & I love them all so much
🦋🐛🐸🐻🦆🐝🐭🪲🦌🐿️ taken in Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains by @wilderness_chick

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12 days ago