“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
– John Muir
This is a collection of unlikely things encountered on hiking
trails. Locations are in California unless otherwise specified.
Remains of a railroad trestle near Tamaroo Bar, Auburn
The Sword in the Stone at Lake Angela, near Old Donner Summit
{disappeared in winter of 2023-2024}
On the Shirland Canal Trail, Auburn {cut down in 2022}
On a car window in Escalante, Utah
At the Murphy Gate on SR-49 near Auburn
Valentine message in the South Yuba River near Bridgeport
Unlikely rock mosaic on the Salmon Lake Trail, Tahoe NF
Llamas in training on the Pacific Crest Trail near Carson Pass
In Capitol Gorge, Capitol Reef NP, Utah
Circumhorizon arc (ice halo) over Round Top, Mokelumne Wilderness
Miwok flag on the Mono Pass Trail, Yosemite NP
An unusual location for a nest in Zion NP
Car window sticker at the Grouse Lakes Trailhead, Tahoe NF
The Purple People Eater terrorizes hikers at Emerald Pools, Zion NP
The Wapama Falls Footbridge in Yosemite is a camera-killer
An inspiring message at the Lake Sabrina Trailhead
Treed bear cub in Crescent Meadow, Sequoia NP
Mellowing out on the Peek-a-Boo Loop, Bryce Canyon NP, Utah
Contrails clutter the sky above Ellis Peak, near Lake Tahoe
This flag on Ebbetts Peak, Mokelumne Wilderness, has electric lighting
The now-defunct Hayduke Library at Cronan Ranch, near the American River
Construction tramway to Agnew Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness
Mating Grasshoppers on Mount Eddy, Shasta-Trinity NF
Backpackers with lawn chairs on the John Muir Trail, Yosemite NP
Hang gliding near the Cerro Piltriquitrón Trailhead, Argentina
The Catalonian flag at Torres del Paine NP, Chile
Friendly tabby on the Huemul Glacier Overlook Trail, Argentina
Vernal Fall inside a tree on the Panorama Trail, Yosemite NP
An unlikely water spout near the summit of Red Peak, Mokelumne Wilderness
A banged-up human at the Lofty Lake Trailhead, Uinta Mountains, Utah
Three women on the Medicine Bow Peak Trail in Wyoming, who actually sent an email
Solar-powered water supply for trail workers at Upper Cathedral Lake, Yosemite NP
Solo climber atop Cathedral Peak, Yosemite NP ⇔
Directions to White Mountain Peak at Barcroft Station, White Mountains
Propane tank cover near Scout Carson Lake, Eldorado NF
Marmot-deterrent wire at the Kokanee Lake Trailhead, British Columbia
Unhappy with the air quality at Monarch Lakes, Sequoia NP
Armada of floating potties at Lake Clementine, near Auburn
This fence doesn't do much at Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, Utah
Trapped inside a rock at Upper Muley Twist Canyon, Capitol Reef NP, Utah
Atop The Corkscrew at Fisher Towers east of Moab, Utah
Off-roading in Pritchett Canyon near Moab, Utah
Getting around the Devils Garden in Arches NP, Utah
Avoiding the sun on the Pacific Crest Trail near Ebbetts Pass
Railroad memorabilia on the Western States Trail near Auburn ⇔
At the Monte Piana WWI Outdoor Museum Trailhead, Dolomite Mountains, Italy
Woodcarving on Rasciesa Ridge, Dolomite Mountains, Italy
Carved water troughs on the Val Ciamin Trail, Dolomite Mountains, Italy
Not what one would hope to see in the Virgin River Narrows of Zion NP, Utah
Lunch is waiting for Yours Truly at The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona
Christmas in January on the Pointed Rocks Trail near Auburn
Yarn art on the Western States Trail near Auburn
Unusual trail access at Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve near Winters
A stern directive at the head of Tenaya Canyon, Yosemite NP
Heartfelt message at Lukens Lake, Yosemite NP
Unlikely tattoos on the Rob Roy Glacier Trail, New Zealand
An exquisite seashell collection on the Haast River, New Zealand
Spreading good cheer on the Hooker Valley Trail, New Zealand
Sadistic humor on the Mueller Hut Trail, New Zealand
River rock art on the Routeburn Track, New Zealand
A Turquoise-Crested Humanoid on the Milford Track, New Zealand
A lovely reminder at the Elowah Falls Trailhead, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Amish Women "hikers" in Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP
The ugliest thing in the High Sierra, on the Nunatak Nature Trail near Tioga Pass
At the Snowgrass Flats Trailhead, Goat Rocks Wilderness, Washington
Inspiring message at the Visitor Center, Zion NP, Utah
Sandbar art at Tamaroo Bar, on the North Fork American River near Auburn
On the Dean Ranch in the Sutter Buttes near Yuba City
On the Musch Trail, Topanga Canyon State Park
On the Feather Falls Trail east of Oroville
Shouldering the load unsupervised at Lake Genevieve, Desolation Wilderness
Someone else also likes snowplants near Caples Creek, Eldorado National Forest
Narrowly avoiding disaster on Mount Watkins, Yosemite National Park
A great gift on the Winnemucca Lake Trail, Mokelumne Wilderness
Doggie discipline on the Dipsea Trail, Marin County
Snake skin at Shealor Lakes, Eldorado National Forest
A laid-back residence on the Dipsea Trail staircase, Marin County
Something is watching in Sand Cave near Kanab, Utah
Something else is watching in Buckskin Gulch east of Kanab, Utah
Heartfelt tributes at Hidden Falls Regional Park near Auburn
We know what they like at the Rubicon Peak trailhead, Lake Tahoe
