Eric

Eric

@mountainscalling.me

National Parks changed my life. Now I tell their stories — and guide private day hikes + backpacking trips in Yosemite. 63/63 National Parks https://yosemite.life/

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Today on the Mist Trail The waterfalls are roaring. It is beautiful but somewhat worrying as they should be flowing less with more water locked up in snow. Big storm coming. Hoping for cold+snow. #Yosemite

Half Dome summit #18 ✅️ It was a great day, perfect conditions. Clients did great. Already have multiple clients booked for Half Dome trips next year. Now we start counting down the days till the cables go back up. 🏞🖼🌄🏕 #Yosemite #Parkchat

Came back from Half Dome and found that tent parked on the turn off to my tent site. This person has high-end wilderness equipment, zero grasp of basic Yosemite wilderness campsite selection. “Camp at least 100 feet (40 paces) from both any water source and trail.” #Yosemite #ParkChat

Katmai bear cub in a tree. 🧸🫶 It had two siblings in the tree as well. Watching them balance, hang on and move around to get more comfortable holds on tiny branches for about 20 minutes was a treat. #Katmai

Katmai bear waiting patiently for fish on the lip of Brooks Falls. This is one of the favorite images I took in my 8 days. This bear would get on the lip, sit down and wait for fish. No matter how long it took she would get her fish! #Katmai

Bear 128 Grazer can't be bargained with, she can't be reasoned with. She does not feel stuffed, or tired, or full! And she absolutely will not stop, ever, until all the fish are eaten! 🐻🎣 #Katmai

My wife finally made it to this spot! 🤗 Counted 30 bears in the water around when I took this. Day 1 of 8 in the books. We made it on time. Got our tent setup with a nice water view. Saw lots of bear action. Took ~1,200 photos! Fun times! 🫠🙃🙂 #Katmai

Exit Glacier in the top left. In 1889 the foot of that glacier was just a few hundred feet past this sign. #NationalParks #ParkChat

Living here has been the best 6 years of my life - so far. 😉 When you have something, you take it for granted. Until its gone. Gonna miss this place for sure! 🫶🌅

Shelton retires on June 25th I had to make sure I visit him one more time before then. He gave me tips on how to play my eagle bone flute. And I told him if he is walking on the south side valley loop trail and hears a flute sound, it might be me! 🤠 #Yosemite #NationalParks #ParkChat

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~Muir 🌄 #Yosemite

Exciting day today 😀 We officially own property outside Yosemite's west entrance! In the Midpines / Mariposa area. No longer measuring distance to Yosemite in "hours", now in "minutes". The dream has come true. 🏡🏞🫶✨️

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out until sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. #Yosemite

I have been real quiet lately. Lots of big big stuff happening in life on every front. One special project I have been working on... is ready, submitted and in-review. Coming soon to an App Store near you! #Yosemite #NationalParks #ParkChat

Got soaked on the Mist Trail today. Peak of the Merced may be happening now. Half Dome tomorrow 🏞⛺️🧡🌞 #Yosemite

NPS Ranger Shelton Johnson and I in front of the Yosemite Museum 5/10/26 Today I told him about my 63 National Parks journey tied back to Ken Burns series and his appearance and park descriptions which drew me here. In some way I am here because of him. 🫡 #NationalParks #Yosemite #Parkchat

Just booked Kenai Fjords boat tour for July and I can hear the captain's voice in my head right now ..... "Welcome to Kenai Fjords National Park" 🐋🐻🦅🦦🦭🐳 #NationalParks

I used to work in a building that had a bunch of overhead speakers that just pump out static-like "white noise"... My Yosemite office noise generator is 300 cubic feet of water falling 2,425ft every second. Mixed with occasional bird sounds. 👨‍💻🏞🐦🐦‍⬛✨️ #Yosemite #Work

One of the best decisions I ever made was to get this van. The adventures "Sierra" and I have been on,...dont fit in 300char! 🚐💯💯💯💯 Some people around me doubted the idea of the van... My advice to anyone is: follow your heart. Don't live someone else's version of your life! YOLO! #Yosemite

Summited Clouds Rest yesterday. It was a perfect bluesky day. We did not see a single other person on the trail. Had the whole summit to ourselves. The angled view of Half Dome from here is quite unusual, in a good way 😎 Another great Yosemite day! #Yosemite

The 1864 Yosemite Grant protected two places: Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove. The National Park idea started here, among 500 giant sequoias most visitors barely scratch the surface of. My new trail guide covers every route from 30 minutes to the full day. 🌲 #Yosemite #NationalParks #Hiking

yosemite.lifeMariposa Grove Yosemite: Trail Guide (2026)Complete guide to Mariposa Grove trails, giant sequoias, shuttle logistics, and the best routes from a quick walk to the full upper grove loop.

Yay! I got selected for my first-choice again for Yosemite Conservancy Work Week Trail Crew! 🥳🎉 Doing trail work side by side with NPS...in the Mariposa Grove 🌲🌲🌲🫶✨️ This will be one of the highlights of my year! Can't wait 🙂 #Yosemite

Alcatraz Night tour 😀 I brought my completed Jr Ranger book with me twice last year and no park staff available to help me. Today a very helpful NPS Volunteer reviewed my book and swore me in. 🫡 Ya'll would love my artwork on the last page of the book. 🤓 #NationalParks

My favorite trail in all of the 63 National Parks: The Mist Trail This guide tells you all the various routes, including my preferred route and justifies why - if you can only hike one trail in Yosemite - it should be the Mist Trail. 🏞️🌈✨ yosemite.life/articles/mis... #Yosemite

yosemite.lifeOnly One Hike in Yosemite? Make It the Mist TrailTwo waterfalls, 600 granite steps, and rainbows in the mist. Complete Mist Trail guide from a permitted Yosemite guide.

The #1 question I get asked when I livestream in #Yosemite backcountry -> "what about bears?" or some version of a bear question Fear and uncertainty it seems is the starting place for the questions In this article I outline why bears should not be feared, but respected + how to stay bear safe 🐻🫶

yosemite.lifeBackpacking in Bear Country: Bear Safety & Food StorageBear safety, food storage, and bear canister tips for backpacking in bear country. Written by a permitted Yosemite guide.