Call of the Sierras

May 21

When I left grad school I knew I was going to need some time to clear my head before diving into my career. So, I planned a month-long hiking trip through the High Sierras of California, ending at the lake my father first took me overnight camping. I had trained by running, had summited many of the peaks around Seattle, carried heavier packs than necessary on local hikes, and wore my new boots religiously each day. Still, on day four, I hobbled into Reds Meadow with very sore feet. I decided to take an extra rest day in Mammoth to let them heal before setting back out on the trail. My buddy, ski partner, and hiking companion stayed the extra day with me and, when it came to making that very hard decision, she was right there with me too.

Lisa Michelle, author, explorer, and angler fly fishes a High Sierra lake at sunset

Only the first leg of my journey, I left Tuolumne Meadows solo and made my way south into Inyo National Forest. I camped next to lakes, crossed high alpine passes, and navigated snowfields with very little interaction with other humans. (There was also a couple of hours off-trail as I mistakenly followed a horse path to a remote stables but, we’ll not dwell on that little oops.) As my path neared Thousand Island Lakes on the third day, a popular destination along the John Muir Trail, signs of other hikers built. After a brief rest, I continued on the trail South to camp away from the groups. Down a valley and up a moderate pass I came upon Garnet Lake and decided this was to be home for the night. I had the lake to myself until one other person made the same choice.

Lisa was on her own solo journey along the JMT and set up camp near the foot of the lake. i watched from my vantage point along the side while I ate dinner as she settled in. Soon, she revealed a fly rod and approached the waters edge, tossing the line in.

“Well, this is silly,” I thought, “there’s only the two of us, I should say hello.”

And so I did. We chatted briefly while she fished and I admired the surroundings.

“Do you mind if I take pictures of you fishing?” I asked. “Anything that you like you’re welcome to have.”

“Sure!”

And so I did.

After about an hour or so of sparse conversation, the sun having receded behind the ridgeline, we said our goodnights and went to our respective camps.

The next morning I woke early to make my way into Reds Meadow as I had planned on meeting my buddy there. She had been hiking south on the PCT and, when we realised our plans had us in the same area over this span of time, we insisted we meet for a trail beer. Glancing down at the base of the lake, Lisa’s campsite had already been broken down and there was no sign of her in the area. I hiked on through the day, enjoying the surroundings but, becoming concerned about the stinging feelings in my heels. It was about midday that I crossed Lisa’s path once again while she was swimming in a pristine lake. I thought I should get some form of contact so I could let her see the images I took.

We crossed paths one last time that day at a river crossing but, that was the last I saw her in person. It was only later that I learned she was an author and called the Sierras home. I’ve read a couple of her books and we’ve stayed in touch through social media. But, nothing could ready me for the message I received one day from her.

“Hey! I’ve written a book about the High Sierras and I think that image you took of me fishing would make a great cover. Can I use that?”

I’ve taken a lot of pictures, I’ve sold images as fine art, I’ve captured content for brands but, I can’t be more proud than being on the cover of a Lisa Michelle book.

True Nature

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There’s no Other Place Like the High Sierras.

With its clear alpine lakes encompassed by massive slabs of granite and pine forests sprawling through far-reaching valleys, the High Sierras are home to magical places like Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks along with many unique wilderness areas. Having spent much of my youth living in the foothills of these special places, I still call these mountains “home”, no matter where I move. So, when an opportunity comes up for a trip into the backcountry of the Sierras, I have to say “yes.”

In mid-August of this year, I will be joining three other hikers to spend six days in the backcountry of Yosemite as we camp and flyfish our way along a section of the Tuolumne River. While there, I will be capturing media for selected brands relevant to the trip. This is an moment for growing brands to have their products featured in one of the most stunning locations ever seen!

And the best news is: there’s still room for a couple more brands!

Imagine, your gear featured in use against the unmatched terrain backdrop of the High Sierras inside of majestic Yosemite. If this sounds like you, let’s talk about how we can collaborate on this opportunity.

Additionally, there’s opportunities for overlanding makers during the road trip to and from the event!