Maura and Jack were visiting family in Minnesota for the weekend so I planned a backpacking trip with my friends Marie and Jesse. After seeing the incredible photos our friend Kelly took from Phelps Basin a couple of weeks prior we knew exactly where we wanted to go. At 13 miles round trip (6 miles out to Spider Meadows and another half mile to Phelps Basin) and only 1900 feet of elevation gain, Phelps Basin is a low-key overnight destination. It’s also a jumping off point to an awesome loop hike and a number of scrambles to nearby summits. But with limited time…
Merritt Lake
Every year a group of our outdoorsy friends gather for a “Multi-Sport Weekend” in September when the crowds have thinned and the weather has cooled. In the past we have done some dirtbag camping, finding a large enough campsite at a roadside pull-off and roughing it. Now, as we are getting older and babies are being born, we find a cabin centrally located amongst numerous possible activities is far more desirable. This year we headed east on Highway 2 and found a cabin that was large enough to fit 12 adults and 2 babies. It was about 20 minutes west…