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

Today's sunset looked like lava plumes behind Yosemite Falls! 🤯 🌄🌋 #Yosemite

Here is everything I actually bring with me backpacking ⬇️ #Yosemite #Backpacking

Like most people who applied for Half Dome day hike permits via the early season lottery - I got denied/not selected. 🫩 Fortunately there is a better way which is ultimately more reliable and better experience -> backpacking with Half Dome eligible permits! medium.com/p/you-didnt-... #Yosemite

Tunnel View this morning. A winter wonderland ☃️ #Yosemite

Stary night and moonrise over Half Dome basecamp. 🌠🏕🏞✨️ #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

1,500 year old coastal redwoods 🌲 Henry Cowell State Park

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

Want to hike Half Dome without dealing with the lottery? I’ve got 6 trips with permits already secured. Not “we’ll try to get permits” Not “dates may change” These are real, confirmed trips. See live availability + book instantly → yosemite.life/2026-backpac...

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

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 🐻🫶

Just a routine sunday evening sunset in Yosemite National Park Glowing rocks and all 🌄✨️ #Yosemite

What is "the best" view point in Yosemite? Is there a "best"? There is no single best. That is an impossible task to say one place is better than any other. There are so many. OMG Point is definitely a contender and hardly anyone goes there. Check out my trail guide for your next Yose visit! 🏞️

Do you want to stand here on top of the Half Dome summit? You will need a special permit. It is one of the hardest to get in the system. My guide outlines how to get one and strategies for increasing your odds. Fyi- you have 2 weeks to get your lottery app submitted! Act now 🫡🏞

As a business startup, I researched my competition in Google Search - and what I found is that every single <page 1> link on Google is using dirty tricks like bot farms, fake 'backlinks' and some of them are outright ILLEGAL non-NPS permitted Read what I uncovered #Yosemite #ParkChat #NationalParks

A wonderful waterfall day in Yosemite 🌈 I spent 4 hours here today watching the waterfall blow from side to side, swirling and misting and the rainbows transition from place to place. I love this place! Every day should be like this. 🏞 #Yosemite

Getting Yosemite backpacking permits can be confusing and frustrating. This How-To guide outlines all the ways to get a permit - including all my Pro Tips to actually get one! 🫡✅️ 🏕️🏞️ #Yosemite #Backpacking #Hiking

Sentinel Fall - 12th tallest waterfall in the world - 2,070 ft. It is the 2nd tallest in Yosemite, behind Yosemite Falls. Flowing nicely now. It is an early melt this year of what has already been a low winter. Im going to hike to the base of this later today! #Yosemite #Waterfall #Hiking

Exciting news! Yosemite Life is now the official home for my guide business ✨ MountainsCalling.me remains my personal space for parks stories. Explore: Yosemite.Life yosemite.life 🏞️

Junior Ranger Eric, Reporting for duty! 🫡 🌋 #NationalParks

My Yosemite Guide business is officially launched! #Yosemite #ParkChat #Hiking #Backpacking #NationalParks

🥁📣🚨 My big Yosemite news! I've obtained a Commercial Use Authorization from the National Park Service to guide in Yosemite — a genuine dream come true. I offer private guided day hikes and small group backpacking trips. More details and booking at mountainscalling.me

The SuperBowl of National Parks nature phenomenon... Firefall in Yosemite 🌄❤️‍🔥 This was the scene on Sat. The crowd visible in this picture is about 3% of the total around this general area. Sat-Sun were both great. But looking back at the footage I got, saturday edged it slightly. #Yosemite

Only in Yosemite. The greatest place on earth. 🔥🌄✨️ #Yosemite

Today's Firefall was 🔥 #Yosemite

The stars do not streak across the sky. We do. Stars are still. It is the Earth beneath your feet that is spinning - carrying your tent, your sleeping bag, your brief and beautiful life - through the dark. #Yosemite

When the wind blows. We lose power. The wind is blowing. You know what that means... Power is out. My UPS says "61min runtime remaining"... PG&E better hurry!

Shelton is my hero. This video talks about my recent encounter and includes snippets of him playing various flutes. #Yosemite #ParkChat

A wise man, filled with deep knowledge of this world and Yosemite. Endless stories and facts. I will continue to look for Shelton over the next few months. He said he is sticking around here when he retires. Some day I hope to bump into him on the trail. #Yosemite #ParkChat

My Yosemite life story is about to take a turn down a different trail... a good one! My day got real bright when an email from NPS landed in my inbox. More details soon! I promise 🏞️🫶✨

Secured my Brooks Camp permit Saturday morning. Here's the full story of why Katmai became my #2 favorite park. 🐻 #Katmai

Something in that look - what's going through their head right now? 🐻 #Katmai

Today's sunset on the west end of Yosemite Valley. Ribbon Fall tucked away, just casually being the tallest single-drop waterfall in North America, while El Cap shows off in the sun. 🌞🌄✨️ I love this place 🫶 #Yosemite

YESSSSSS!!!! 1 WEEK IN #KATMAI !!!!!!!! ALREADY COUNTING DOWN THE MINUTES!!!! #ParkChat

Rec dot gov anxiety right now 1,000% #Katmai

We are now in the mountains and they are in us. ~Muir #Yosemite

The last few days sunset at Sentinel Bridge have been 🔥✨️ #Yosemite

No natter what I have been thru, I continue to be drawn to El Cap. I can and have spent days of my life staring at this rock. Examining every part of it. I love the way the light hits it early afternoon, and then of course as sunset baths it in alpenglow. 🌅✨️ #Yosemite

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

Good morning from Tunnel View 🌅🏞👋 #Yosemite

When people come here this place goes into them as much as they go into the place. That's the power of National Parks. They don't change you, they make you into something better. These places have an alchemy of mind and spirit that reveals who you really are. ~NPS Ranger Shelton Johnson #Yosemite

This place. These people. 🏞♥️🧡💛💚💙🩵💜🏞 #Yosemite

The mountains called me here. To this place. Where my mind, body and spirit feel whole. At peace. I feel it as soon as I arrive. I carry it with me when I leave, but little by little it escapes. I never want that feeling to end. I always must return to this place to refill my wholeness. #Yosemite

Sunset today was incredible 🔥 Aptos California 🌅