A Quarantine Guide for the Outdoor Enthusiast

Written by Tyson Baker


Take me back to the mountains, to the California Sierra Nevada. Where various trails brought a smile to my face, and the trees brought joy to my soul. Take me to a place where I can explore the great outdoors without having to shelter in place.  Take me to a place other than home, for I am home when I am in the unknown.

How can we safely adventure when all the National Parks are closed, most trails have shut down, and we have been ordered to shelter in place? To be honest, the whole quarantine thing is very limiting for the outdoor lover, making it feel like we have to put our lives on hold for the time being. 

While sheltering in place I find myself reminiscing on past adventures. More specifically, on the many times I have hiked to a place I cherish most in the world—a rough, serrated mountain known as Sawtooth Peak. Rising over twelve thousand feet, it is a staple of Mineral King. This spot has always held a special place in my heart. Let me tell you why. I have been coming to Sawtooth Peak since I was an early teen. This peak continues to bring me memorable experiences year after year, so I hold its significance up high. I’ve come to Sawtooth peak to free my thinking, write my heart out, feel, imagine, and so much more! What I’ve come to realize, is that being on top of that giant peak, surrounded by views of the Great Western Divide, truly enhances my vision, so-to-speak, giving me mental clarity and a sense of understanding of this world. I try to make the twenty-five mile drive up Mineral King Road a few times a year so that I can make the challenging hike to Sawtooth Peak and refresh my soul. 

The excitement of the adventure starts with the first curve of what will end up being over three hundred twists and turns through Mineral King Road. This narrow, one-lane, mountain road contains amazing views of nature around every corner. Once entering Mineral King, you are greeted with a glacier-carved valley filled with flowing creeks, luscious meadows, and bundles of aspen trees as far as the eye can see. The trailhead to Sawtooth welcomes a series of abrupt switchbacks, gaining elevation for over half a mile to Timber Gap Junction. Keeping right to continue to Sawtooth, there’s a gradual climb through forests and meadows toward Lower Monarch Lake—this is a great place to stop for lunch and take in the surrounding landscapes, as it is at the base to the summit. 

Upon starting the ascent to the summit, you are truly challenged by the sand, digging your feet in, basically taking two steps forward and one step back. The journey continues, through all the forces of nature, climbing two thousand feet in elevation, with never ending rockslides and exposed cliffsides to the top of Sawtooth Pass. Just about when you’re considering giving up, you’ll find yourself alone, in peaceful solitude, staring up at the top of Sawtooth Peak. For the final climb, you have to scramble up the ragged-toothed ridge to reach the top of the peak. This part definitely leaves you feeling like Hercules, strong and powerful, but also out of breath and tired from the epic journey. 

I can sit at that summit for hours, looking out on the land below, while clearing my mind and meditating on the day’s trek. For me, being at the top of Sawtooth generates a variety of different emotions. Initially I feel comforted, being fully enveloped by the backcountry scenery. Quickly, this turns to a sense of joy, a blissful ecstasy, that makes me feel more alive! Standing at the peak relieves the stress built up from my over-scheduled life and balances my mind. Finally, a calmness washes over me as I enjoy one last view of my most treasured place on this earth. A fulfilling trail that’s worth every grueling mile. I end the hike in high spirits every time. 

So, cheers to sheltering in place, reminiscing on old adventures, and patiently planning in anticipation for the moment that I can return.


Tyson Baker, a California Central Valley native, is more than familiar with what the surrounding landscape has to offer. Tyson has traveled all across this glorious state, picking up nuggets of insight, culture, and what it means to have true grit. As a skilled Barista and Roaster for a local coffee shop, he enjoys slingin’ those espresso shots and bringing a cup of perfectly crafted caffeine-deliciousness to the town’s customers. Aside from coffee, he has a deep passion for writing and creating. His recent endeavor has been to share his writings and stories in hopes that they will inspire, harmonize, educate, and encourage those that read them. You can read more of his little musings on his Instagram page @tysun.baker.

On his days off, Tyson is likely out on some adventure—be it exploring the backcountry in the nearby Sequoia National Park, road-tripping with his buddies, or cruising through country roads, enjoying the uninhabited hillsides, until he reaches the coastline to hunt for coves and sea caves that are calling his name. Though not all adventures are on such a large scale. Sometimes adventures are found in the small things too: like cozying up with a good book that takes his mind away from reality for a bit, or sharing a laugh and a good meal with the people that matter most.

Whatever your adventure is, Tyson wants to tell you this: Don’t be afraid to get out there and experience something new. Explore. Create. Share. And love one another. 

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