Kings Canyon Rae Lakes Loop: The Ascent, Days One and Two, 4K

The Rae Lakes loop in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular places for hiking and backpacking in California. Join us for days one and two of our four day backpacking adventure, as we journey from Road's End to Mist Falls, Paradise Valley, Dollar Lake, and the awe-inspiring Rae Lakes, with plenty of backpacking blunders and trail fails along the way.
ABOUT US
We’re Adam and Elise, a couple who believes that adventure is the best therapy. We’ve climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in gale-force winds, hiked Iceland’s famed Laugavegur trail in a sleet-storm, and run through Death Valley in 130 degree heat. Through it all we’ve laughed, cried, bled, bickered, and grown ever closer as a couple. Live Hard x Love Hard will inspire you to get into the wild and outside your comfort zone. Join us on our lifelong pursuit of adventure!

[@peterharrold3144]

so glad for these videos whis i could do them my self but my knees wont let me love you guys look forward to Thursdays and a new film

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

That's awesome to hear, Peter! One of our very favorite things about this channel is the chance to take many of you guys along on adventures you can't do any longer. We're very aware that time goes fast, and it won't be too many years before we're in that same situation ourselves. Hopefully then there will be others doing the same thing for us to watch as well! ❤️

[@albertochoa7331]

Love it a wonderful Force! In action.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thanks Albert -- this is truly one of the world's most beautiful hikes!! ❤

[@silkrose32]

Adam is a gentleman carrying Elise’s pack.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

He really is a gentleman, Rose. A couple of times over the years, he's even had to carry me -- and never once complained! --E

[@drummindreams]

Absolutely loved this trip too! So appreciate Your dedication to sharing your love of this world with us all.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thanks Jared! Rae Lakes is such a classic. Looking forward to getting back out there and maybe doing the one day version. You should give it a go!

[@mochadoze5140]

Great adventure video and Adam carrying both packs is "The Man."

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Haha! Part of my wonders if he did it just to hear you call him that 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ but in all seriousness, wow I don’t know that I could have finished that without his help. Day one of backpacking is always the most brutal, but who knew my labral tear would act up like that. Grateful for Adam and my appetite stepping up to eat away some weight of the food in the pack - haha!

[@Molir1x]

How about a bit of a different challenge?? The Everglades National Park is amazing and has many beautiful, slightly dangerous but great long and challenging trials to traverse. Long picturesque trails, spring water, islands, snorkeling, scuba diving and maybe a view of alligators, bear, stunning birds, cougars pythons and more. It would be awesome to see you on that adventure!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Robert that is actually a SUPER cool idea! Maybe we could even do it as a bike and hike, where we bike to several different iconic trails and hike them all in a day! Seriously, we had never thought of this before but now that you've put it in our heads it will probably happen at some point. We're really digging this idea. Thank you!

[@grantbent]

If you head west from Rae Lakes you will reach Sixty Lakes Basin, one of the gems of the Sierra, and the entry point to climb the west-facing diagonal slabs that bring you to the top of Fin Dome - lunch spot extraordinaire.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Just looked up Fin Dome -- it looks incredible. Great suggestion -- will for sure have to go!

[@ariellemccracken9565]

What a gorgeous hike! You guys are incredible, I can’t believe Adam was carrying both packs! Thanks for taking us with you 😍

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

He’s insane!! But very happy that he’s insane 🤣 don’t know how I would have made it through that first day!

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Bam. Never got out there. That whole are from roads end over and around the loop with Rae Lakes added is what every Boyscout in California does, Kearsarge to Roads end is busy, that is why I go up Shepherd or Taboose. Then in.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

This was pretty darn gorgeous. We're trying to decide if we could do it as a long one-day sufferfest next time!

[@fordraven5884]

That is some of the most beautiful gorgeous mountains. I would have gone fishing right there🎣😎

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Yes this would be about as beautiful a place to fish as one can imagine! We didn't see anyone fishing on this hike, but we have seen people fishing up in the Sabrina Lakes area a lot when we hike up there, and they all seem totally blissed out!

[@microxphere]

Love the consistency of your enthusiasm, any moment in any day your energy is the same. Way to pack mule Adam, good man!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thanks for noticing that, Bill -- we really believe that constant positive focus and attitude is just as important as constant physical training when it comes to doing really hard things. Like carrying the two backpacks is a perfect example: I truly looked at it as an opportunity to do something challenging and cool, which made it much easier and more fun when the legs got a little shaky! --A

[@normiewoo787]

Wow!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Right?!? King's should be on everyone's bucket list.

[@stormw777]

Haha. Adam the machine. Takes on both back packs for a while. Good job guys.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Haha, thanks so much! It was the least I could do after letting her go out with that janky pack. Should definitely have checked it fully loaded before we left. But, whatever, at least it was good exercise 😂

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Gorgeous area.

[@AdamEdington]

Plenty of these glacial tarns in the walls of jerusalem National park and the central highlands around 40 lakes peak you'd really enjoy it there, some of my best memories as a kid come from doing this shit.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Heck yes! Nothing better than hiking hard and then jumping into some glacial melt!!

[@rebecabranco5399]

Love that.. What a hike!! Incredible 😍

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thanks Rebeca! This day was amazing but I think the descent may have been even more incredible! Couldn’t believe this place exists!

[@RidiPwn]

1:52 good that you broke you fall with your feet, that was dicey, that book better be worth it Adam :)

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Haha it was a Michael Connelly novel, so def worth a bit of suffering 😂 --A

[@RidiPwn]

@@LiveHardxLoveHard Ha ha. I heard about him so many times, never read anything. Which is your favorite, I would read that one. Reading Novel The Expanse, Earth 100's years into the future, we have colonized Mars and planets. Extremely good. It is written by the friends of George R.R. Martin

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

@@RidiPwn My favorite is a long series of novels called the Harry Bosch series -- they also made an awesome TV series out of it. So start with the first one -- I think it's The Black Echo -- and if you like it keep reading!

[@RidiPwn]

@@LiveHardxLoveHard cool, thanks

[@robertcalonico8008]

Loved it--SO beautiful!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

We would love to bring you there one day. I’d carry your pack for you!! ❤️❤️

[@2910Alison]

I love the part where he runs back and Elise fails on the backflip thing. So cute.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Haha we still laugh about that one -- poor Elise was actually kind of scraped up from it at the time, but now it's just straight up funny 😂

[@kaylaslifeincanada6321]

Beautiful views! Admired your determination! I’m not much a backpacking person and prefer to do day hikes! Excellent job you guys! Thanks for sharing!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Aw thank you so much Kayla! We definitely are more of single day hikers usually- even though we like to do challenging long hikes, there’s something more manageable about them knowing you will get to rest the next day. Backpacking is definitely a whole other world, but it was nice experiencing a new type of challenge. Sometimes nice to push yourself in a new way!

[@kaylaslifeincanada6321]

livehardxlovehard Totally agree! Used to do a few popular backpacking trails in the Rockies! Enjoyed those experiences for sure!

[@CandidlySharonH]

Just adore your videos and you both ❤️❤️💥Always such positive energy and beautiful breath taking views Keep being amazing...much love peace and light 💥💎❤️

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Aw thank you sharyn! It was definitely a mental challenge to stay positive through the pain in this one but we ended up pulling through! Thanks so much for encouraging us, it means the world ❤️

[@garyp.7501]

This is an absolutely beautiful video! Makes me want to go hiking again!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Do it Gary! And no better time than the present because like you were saying, offseason hikes have no mosquitoes and they're also way less crowded. You will feel incredible out there! ❤️

[@iqbalmatadar5862]

Well done

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thank you -- great and lesser known hike in the Sequoia area! ❤️

[@garu7045]

Oh boy - this is one I want to backpack too - and the JMT!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Yes! I hope you do get to do this one. It also gives you a little taste of the JMT and now we’re thinking we’d love to do the whole thing if we could. Would just need to figure out how to resupply, or maybe take some zero days. It would have been awesome to get another day just to spend enjoying the beauty of Rae Lakes!

[@davidstock7169]

Y’all are so great

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Aw thanks so much David! Hope you've got some awesome hiking adventures planned for the weekend!

[@ellenclary]

We are debating the direction we're going to take on a Rae Lakes trip. East or West side. I favor the East Kearsarge pass approach (it's the one I know and love), but your lovely video is making me reconsider. One question I had is the South Fork Kings River Bridge above Paradise Valley is washed out - how hard did that make an already challenging trip?

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

The washed out bridge is no problem, Ellen. It's fairly wide there, so it's not deep and no scary current. We just took our boots off and waded right across. So excited for you! We really enjoyed going the direction we did, and it might be fun for you since you've already done the other direction. But as you know, you simply can't lose when it comes to Rae Lakes. Can't wait to hear how it goes!!

[@waterfallmadman]

Fantastic trip and videos. I wanted to do this last year but could not due to the fires. Hopefully this year.

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Oh no, that’s so awful. We had a lot of friends who had to cancel as well. Fingers crossed for you this year, it really is a once in a lifetime experience ❤️

[@iqbalmatadar5862]

Very good

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thanks Iqbal -- this is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Sierra!

[@solukhumbu911]

hi adam and elise, this is such a beatufiul trip , do u have a route of this trip/? what navigation app did u use

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thank you -- glad you liked it! Rae Lakes really is incredible. We used AllTrails, and just downloaded the Rae Lakes Loop off of there. It worked great! ❤️

[@AdamEdington]

It must run with the name...you know Adam means Man,

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Haha when I was growing up, my dad told me that's exactly why he chose it! Yours as well? --A

[@AdamEdington]

@@LiveHardxLoveHard when I was 10 we did the infamous south coast track, a few weeks after Graham McPherson went missing. Back then I was smaller than my sister, and naturally expected a lighter pack, but my pack was heavy so being a 10yearold kid, I complained. So dad made me swap packs with my sister, I never complained about how heavy my pack was again, ever. Lesson learned. This was one of very few lessons my father taught me without his fists. He was moderately human in the outdoors. So I've got relatively good memories of dad in the outdoors. The adventures were priceless though, and some fond memories run deep, and for that the rotten bugger deserves some credit. We reckon we know where GM went missing, the currents are strong and the sea unforgiving. The southern ocean commands her own respect

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

@@AdamEdington I have very similar memories of my dad, from the fists to the love of outdoor adventure. Always try to remember him with gratitude on a summit.

[@AdamEdington]

@@LiveHardxLoveHard I'm so sorry to hear that, and on the other half of that, I'm glad you can find some goodness from the situation. If you want to talk more about it, but not so publicly, reply my email. I've developed a hard won philosophy as a result, and I find outdoor adventure really clears the head and puts things into sharp perspective.. At the same time it's really difficult to be down when you hoof it from one million dollar view to the next and soak your head in ice water that's so clear you just wanna get in it.

[@TravelwithSuri]

Sequoia is one of the beautiful NPs in California, unfortunately YNP overshadows this one ..) Great backpacking trip! 👍

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Completely agree! This is definitely one of the more underrated yet wholly spectacular treks in CA, if not the US!

[@courtneysisung2645]

Awesome video! Loved it! We are planning on hiking Rae’s loop next year! What time of year/month did you do this hike?

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thanks so much Courtney! And that is so awesome you’re going to have such an amazing time. We did this in July. Just make sure to prepare for the mosquitos and it will be great! ❤️

[@khanhg1795]

Thanks for capturing the beautiful landscape! Love seeing your adventures. Are you using a GroPro to record? The picture is so clear!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Thank you so much! Stoked to hear you love the adventures, and that the picture quality is turning out alright. We did just a GoPro 8 for this vid but have since started incorporating the iphone 12 because we find that does much better in low light. Trying to learn and improve little by little!

[@khanhg1795]

Thanks! Keep making your adventure videos!

[@TheDeterminedRunner]

That better be a good book? Stunning scenery yet again! Do you need to go to a designated camp area or can you camp anywhere? That water sounded cold, brrrr 👍🏃

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Haha that’s exactly what I said! Sadly I’m sure it was some sort of cheesy assassin book 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ so technically camping is supposed to be in designated areas- there are specific campgrounds and this is a permit lottery trek, which means you have to notify the rangers ahead of time what camp you plan to stay at each night. But the rangers were really cool and gave us tips about cool spots away from the “main” campgrounds where you could stay for the night. Holy moly the water was so cold! One would think after sweating all day you wouldn’t notice it but it was simply that freezing!

[@TheDeterminedRunner]

@@LiveHardxLoveHard Assassin book 🤣 It must have been research for him to run back for it 🤣 It sounds like you were lucky with the Ranger tips, much better getting some peace and quiet 😁

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

@@TheDeterminedRunner Adam loves to pretend his entire life is an assassin novel haha! This time the antagonist was BEARS. Hope you get to do this trek sometime, it really is spectacular. OR maybe do it as an ultra run - we met a few runners doing it all in a day and were super inspired!

[@TheDeterminedRunner]

@@LiveHardxLoveHard it sounds like a great run 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[@michaelb1761]

You are not required to stay in designated areas, just so long as you practice Leave No Trace principles and camp away from water on a durable surface (i.e. dirt, sand, or rock). You need to leave an itinerary with the rangers so they'll have an idea of where to go looking for you if you don't come back out on schedule, but you are not required to camp at the sites you chose ahead of time. That said, there are some large established sites, some even with bear boxes that you can store your food in (Rae Lakes for instance). If you find that you can't hike as far as you thought when you applied for your permit back home, you can stop sooner. You should try really hard to exit on your exit date (when hiking in Yosemite, they seem to have gotten really tight about this). For this reason, if I'm on a hike that I think will take me 6 days, I'll submit a plan for 7 - just in case.

[@PresentingVegas]

I’ve gotta ask - does Elise compose and perform all of her own music? (The voice kind of sounds like her?)

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

Haha, yep! We try to use mostly our own music for our vids (especially the more recent ones) so anything you hear with vocals is Elise.

[@RunHikeExplore]

What month was this hike?

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

We went in August, which is an absolutely gorgeous time to go if you can get a permit! ❤️

[@pietjansevanrensburg5230]

I've been wondering watching your videos: Adam often wears a cap facing backwards. Except a hard hat on climbing steep cliffs I've never seen Elise wear any headvover. Maybe you do put on sunscreen, but still- it must be uncomfortable walking with the sun blazing from above. Why not wear wide-brimmed hats? I do know that on video takes it will obscure faces, but still I wonder...

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

That's a good question. We do put on very strong broad spectrum sunscreen, and carry it with us to reapply, so that gives us pretty good protection. For the hat, Adam usually only turns it backwards when we're shooting because it lets the camera see his face (sometimes he forgets, but usually he turns it). But once the cameras are off he def turns it right back around to the front because he does not like sun blazing into his eyes. ❤️

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Mountain house food is King. Doesn't have all the goofy spices, just food. It and a jet-boil is all you need. Tea and coffee of course. As for water you can drink it if not in an area where people are not. That leaves out JMT. Giardia won't kill you but you will wish you were dead. I would never drink it unfiltered in the summer up at Whitney. Ever. If it is coming off a higher level than trail, way higher, then maybe, better to just spend your 110 bucks on a filtration device. I drank it 5 years unfiltered. Not recommended though.