Yosemite Facelift 2024
Landmark hit the road again!
For the second year in a row, my team has journeyed from the East Coast to the West for the annual Yosemite Facelift event. This year, we partnered with Native Camper Vans and began our trip in Las Vegas, NV where we flew in and picked up our two homes on wheels for the week as we made our drive to Yosemite, CA.
On the first night of our road trip we camped in the Eastern Sierra’s at an elevation of about 10,000 ft. We hiked in the Inyo National Forest, part of the John Muir Wilderness, and saw a dozen incredible lakes along the snowcapped mountain trails. This is one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been and we only saw a handful of people the entire time, a stark contrast to the populated Yosemite Valley.
When we finished our afternoon hike, we made our way out of the mountains and west into the Mammoth Lakes region where we took a dip in the wonderfully named Wild Willy’s Hot Spring. We were sore and exhausted, making this the perfect way to end our second night out West.
The next day, our Landmark team had officially returned to California for another week of Yosemite Facelift! This year over 13,000 lbs of trash was collected throughout the park and we were lucky enough to participate in another special project — seed collection. Last year we spent hours in the valley planting native species back into the ground to promote natural growth and wildlife. This time around, we got to collect seeds from matured plants so they could be harvested and replanted back into these spaces where the rangers want to encourage nature to begin restoring.
One of my favorite parts about this trip was the amazing group of people that we got to spend it with. From travel influencers, writers, bloggers, and designers, we hosted a group of very talented outdoor enthusiasts that helped tell not just our story, but showcase why restoration in our National Parks is so crucial.
This event has continued to open my eyes to the way we steward and care for our natural places. In order to continue enjoying them for generations, we must do our part to help nature and its wildlife thrive. Working with partners like Leave No Trace, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Forest Service, has been one way that we at Landmark make sure our products give back and support.
I am honored and frequently reminded of the uniqueness and absolute blessing that my career has led me to places and people such as this. Seeing our products out in these parks is the culmination of so much dedication and creative work. As I reflect on this experience, I have nothing but gratitude for my team, the park rangers, and the volunteers who make events such as this a reality — thank you all.
To learn more about our trip and the people we worked with, click the link below!