The 8step guide to planning a thruhike on the john muir. May 21, 20 my wife, kathleen, and i hiked a portion of the john muir trail in the summer of 2007. There are several guide books available we used john muir trail. Back in 2014, i hiked for 22 days on the john muir trail, and to this day. The 8step guide to planning a thruhike on the john muir trail. Your path, across what many describe as the gentle wilderness, begins in the heart of yosemite national park and travels through the ansel adams wilderness, the john muir wilderness, kings canyon national park and sequoia national park. John muir trail planning, resupply, permit and map information. How to prepare for the john muir trail, with tips for long distance hike preparation. We have been going to stinson regularly so we decided to do this one. Jun 12, 2017 how to hike the john muir trail like a pro. John muir trail backpacking packing list rei coop journal. This is a land of,000foot and 14,000foot peaks, of lakes in the thousands, and of canyons and granite cliffs. The route starts at cottonwood lakes, makes its way up to the high point of the lower fortyeight states, mount whitney 4418m, and continues some two hundred miles to tuolumne in yosemite national park.
Your sectionbysection guide to the john muir trail declared one of the top five hiking trails on the planet by national geographic adventure magazine. This is a great resource to bounce ideas off people in the same situation as you or have experience doing what you plan to do. Decide if you will go solo or with a friend i hiked the john muir trail with one of my closest friends from college, and im so grateful we got to experience the trail together. Whitney along the spine of californias sierra nevada mountains. Running from mount whitney to yosemite valley in the sierra nevada. Experience mountains, lochs, canals and coastal scenery as you walk west to east from the shores of the clyde at helensburgh via historic edinburgh to dunbar, muirs birthplace. Permits reservations resupply points meal planning. A complete guide to hiking the john muir trail cleverhiker. Yosemite valley to tuolumne meadows, thousand island lake to reds meadow and crab tree meadow to mt. Precisely three years ago this day, my girlfriend and i and two hiking friends were driving up to lone pine, getting ready for a 22day thruhike of the epic 211mile john muir trail. Also, you can only mark up to 14 days per area sequoia national park, kings canyon national park, john muir wilderness, ansel adams wilderness, and yosemite national park on your itinerary.
Includes jmt guidebooks, memoirs, essays, and history of the sierra. Running from mount whitney to yosemite valley in the sierra nevada, the 212 mile john muir trail passes through some of the most dramatic. I am a huge fan of hiking with your spouse, but thats not what this post is about. A guide to hiking the john muir trail howstuffworks.
The john muir trail passes through kings canyon national park and sequoia national park, as well as numerous national forests and designated wilderness areas. For a classic yosemite valley start, the park service has a daily quota for the number of people per day exiting the park over donohue pass. The new john muir trail meticulously describes the entire trail and is written for todays hikers. John muir trail itinerary planning and resources trail to peak. It is not a place to ask basic questions that you can easily research via a guide book or map. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail wilderness press some people love this book, while others arent so smitten too much detail they complain, too heavy to hike with, and too small font. Sep 10, 2018 in 1920, he travelled the approximate path of the john muir trail, long before it was known as such, from happy isles to the evolution valley. For approximately 170 miles, the jmt travels the pacific crest trail. The john muir trail runs through the heart of the sierra nevada, the range of light. One of our fellows mentioned that you must now reserve your parking. A brief introductory section provides planning data, including information on permits, trailhead transport, and food resupplies.
Click here for an excellent guide to planning the john muir trail. Ease in travel north to south, so you can acclimatize to the latter halfs higher elevations. This coasttocoast trail across the heart of scotland celebrates the life and work of inspirational conservationist john muir 18381914. The john muir trail is also a land blessed with the mildest, sunniest. Apr 27, 2017 i just returned from an incredible two weeks on the john muir trail. Hiking the john muir trail with our 9 and 10 year old daughters. The john muir trail is a hiking trail between yosemite and mt. Descending the switchbacks on the south side of forester pass. The second major pass on the jmt is the silver pass, which winds hikers through a variety of creeks, lakes, and the occasional meadow on the way to the last opportunity to stock up on supplies at muir trail ranch. Very active group with many people who have thru hiked the jmt multiple times. This is a complete, digitalonly southtonorth edition of the best.
So stop fretting and get your ducks in a row with my 8step guide for planning that big backpacking adventure on the john muir trail. On your online itinerary, there may be a limit to the number of times that you can select otherdont know. The two miles between the intersection of the whitney trail and the john muir trail, and the summit, are probably going to be congested. Hiking the john muir trail alone was a celebration a way for me to acknowledge all that i am and was. Despite the authors success, wouldbe thruhikers would be wise to master the basics before tackling this 211miler. Arguably one of the most scenic sections of trail in america, every summer it. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail, now in its 5th edition from wilderness press, to guide them along the way. I was hooked from my very first 3 day backpacking trip in yosemite. The trail starts in americas treasure, yosemite national park, and continues 215 miles through the ansel adams wilderness, sequoia national park, kings canyon national park, and ends at the highest peak in continental united states, mount whitney at 14,496 ft. This entire area is endless when it comes to trails to hike. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Nov 04, 2016 in this post ill outline how to plan and prepare for your john muir trail itinerary to custom fit your needs and goals. Find out what happens when four people hike the 221mile john muir trail in just a week. I get up early on the last day of the hike, and leave guitar lake in the wee hours.
Last week i described what i consider the perfect alternative to the john muir trail for those who cannot get the two or three weeks off, who cannot get a wilderness permit, or for those who would like a onefifth scale model of the 211mile jmt to use as a training hike. As with other longdistance hiking trails, the john muir trail is popular with thruhikers, who attempt to complete the entire trail in one trip. Julia and i hiked 222 miles from yosemite valley to whitney portal, climbing 47,000 ft of elevation, and got to enjoy yosemite national park, ansel adams wilderness, john muir wilderness, kings canyon national park, and sequoia national park. The john muir trail is one of the finest hikes in north america.
What is until this point a relatively easy trail, moderate in incline, becomes increasingly challenging as mount whitney draws closer. The john muir trail jmt begins at happy isles trailhead in yosemite national park and passes through 220 miles of spectacular scenery as it takes hikers up to the highest mountain in the contiguous united states, mt. There are three places where the jmt and pct are different. Jmt maps and books pacific crest trail association. Planning your first longdistance thruhike can be a daunting task. Printerfriendly version pdf john muir trail permits and fees competition is fierce. Jul 06, 2017 it includes thruhiking the jmt, with tips on planning and keeping your pack lightwhich is the key component of any long hike. The john muir trail passes through what many backpackers say is the finest mountain scenery in the united states.
Home forums campfire posttrip reports hiking the john muir trail with our 9 and 10 year old daughters viewing 25 posts 1 through 25 of 52 total 1 2 3 forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx. It provides all the necessary planning information, including. John muir trail day and overnight hikes kathleen dodge doherty, jordan summers on. John muir trail trekking yosemite np sierra mountain hike.
The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail this incredibly detailed, turnbyturn guidebook is a musthave for anyone hiking the jmt. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail elizabeth wenk, kathy morey on. John muir trail data book updated wilderness press. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the 48 contiguous us states. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail, by elizabeth wenk and kathy morey. A derivative of the comprehensive wilderness press guidebook john muir trail by sierra expert elizabeth wenk, this data book is perfect for the weightconscious hiker. Running from mount whitney to yosemite valley in the sierra nevada, the 212mile john muir trail passes through some of the most dramatic. Jul 22, 2014 a derivative of the comprehensive john muir trail by sierra expert elizabeth wenk, this data book is perfect for the weightconscious hiker. Instead, id like to describe one of the many memorable experiences we had on the trail. They all show the trail, water sources, and other helpful information. Elizabeth wenks enthusiasm for the geology, flora and fauna of the region is contagious.
Here are a few of the resources that we found helpful. For most of its length, the john muir trail uses the pacific crest trail. My suggested jmt training program is much like a marathon training program, with shorter weekday exercises anchored by big days on the weekend. Ill also share which resources i used to help plan my itinerary and keep myself on pace each day on the trail. John muir trail guided backpacking trip yosemite to mt. Last summer when i was preparing for my 22 day hike on the john muir trail, i was ready to pull my hair out. Then learn how to bag the classic in more sensible lightweight fashion. Travelers wanting to take detours say for climbing a. Apr 29, 2015 so stop fretting and get your ducks in a row with my 8step guide for planning that big backpacking adventure on the john muir trail. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail wenk, elizabeth on. My love for the wilderness and backpacking started in my early 20s. The john muir trail is the premier hiking trail in the united states.
These sets are focused on the jmt and are fairly zoomed in. Running from mount whitney to yosemite valley in the sierra nevada, the 212 mile john muir trail passes through some of the most dramatic mountain terrain in the united states. So you want to hike the john muir trail the muir project. The book includes gps coordinates, not only for every junction, but. But whatever your experience, use these tips to make your journey a good one. John muir trail california 2020 all you need to know. But its very complete and uptodate on everything but permitting. Starting from yosemite valley and ending on mt whitney, this classic sierra backpacking trip takes you through the most amazing parts of the high sierra as you travel with your guide. You cant read this book without concluding that men were made of sturdier stuff back then. I took a full 6 months to fully train my body for the john muir trail, but for most, a 16 week training program should be sufficient.
The ultimate john muir trail preparation guide trail to summit. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail by elizabeth. High sierra backpacking on the jmt from yosemite to mt whitney. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail. John muir trail data book updated elizabeth wenk a derivative of the comprehensive wilderness press guidebook john muir trail by sierra expert elizabeth wenk, this data book is perfect for the weightconscious hiker. Jmt thruhikers generally choose to carry one of the purpose built map sets below. Each year, thousands of backpackers traverse some or all of the trail, having relied on sierra veteran lizzy wenks john muir trail.
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