In a typical year, water will be relatively plentiful and running into snow and ice is always a possibility. Backpack from mammoth mountain to yosemite valley via the. I just finished reading elizabeth wenks 5th edition of her classic 2007, 4th edition, jmt guide book. John muir trail backpacking packing list rei coop journal. 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. By hiking, crosscountry skiing, or snowshoeing over 3mile partially planked auke ne trail through muskeg, with 150foot elevation gain.
Our 23day backpack is a wilderness experience like none other, navigating the rugged spine of californias high sierra. Elizabeth wenks john muir trail guidebook elizabeth wenk crushes it with her john muir trail guidebook that answers everything you need to know pretrail. It is a very strenuous trail with over 48,000 cumulative feet of vertical. The john muir trail is a longdistance trail in the sierra. Buy a cheap copy of guide to the john muir trail book by thomas winnett. To paraphrase andrew skurka from his terrific book, the ultimate hikers gear guide there are two types of fun. This book, which won the best outdoor book award from the outdoor writers association of california in 2015, is a lively account of one womans adventure on the john muir trail. The john muir trail is one of the most classic backpacking trails in the world.
Traverse mountain passes through several protected zones, including the ansel adams and john muir wilderness areas totaling 103 miles through dazzling scenery of,000 and 14,000foot peaks. Jul 16, 2007 the new john muir trail meticulously describes the entire trail and is written for todays hikers. Useful essentials are updated gps coordinates and maps for. The cruise of the corwin 1917 steep trails 1919 the life and letters of john muir, by william frederic bade 1924 the full text of this twovolume book contains thousands of muirs letters and previously unpublished writings, along with bades biography. It is a mustread for those who plan to hike the trail or anyone interested in the trail. The various pests you may encounter along the way are unlikely to ruin your hike or even your afternoon but knowing what they are and how to mitigate their impact is a handy. See below for a john muir trail map featuring some classic routes along the trail. Heres a link to some beautiful photos and a trail journal at nature focused by greg cope.
Whitney near the whitney portal trailhead on inyo national forest. This incredibly detailed, turnbyturn guidebook is a musthave. Also includes an elevation profile of the entire trail. That doesnt mean that you will be comfortable at all times. The muir hut planning your thruhike of the john muir trail. 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. Almost somewhere is a memoir by suzanne roberts in 2012 is about her experience hiking the john muir trail in 1993.
The story is presented as a series of daily notes, complete with calendar dates. This building was constructed in 1930 by the sierra club in. May 21, 20 my wife, kathleen, and i hiked a portion of the john muir trail in the summer of 2007. Each year, thousands of backpackers traverse some or all of the trail, having relied on sierra veteran lizzy wenks john muir trail. On the trail information, including custommade topo maps, elevation profiles, data tables, and labeled panoramas from prominent passes. Instead, id like to describe one of the many memorable experiences we had on the trail. And if you havent read john muirs wilderness essays yet it also a mustread. My complete john muir trail gear list 2019 bearfoot theory. The john muir trail runs from the happy isles trailhead in yosemite valley to the summit of mt. The john muir trail runs through the heart of the sierra nevada, the range of light. John muir trail provides all the necessary planning information, including uptodate details on wilderness and permit regulations, food resupplies, trailhead amenities, and travel from nearby cities.
While it added a little weight to my pack, im happy i brought it with me. Heres what it takes to hike the john muir trail outside online. Overview map shows the entire john muir trail route from yosemite valley to mount whitney and important features of the surrounding area, including. 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. Jul 11, 2018 the john muir trail has a bunch of possible resupply points along the route, so im not sure whether the typical hiker was carrying 30, or 50, or 70 pounds. This photo, from the cover of my book, shows one of the easiest sections of the entire trail. Informative and hits the mains points about the jmt. The john muir trail jmt is one of the worlds most spectacular treks and is north americas best known middistance walking trail. Hiking the john muir trail is a far more contemplative exercise than one might guess. John muir trail guided backpacking trip yosemite to mt. The book includes gps coordinates, not only for every junction, but also for every established campsite, bear box, and mountain pass that the trail crosses. Once youre feeling prepared, pick it up, sit back and take a moment to immerse yourself in muirs words to prepare yourself to see the land through the eyes of one of its first protectors. In this complete john muir trail gear list, i share every piece of gear i packed for my john muir trail hike, from the big items tent, sleeping bag, bear canister, water filter, camera, etc all the way down to the.
For peak hiking days, yosemite national park can receive up to 600 applications, and only a small fraction of those will be fulfilled, making a jmt permit one of the most soughtafter prizes in the. The book includes gps coordinates, not only for every junction. The john muir trail is 210 miles in length, and it usually takes people 23 weeks to complete. I am a huge fan of hiking with your spouse, but thats not what this post is about. Because its concentrated in the mountainous heart of the pct, jmt gear can be consistent throughout your trip. The process of planning a jmt thruhike can seem daunting at first, but there are plenty of john muir trail planning tools, books, and resources. This is cheating a bit, since much of what you will negotiate on the last day is actually off the john muir trail, but if you hike from guitar lake, to the summit of mount whitney, to whitney portal, you are in for a very long day with two great challenges.
A long hike has its ups and downs, both literally and figuratively, and the elevation changes on the john muir trail are legendary. When planning my jmt thruhike i bought a few books for reference. This jmt book has a mile by mile breakdown of the trail, info on water availability, good camps, and more. Books about the john muir trail fiction, memoirs, and guides are all welcome, but the jmt should be the focus of the book. These sets are focused on the jmt and are fairly zoomed in. Includes jmt guidebooks, memoirs, essays, and history of the sierra. Jmt maps and books pacific crest trail association. A complete guide to hiking the john muir trail cleverhiker. John muir trail data book by elizabeth wenk, paperback. Books by john muir from the writings of john muir john.
The muir hut is intended as a temporary shelter for. The john muir trail is a longdistance hiking trail in the high sierra backcountry, named after famed naturalist, author and sierra club founder john muir. Trail guides planning your thruhike of the john muir trail is not a trail guide. The john muir trail passes through what many backpackers say is the finest mountain scenery in the united states. Look at the photos, buy the book walk the sky by john dittli. Highs and lows on the john muir trail audiobook by inga. Written for those planning to hike the john muir trail, sierra hiking veterans who want to relive the trail and armchair adventurers, this is a story that brings the trail to life. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the 48 contiguous us states. There are so many things to plan for, and such a long. The john muir bike trails are singletrack, mountain bike trails that are rough, natural surface trails. Hiking the john muir trail john muir trail tips and map. The john muir trail crosses many passes and has a whole lot of up and down. Heres what it takes to hike the john muir trail outside. The john muir trail has a bunch of possible resupply points along the route, so im not sure whether the typical hiker was carrying 30, or 50, or 70 pounds.
As mtr is the first ontrail resupply point, many nobo hikers opt to camp at locations with bear boxes the first few nights until all of their food fits in their bear can. John muir trail pocket atlas john muir trail maps john. Hike the john muir trail north to yosemite book your trip. Hike the john muir trail north to yosemite book your. Wilderness permits in the sierra nevada are under a quota system that prevents crowding on the trail and protects the environment. My wife, kathleen, and i hiked a portion of the john muir trail in the summer of 2007. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail. Whitney on day 3 and gives them some time to acclimate. The essential guide to hiking america s most famous trail by elizabeth wenk. The john muir trail is the premier hiking trail in the united states.
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. On the legendary john muir trail you pass through a land of and 14,000foot peaks, deep canyons, massive granite walls, and sparkling lakes. Jul 16, 2018 thankfully, thruhiking the john muir trail is definitely type 1 fun at least for most people. Theodore roosevelt, john muir, and our national parks hardcover by. It runs for 216 miles through the high sierra nevada mountains of california, from yosemite valley to the summit of mount whitney 14,496 ft, the highest peak in the usa outside alaska. Jun 30, 2004 the john muir trail jmt is one of the worlds most spectacular treks and is north americas best known middistance walking trail. High sierra backpacking on the jmt from yosemite to mt whitney. Guide to the john muir trail book by thomas winnett.
Cabin is located in a sub alpine meadow 1550 feet above the mendenhall valley. As an avid backpacker and thruhiker more or less compelled to worship john muir, this reads as the ultimate trail journal. The john muir trail is also a land blessed with the mildest, sunniest climate of any major mountain range in the world. Elizabeth wenks authoritative guide describes the 212mile john muir trail, running from yosemite valley to the summit of mt.
You very likely are going to want one to carry with you on the hike, and ebooks are not particularly well suited for that. Type 1 fun is fun to do and fun to have done, while type 2 fun is fun to have done, but not so fun to do. The new john muir trail meticulously describes the entire trail and is written for todays hikers. Highs and lows on the john muir trail by inga aksamit. Jmt thruhikers generally choose to carry one of the purpose built map sets below. John muir quotes author of my first summer in the sierra.
Tackle the northbound half of the john muir trail set in californias stunning sierra nevada, beginning in lake florence and ending in the beautiful tuolumne meadows of yosemite national park. Dec 21, 2015 the trail to be constructed with the moneys hereby appropriated shall be known as the john muir trail in honor of the late john muir who has performed an inestimable service in making known to the world the wonders of the mountains of california. The john muir trail jmt is a longdistance trail in the sierra nevada mountain range of california, passing through yosemite, kings canyon and sequoia national parks. John muir trail vista, california national park, landmark.
This is a land of,000foot and 14,000foot peaks, of lakes in the thousands, and of canyons and granite cliffs. May 30, 2015 the john muir trail jmt is one of the worlds most spectacular treks and is north americas best known middistance walking trail. The essential guide to hiking americas most famous trail, now in its 5th edition from wilderness press, to guide them along the way. Running from mount whitney to yosemite valley in the sierra nevada. The photos are great and youll relive the trail with every scene at muir trail landscapes by bruce powell. Nov 16, 2019 as an avid backpacker and thruhiker more or less compelled to worship john muir, this reads as the ultimate trail journal. The book chronicles his experience working as a shepherd in californias sierra nevada mountains in the summer of 1869. Getting your john muir trail gear list dialed is one of the most exciting parts of preparing for your john muir trail thruhike. Both books are exactly 296 pages long counting the. I am planning my jmt hike this year 2018 so i wanted to read both books and internet sources.
A thousandmile walk to the gulf, by john muir 1916. From the northern terminus at happy isles in yosemite valley and the southern terminus located on the summit of mount whitney, the trail s length is 2. Onthetrail information, including custommade topo maps, elevation profiles, data tables, and labeled panoramas from prominent passes. I remember quite clearly the first time i picked up a wilderness permit to hike a significant portion of the john muir trail. Sure, its important to get the right shelter, sleep system, and water purification strategy, but the vast majority of your waking hours will not be spent in a tent or filtering waterthey will be spent experiencing all that is the sierra nevada, from. Whitney and onward to whitney portal whether youre hiking the entire john muir trail or just sections of it, the first step of the journey begins with this book by sierra expert elizabeth wenk. John muir trail data book wilderness press this edition is designed for weightconscious trekkers.
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