John Muir Trail
Dan, Matt, and I started out on the John Muir Trail on July 23 and Matt and I finished the 220 mile trail 18 days later. Dan wanted off the trail after about 70 miles. Hiking day after day isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The three of us are friends from way back. We were in the same Boy Scout troop from when I used to live in Santa Ynez and we all got our eagle rank together. It was really nice hiking with an experienced backpacker with similar distance goals and fitness level as me.
The JMT was a good experience. I normally do day hikes or weekend hikes to reconnect with nature, but from time to time I want something more substantial to get back to basics. I absorb the scenery and events like a sponge and feed off the memories for years afterwards.
Along our way we met many people and even made a couple friends. Meeting other hikers is usually pretty easy since we instantly share something in common . . . a love for the backcountry.
The weather was good to us most of the time. Thunder storms rolled in for a couple hours 6 of the 18 days but we only had to wait out the thunder once. It beats 100+ degree days in Sacramento Valley. While we were on the trail, a search helicopter was looking for the dead body of a 3 week missing hiker and 2 people died from lightning strikes. Statistically, we are still safer on the trail than walking through a parking lot. There was snow on all the mountain peaks and the wild flowers were still in bloom making for dramatic vistas and great photos.
View the John Muir Trail Photo Album
Download a 20 minute slideshow – size: 12.3MB
