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Guidebook to walking the John Muir Trail through California's High Sierra from Yosemite (El Capitan and Half Dome) to the summit of Mount Witney. The 216 mile hike is split into 21 daily stages, with full information on preparation, permits, wilderness, bears, water and trekking skills. Part of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Seasons
August is best, July normally fine but late snow may be a problem
Centres
Starts Yosemite and finishes at Whitney Portal; Tuolmmne, Vermilion Resort and Muir Trail Range along the way; access through San Francisco or Los Angeles
Difficulty
spectacular, remote and risks of poor weather; backpacking throughout, carrying all required food; tough trekking but no route-finding difficulties; beware of bears!
Must See
Yosemite (rock walls of El Capitan, Half Dome etc), King's Canyon and Sequoia national parks, Anselm Adams wilderness, Mount Whitney
The John Muir Trail (JMT) is one of the world's most spectacular treks and is North America's best known mid-distance walking trail. It runs for 216 miles through the high Sierra Nevada mountains of California, from Yosemite Valley (El Capitan and Half-Dome) to the summit of Mount Whitney (14,496ft), the highest peak in the US outside Alaska.
The route is described in 21 day stages. All you need to know to plan and prepare for your trip is contained within this guide, from obtaining trekking permits to buying trek food and forwarding food caches along the trail. Abundant advice is given on such topics as dealing with inquisitive bears, coping with altitude, negotiating river crossings, as well as tips on booking transport to and from the trailheads and on what equipment to take. In addition, there is a detailed description of the flora and fauna of this remarkable region.
The walking trail, which is named after the great 19th-century Scottish naturalist, conservationist and writer John Muir, is entirely through the unspoilt wilderness of the American West and passes through three national parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.
Table of Contents
Contents Introduction Background John Muir Parks along the JMT The Pacific Crest Trail Using this Guide Planning your Trip Flights to California Public Transport to and from the Trailhead Booking Accommodation Maps Equipment Food Supplies General Fitness and Trail Fitness Health and Medical Considerations Water Purification Coping with Altitude Dealing with Bears River Crossings Other Natural Hazards Low-impact Trekking and National Park/Wilderness Regulations Camp Routine Time Difference Public Holidays in the US Money Insurance The Natural World by Dr Charles Aitchison Geology of the Sierra Nevada Vegetation and Flowers Birds of the John Muir Trail Mammals along the Trail TRAIL GUIDE Day 1 Yosemite Valley (Happy Isles) to Half Dome Trail Junction/Sunrise Creek and the Ascent of Half Dome Day 2 Half Dome Trail Junction/Sunrise Creek to Sunrise High Sierra Camp Day 3 Sunrise High Sierra Camp via Cathedral Pass to Tuolumne Meadows Day 4 Tuolumne Meadows to Upper Lyell Canyon Day 5 Upper Lyell Canyon via Donohue Pass and Island Pass to Thousand Island Lake Day 6 Thousand Island Lake to the Devil’s Postpile Day 7 The Devil’s Postpile via Reds Meadow to Deer Creek Day 8 Deer Creek to Tully Hole/Cascade Valley Junction Day 9 Tully Hole/Cascade Valley Junction via Silver Pass to Edison Lake Day 10 Edison Lake to Rosemarie Meadow Day 11 Rosemarie Meadow via Seldon Pass to the Muir Trail Ranch Day 12 Muir Trail Ranch to McClure Meadow Day 13 McClure Meadow via Muir Pass to Unnamed Lake North-East of Helen Lake Day 14 Unnamed Lake North-East of Helen Lake to Deer Meadow Day 15 Deer Meadow via Mather Pass to Kings River Day 16 Kings River via Pinchot Pass to Woods Creek Day 17 Woods Creek via Glen Pass to Vidette Meadow Day 18 Vidette Meadow via Forester Pass to Tyndall Creek Day 19 Tyndall Creek to Guitar Lake Day 20 Guitar Lake via Mount Whitney and Trail Crest to Trail Camp; and the ascent of Mount Whitney Day 21 Trail Camp to Whitney Portal
Epilogue Appendix 1 Camping Areas on the JMT Appendix 2 Ranger Stations along the JMT Appendix 3 Escape Routes on the JMT Appendix 4 Bear Box Locations on the JMT Appendix 5 Mountain Passes and Peaks on the JMT Appendix 6 Useful Addresses and Websites in the UK and US Appendix 7 Bibliography Appendix 8 Trail Summary Table
Permits are proving to be a challenge to obtain. For any start-date, there's a two-day window for applying online. If you get it, you must pick it up on exactly the start-day specified. [www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit... see also this very useful site which will help with your application https://bearfoottheory.com/john-muir-trail-permit/]
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Alan Castle has trekked and cycled in over 30 countries within Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Australasia. A member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, he has written 18 guidebooks, several on long-distance mountain routes in France. An erstwhile national secretary and long-distance path information officer of the Long Distance Walkers Association, Alan now lives at the foot of the Moffat Hills in Scotland.
