John Muir Trail 2016-2023

PanShiBo

On October 4th, 2023, two of us completed the final unhiked section of the famous 214-mile John Muir Trail (or JMT) in California. Unlike thru-hikers, or section hikers, we traveled through each part and over each of the nine mountain passes twice, once from the south and once from the north. This brought our total distance to 689 kilometers of travel on JMT.

PanShiBo

KM 122

2023-09-17 Day 2/9 of Reds Meadow - Muir Pass

After fording, a towel to wipe the feet is very handy. From here, our destination (Muir Pass) is 84 km away.

 

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Fun Fact: The JMT is a challenging but rewarding hike, requiring physical fitness, mental toughness, and proper preparation. The trail can pose hazards such as altitude sickness, weather extremes, snow, ice, rockfall, lightning, fire, and injury.

 

PanShiBo

KM 122

2023-09-17 Day 2/9 of the Reds Meadow - Muir Pass. Elevation 3,133m, en route to Mono Creek, (23km + 746m up).

 

Lake Virginia

 

Fun Fact: The JMT has a variety of terrain and ecosystems, from alpine meadows and granite domes to forests and canyons. The trail also offers stunning views of the Sierra Nevada, such as Half Dome, Cathedral Peak, Evolution Basin, and the Palisades.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 122

Day 2/9 of Reds Meadow - Muir Pass. Passing Lake Virginia en route to our next camp, which we don't know yet (we go as far as we can until ~2 hours before sunset, only then do we start looking).

 

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Fun fact: The JMT requires a permit to hike, which can be obtained from the national park or forest where the hike begins. The permits are limited and in high demand, especially for the peak season from July to September.

 

PanShiBo

KM 119

2023-09-16 Day 1/9 of the Reds Meadow - Muir Pass. 23km Elevation Gain 1,100m. 8h15m.

Purple Lake 

Our first camp

 

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Fun Fact: The closest trailhead to Muir Pass is at the Muir Trail Ranch, which is approximately 33 miles (53 kilometers) from the pass.

 

 

 

PanShiBo

KM 115.4

2023-09-24 "Leaving our last camp on the Reds Meadow to Muir Pass section, with 218km and 8 days behind us, and 19km to the car.

 

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 Fun Fact: At the top of Muir Pass, there is a stone hut known as the Muir Hut or Muir Shelter. Built in 1930 by the Sierra Club, the hut provides shelter for hikers and serves as a historic landmark.

PanShiBo

 

 

 KM 118

2023-09-23 Day 8/9 of the 237km Muir Pass trip. On this day, we hiked 27km, with an elevation gain of 1,442m.

 

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Fun Fact: Muir Pass is known for its stunning alpine scenery, including glacially carved valleys, rugged peaks, and pristine mountain lakes.

 

PanShiBo

KM 115.4

2023-09-23

Day 8/9 of the trip Muir Pass from north. We set up our last camp south of Duck Lake. This spot marks exactly 1/3 of the JMT length. From here to the end (Mount Whitney) is 228km. This spot was the busiest we have had on the JMT, due to the amount of snow; a lot of PCT hikers did this section later than usual, resulting in extra traffic. I hope we won't have that this year.

 

 

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Fun Fact: The pass is named after John Muir, a famous naturalist and conservationist who played a key role in the establishment of several national parks in the United States. The John Muir Trail, a long-distance hiking trail, passes through Muir Pass.

 

 

PanShiBo

 KM 115

 2023-09-24 Day 9/9 of Reds Meadow - Muir Pass section.

We just left our last camp at Duck Pass. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyard_Peak">Graveyard Peak (3,517m), 10 km away, just received the first morning sunlight.

 

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  Fun Fact: Muir Pass sits at an elevation of 11,955 feet (3,644 meters) above sea level.

PanShiBo

KM 115.3

2023-09-16 

Day 1/9 of the Reds Meadow - Muir Pass, en route to Purple Lake

 

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Fun Fact: Muir Pass is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, USA, within the Kings Canyon National Park and the Inyo National Forest.

 

PanShiBo

 KM 115 

On the morning of September 24, 2023, Day 9/9 of the Reds Meadow - Muir Pass trek, shortly after leaving our last camp en route to our car parked in Reds Meadow. After 218 km on the trail, only 18 km remained before reaching the hotel, shower, and a good dinner.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 103

2023-09-16 Day 1/9 of the Reds Meadow - Muir Pass section. En route to Purple Lake.

Healthy-looking mushrooms like these (牛肝菌) make an excellent dinner, especially when you are running low on food and carrying the minimum possible amount of 9-days food (we limit our daily carry amount to 1,800 calories/day).

 

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PanShiBo

KM 103

2023-09-16, Day 1/9 of the Reds Meadow - Muir Pass section. Regular break. This point is at 30% of the total JMT, 240km to the end at Mount Whitney.

 

 

 

 

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PanShiBo

KM 100

 

2023-09-16 Day 1/9 of the Reds Meadow - Muir Pass section. Our regular break.

 

15km away is Mount Ritter (4,007m), which we climbed a year ago.

 

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Fun Fact: The JMT is usually hiked from north to south, to allow for gradual acclimatization to the high altitude. 

 

PanShiBo

KM 98.8

2023-09-24 Day 9/9 of the section Read Meadow - Muir Pass. We didn't see these  sierra goose berries eight days ago when we passed this spot.

 

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Fun fact: The JMT runs near some of the world's oldest and largest trees, such as the ancient bristlecone pines and the giant sequoias

 

PanShiBo

We are now on page 6 out of 17 in the map guide.

PanShiBo

KM 98.3

2023-09-16 Day 1 of 9 of the Reds Meadow to Muir Pass trip, en route to Purple Lake.

I asked ChatGPT for the most boring section of the JMT, and it said this one is. Well, if this is the most boring, make your guess about the rest. :)

 

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Fun fact: The JMT crosses six mountain passes over 11,000 feet, including Forester Pass, which is the highest point on the trail at 13,153 feet.

vera

KM 97.9

2023-09-24 Day 9/9 of the trip to Muir Pass. After traveling 236 km, there is only 500 m left to the car.

 

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Fun fact: The JMT trail is part of the longer Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from Mexico to Canada. 

 

PanShiBo

KM 97.8

2023-09-16 Day 1 of 9 on the Reds Meadow to Muir Pass section. Our destination today is Purple Lake, 23 kilometers away and 1,100 meters up.

Fun fact: The John Muir Trail (JMT) was constructed between 1915 and 1932, following a route that John Muir and his companions explored in 1908.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 97 Rainbow Falls Trailhead / Reds Meadow

2023-09-16 Leaving for a 9-day, 236km round trip to Muir Pass.

 

 

Entry Point	Reds Meadow
End Point	Muir Pass
Date of entry	2023-Sep-16
Total Distance, km	236
Distance, Average daily, km	26
Elevation gain, m	7,919
Elevation gain, average per day	880
Days	9
Calories, total	18,771
Calories, average per day	2,086
Direction	South-North
Type	A-B-A

 

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