John Muir Trail 2016-2023

vera

2023-08-28 KM16

We are finishing Day 1/4 (17km, 705m elevation gain) with Half Dome in the distance. Although Half Dome is not part of the JMT, we wanted to climb it as a side trip, along with Clouds Rest.

 

MAP

 

View Larger Map

 

PanShiBo

2023-08-29 Side trips

3rd time at the top of Half Dome

In the past, Half Dome was thought to be unclimbable. Yet this year, there was a report that a bear visited the summit.

 

Our 2nd time at the top of Clouds Rest.

 

 

 

 

PanShiBo

2023-08-30 Day 3 Moving camp to Sunrise 8km, elevation gain 550m

 

 

 

 

KM22 Fork to Sunrise Lakes Trail, with Columbia Finger at the skyline.

 

KM 22 Blue skies, no wind!

 

From here, it is 315 km to the end (Mt. Whitney).

 

View Larger Map

PanShiBo

2023-08-30 KM22

Sunrise High Sierra Camp was busy and noisy. 

 

View Larger Map

 

PanShiBo

KM22 * Day 4 * Leaving JMT at Sunrise High Sierra Camp

 

Entering or exiting the JMT almost always takes one day. Even after reaching the end of the JMT at Mount Whitney, the shortest way out is a one-day hike to Lone Pine. We exit the JMT via the Sunrise Lakes trail and climb Sunrise Peak in the process.

 

MAP

---

 

California Climbers' Salute at the top of Sunrise Mountain (3,026m)

 

View Larger Map

PanShiBo

2023-08-30 KM22-KM27

Half-day trip down to Cathedral Pass

 

MAP

--

KM25 With Columbia Finger seen in the distance

 

 

View Larger Map

PanShiBo

2023-08-30

KM23 Side Trip to Sunrise Dome

MAP

View Larger Map

PanShiBo

KM27 (Cathedral Pass) - KM34 (Cathedral Lakes Trailhead)

Ditsance: 6.4km, elevation gain: 101m, loss: 443m

 

MAP

----

PanShiBo

KM25

2016-08-14 Side trip to Columbia Finger

Cathedral Peak that we climbed day before

 

Our destination, Columbia Finger

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAP here 

 

PanShiBo

KM27 

2016-08-12 Cathedral Pass

The only mountain pass along the JMT (there are nine) that you don’t even know you’re on is the Cathedral Pass. It took me some effort to search my photo archive to find a photo.

Cathedral Peak at the back.

 

MAP

View Larger Map

--

 

 

 

PanShiBo

KM 27 

2016-08-14 Side Trip to Echo Peak #3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map here

 

 

 

PanShiBo

KM 29

 

2016-08-12 Side Trip to the Lower Cathedral lake

 

 

 

 

Map here

 

 

 

PanShiBo

KM 32

Yosemite National Park

We planned to climb Cathedral Peak using guide book instructions. However, after realizing that the instructions were incorrect, we decided to take a side trip to Medlicott Dome instead.

 

 

 

 

 

Map here

 

 

 

vera

KM 33

On a day trip en route to Columbia Finger and Echo Peak #3.

 

KM 34 

2016-08-14 Cathedral Lakes traillhead, Tuolomne Meadows, Yosemite NP. Seven years ago, you could park here, only 100 meters away from JMT. However, as of 2023, this is no longer possible.

Map

View Larger Map

---

PanShiBo

Section KM 40 - 59 (Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center - Donohue Pass)

Elevation Gain: 997m, loss: 261m

This section lies entirely within Yosemite National Park, and its end is at Donohue Pass, which marks the park’s border. We hiked this section in 2022 during our trip to Lyell Peak, the highest peak in Yosemite.

 

 

PanShiBo

KM 40

Moving to Page 3 of the map

At the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, you can obtain backpacking permits. Many people begin their journey on the John Muir Trail (JMT) from this location because it is easier to obtain permits here than at the official starting point in Happy Isles. Additionally, this route shortens the distance by 40 kilometers and reduces the elevation gain by 2,100 meters.

2022-06-27

While waiting for orientation, we struck up a conversation with a man in a blue jacket and asked him about his destination. It was the first time we heard of the 'JMT.' He mentioned that he was starting his journey from this point and heading south towards Mount Whitney, covering a total distance of 304 kilometers.

Getting our backpacking permits for Lyell Canyon.

vera

KM 38

June 27, 2022 - Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park. Day 1 of a 4-day Mount Lyell trip.

 

Map

View Larger Map

 

vera

KM 40

2022-06-27 Near Lyell Fork Bridge, Yosemite NP

 

 

View Larger Map

 

PanShiBo

KM 40

2022-06-27 Near Lyell Fork Bridge, Yosemite NP

 

 

 

 

 

 

vera

KM 41

 

East of Rafferty Creek Trail, Yosemite NP

 

This is classic class 1 trail of US National Park quiality, which is not always the case along JMT

 

2022-06-27 Day 1/4 of the Mount Lyell trip. We stop every 45 minutes for a short break.

 

 

 

View Larger Map