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The John Muir Trail

Through the Californian Sierra Nevada

ISBN

9781852847906

Availability

Published

5 Mar 2015

Reprinted

20 Nov 2018

Edition

Second

Pages

224

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

250g

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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

ISBN

9781852847906

Availability

Published

5 Mar 2015

Reprinted

20 Nov 2018

Edition

Second

Pages

224

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

250g

Overview

A guidebook to trekking the John Muir Trail (JMT) from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney and onto the trailhead at Whitney Portal. Covering 348km (216 miles), this long-distance trek through the Sierra Nevada mountains of California takes around 3 weeks to hike and is suitable for hikers with experience in remote high-mountain wilderness.

The route is described from north to south in 21 stages, each between 11 and 26km (7–16 miles). An optional ascent of Half Dome is also included, which involves some easy scrambling and requires a good head for heights.

Sketch maps included for the route
Ascent, descent and distance tables included for all stages
Lists of camp areas, ranger stations and bear box locations
Advice on trekking permits, transport to and from the trailheads, equipment, food and supplies, training
Route travels through 3 national parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Overview Map

Map Key

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

Updates

March 2020

Wilderness Permits

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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By Alan Castle

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.

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