#jmt2018

[finishingflight]

Last bit of sunlight at my campsite at Squaw Lake along the JMT.

[theadventurek9]

In high places with killer views, Silver Pass, elevation 10,745

[snarfalarf-rex]

JMT Day 8 Part 1 Mather Pass to start the day off The blueness of the sky is really hard to capture in a picture #johnmuirtrail #jmt2018 #optoutside #hikertrash #hiking #backpacking #thruhike #solo #summer #backcountry #ig_nature #nature #outdoors #hikingadventures #outdoors #outdoorlife #outdoorphotografphy #naturelovers #traveling #greatoutdoors #wanderlust #trekking #hikemoreworryless #forceofnature #gonorth #mountains #hikecalifornia #nofilter #matherpass #beard #beards #kilt #meninkilts (at Kings Canyon National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqvLERYFoOQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jndvrw78hgxc

[beyondlimitsonfoot]

I fell into a funk after the weekend we spent in Mammoth Lakes, CA just before our John Muir Trail Hike. These are actually quite okay views, other than a ton of smoke lingering in the valleys. The Saturday before was absolutely terrible, you couldn’t see anything it was so smoky. One of the hardest decisions of my life was to call off this trip. I still tear up about it, either way if you’re interested I did a write up on my blog about why we opted out. Check out the link in my bio! Better luck next year I guess... #sosad #beyondlimitsonfoot #mammothstories #mammoth #fires #adventure #jmt2018 #optoutside #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #womenwhoadventure #california #johnmuir #johnmuirtrail #camping #backpacking #amongthewild #hike #mountains #forest #wilderness

[hikertrash101]

I know I posted this months ago but I still can’t express how strange this is to me.. I have no memory of wanting to hike or climb as a kid. Maybe it was some latent frustration.. maybe that’s why it’s so freeing now.. don’t know but I can’t wait to frame this some day. 😜 #lifegoals #fullcircle #hiking #pct2018 #at2014 #ne67 #nh48 #lt2014 #jmt2018 #hikemoreworryless https://www.instagram.com/p/CLKFXcFLV0I/?igshid=13z0hswzumxxx

[lehlohonolomazindo-blog]

Do not let what you want get in the way of where people need to go. @johncmaxwell #jmt2018 #johnmaxwellteam #leadership #success #motivation #inspiration #people https://www.instagram.com/p/BnGxSUrHgjh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o4pv0d5o3oa1

[goownit]

When life throws in a monkey wrench, we often are presented with a chance to embrace new opportunities. Our #JohnMuirTrail hike encountered a setback when #Yosemite was closed due to the #FergusonFire, so we changed up our plans and re-hiked #MtWhitney and the southern section of the #JMT. This image was captured during our morning ascent as the sun slowly crept over the towering mountain as we plodded along the jagged meandering path up the final stretch. At this moment, everything became perfect. ———- #JMT2018 #CaliforniaOnFire #ForestFire #WildFire #backpacking #hiking #trekking #TheTrek #adventure #wanderer #mountains #wilderness #exploremore #backcountry #inspired #hikingadventures #RedPackWalking #GoOwnIt #Go_OwnIt https://www.instagram.com/p/BnFKfKWlFsw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ttot2q7ntaev

[pretprincess1999-blog]

piensa,vive y sueña

[brightoverthere]

John Muir Trail: Days 1 & 2

September 10 & 11, 2018

I began my day early on September 9th with an Uber, followed by a bus, a train, and another bus, bringing me, via downtown San Francisco, Emeryville, and Merced, to Yosemite Valley. The bus pulled in, the windows flashing humbling views of El Capitan, Half Dome, and other granite megaliths. 

After retrieving my permit and tying up loose ends with help from the wifi (and $1.50 craft beers) at Degnan’s Deli - the source of the only wireless internet in the Valley - I moseyed over to the backpacker’s campground where I deposited my requisite $6 and set up my rented backpacking tent for the first of 20 nights in the wilderness. I cooked and ate my dinner and settled in to rest up for a big first day.

The John Muir Trail begins with small mileage (6.5 mi) but large elevation gain (3200 ft) - a preview for my quads of the many steep climbs to come. The first day was one of few I spent on the trail without blisters on my feet, which meant that my smile rarely transformed into a grimace. After being greeted in the morning by mule deer near the campsite, I got off to an excited, but slow-and-steady start. I took it easy, knowing that my first days were planned to be shorter, to acclimate to both the severe, rocky climbs and to the elevation that accompanies them. My only mistakes - minor - were having to hike back to a last water source I inadvertently passed and, ironically, carrying more water than I needed.

During a snack break, I met a mother (Holly) and daughter (Carolyn) heading up to Nevada Fall for a day hike. It was Carolyn’s first time, but Holly, who had hiked the JMT in high school, had been to Nevada Fall an estimated 35 times before, even having played a sticks-and-pinecones version of hockey on the pond at the top in the winter. Holly was thrilled for me, inspiring me to embark on a project I had been considering for a while. I decided, among other ways of documenting the trip, to photograph the people who made my trip unique, memorable, and positive. Holly and Carolyn set the mood for my trip and so it’s only fitting that they become the first subjects of this project.

I finished my first day camping near the junction for Cloud’s Rest trail, alongside a stream, and nearby 10 or so others. My day ended relatively early, so I relaxed, reading and eating until my soon-to-be standard bedtime of 7pm or so. The next morning, I was waking up early (before sunrise) to hike Half Dome.

Graced by a cloud free morning, I got started before 7:30am and made it to the base of the cables in a bit more than an hour, with another 20 or so to make it to the summit, impressing myself with my pace in the process, but only by ignoring the fact that I left my big, heavy pack back at my campsite. The view was, without surprise, astounding. My only loss - a few nibbles of trail mix at the paws of a bold ground squirrel - was thoroughly surpassed by what I gained: a major tick on my outdoors checklist, a healthy burn in my forearms from the workout of the cables, conversation with others at the summit, and remarkable views of the Valley and more, frozen in time with the help of my too-heavy-for-backpacking DSLR.

After spending an hour or so on top, I decided to descend in order to avoid the growing crowds on the cables. The descent - harder than the ascent, especially with two-way traffic - was relatively quick. I ditched my borrowed gloves, made quick work of the return to camp, packed up, then headed just another few miles down the JMT, away from the busy day hiking trails of America’s 5th busiest national park, but looking over my shoulder more than once, not knowing for certain if I’d ever get to see these majestic sights again.

[finishingflight]

John Muir Trail, heading towards Silver Pass.

I ran into some people while taking a break to let Aayla swim in Purple Lake. They all ended up saying hello with Aayla, and I would run into them over the next day and enjoy a zero day with them at VVR.

[finishingflight]

Prepping our resupply...less than five weeks until we hit the trail.

[finishingflight]

The Hiker’s Water Taxi to VVR

The way to VVR was spent getting soaked by the spray from the wind.

But the way back was great. We had spent two nights (letting her paws heal) with a handful of people. So she was pretty good friends with the ones she met as you can see. It was great to meet people from all over the world on the trail. We also celebrated the Jewish new year with apples and honey that day.

[snarfalarf-rex]

https://youtu.be/IOQK3Dy07Yo Finally finished up my video from all the hikes this year. #johnmuirtrail #jmt2018 #optoutside #hikertrash #hiking #backpacking #thruhike #solo #summer #backcountry #ig_nature #nature #outdoors #hikingadventures #outdoors #outdoorlife #outdoorphotografphy #naturelovers #traveling #greatoutdoors #wanderlust #trekking #hikemoreworryless #forceofnature #gonorth #mountains #hikecalifornia #nofilter #arizonatrail #hayduketrail #fingerlakestrail #longtrail #coloradotrail https://www.instagram.com/p/BrtGwGeFAMH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yr945hyfo1tg

[snarfalarf-rex]

JMT Day 14 Part 2 Final day of the JMT. Passing by Half Dome and heading into the Valley. More people than I had seen in days. The last of my six thru hikes this year. #johnmuirtrail #jmt2018 #optoutside #hikertrash #hiking #backpacking #thruhike #solo #summer #backcountry #ig_nature #nature #outdoors #hikingadventures #outdoors #outdoorlife #outdoorphotografphy #naturelovers #traveling #greatoutdoors #wanderlust #trekking #hikemoreworryless #forceofnature #gonorth #mountains #hikecalifornia #nofilter #alpinelakes #yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #halfdome https://www.instagram.com/p/BrqfXoCls1-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hctm4p8mhokp

[snarfalarf-rex]

JMT Day 14 Final day of the JMT. Fastest thru hike I’ve done, but only by two days #johnmuirtrail #jmt2018 #optoutside #hikertrash #hiking #backpacking #thruhike #solo #summer #backcountry #ig_nature #nature #outdoors #hikingadventures #outdoors #outdoorlife #outdoorphotografphy #naturelovers #traveling #greatoutdoors #wanderlust #trekking #hikemoreworryless #forceofnature #gonorth #mountains #hikecalifornia #nofilter #alpinelakes #yosemite #yosemitenationalpark https://www.instagram.com/p/BrlNNFGFBiU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2awn322t4y84

[snarfalarf-rex]

JMT Day 13 Part 2 New and uncharted territory on the JMT #johnmuirtrail #jmt2018 #optoutside #hikertrash #hiking #backpacking #thruhike #solo #summer #backcountry #ig_nature #nature #outdoors #hikingadventures #outdoors #outdoorlife #outdoorphotografphy #naturelovers #traveling #greatoutdoors #wanderlust #trekking #hikemoreworryless #forceofnature #gonorth #mountains #hikecalifornia #nofilter #alpinelakes #yosemite #cathedrallakes https://www.instagram.com/p/Brii3AYFvjy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hwidfgnjipc1