This picture was taken over a year ago during a winter trip to Sequoia National Park with my dad and good friend Michael Brew. Michael and I climbed a hill one evening and looked east to see the Sierra Mountains glowing in the distance. It was like they were calling me. This among other little invitations is what led me to hike the John Muir Trail (JMT) this past summer with my buddy Tony.
I had reserved two permits to leave from Reds Meadow/Devil's Postpile (Yosemite was sold out) in mid-July. I reserved two in the hopes that I would find a hiking buddy instead of doing it alone. Tony, a buddy I run with, had been planning on going in late May, but due to bad weather canceled his plans to go then and instead took up my extra permit. Here we are at Devil's Postpile on Day 1.
Quite a geological landmark!
Tony on day 1 with a full bag of trail mix.
Much like the Camino, the initial signs let you know just how far you are from your destination. We were headed to Mt. Whitney.
a typical camp setup
Day 2 and we're still smiling. In fact I did a lot of smiling during these 19 days out on the trail. Beautiful wilderness, fresh air, great exercise, agreeable weather and simple days made for (pardon the pun) two happy campers.
The trail was very well maintained. Even the water crossings were made easy.
We bought some ultra-light Tenkara fishing poles so we could fish after our long days of walking for something to do and to supplement our meals.
Along the trail you meet people that you quickly become friends with - your trail family.
Here's Olivia (the "seamstress") who volunteered to sew Tony's shoe after he got it caught on a rock.
It was great to have walking partner both as someone to talk to and share the experience with and to grow from. As with any two people there were times of miscommunication and tension, but this (re)taught me several things: don't sweat the petty stuff, when unsure of another's intentions assume good will.
Trail life was simple and toughened you up. This was never more apparent to me than when we finished the journey and returned to civilization (Lone Pine). Things immediately got more complicated and I felt myself getting physically soft and stressed out.
The emotions of awe and gratitude were reoccurring on this journey. How couldn't they be when you see landscapes like these every day!
You can't carry 19 days worth of food on your back, so we had two resupply points - Muir Trail Ranch being the first.
If Christmas was in July it would look like this ... left over food from hikers' resupply shipments put into communal bins for anyone to take. It was the only time I got sick on the trail - sugar overdose from Nutella, berry jam, and a Pay Day!
Another lesson learned from these resupply points was to not get too comfy with these stops. It would have been easy to stay and linger enjoying the creature comforts all around, but we were meant to keep moving, pressing forward, and walking on the trail.
In doing so, however, I also learned how important it is to take care of yourself. This night, overlooking Evolution Valley (one of my favorite nights of the trip) I tended to my blisters, bandaged my cuts, stretched my body, slept, and ate well with others.
My body was practically singing the next morning (much like Tony here ... although I think might have screamed when he felt how cold the water was!)
Evolution Basin
Gratitude to John Muir for his dedication to preserving beautiful wilderness, which in turn inspired others to create a trail in honor of him (inside Muir Hut at Muir Pass).
outside Muir Hut - made for backpackers who are caught storms while going over this pass
Tony in the mouth of the MONSTER!
The trail provided time to think about big life questions - love, career, our place on Earth, etc.
but at least what path you should take on the trail is simple
Eating from the land, like fishing here, really made me appreciate what it means to take a life for my own consumption. No more mindlessly eating meat. It was once a living being that was killed for my sake.
The land also provided the water we would drink and cook with along the way.
Some days were really hard (physically ... and mentally), but these high mountains passes taught me not to be afraid of hard work. We were made for hard work. We simply need to break down the large task into chunks - 100, 10, or even 1 step at a time.
And when looking back, it is amazing what we can accomplish.
And exciting to think how much more we are capable of.
broken walking pole
my toughest mental day ... drowning in thoughts of questioning where I am at and what I am doing with my life
but the crazy, fun, and kind people we met along the way provided levity like this guy who was part of a group of 20 year olds who quit their jobs and were road tripping across the country exploring.
Tony and me on top of one of the 10 passes we went over.
Tony on top of the world!
We met up with a great trio of girls from Humbolt that we walked with for several days. They were all unique in their own way - Kendall the Wise Owl, Frannie the Pika, and Tara the mountain sheep (aka Bedrock Betty). Bedrock Betty used to part of the California Conservation Corps (the C's) and she actually helped build/restore part of the JMT! She was the biggest badass I'd ever met.
We had some great times together like here at Rae Lakes when we caught 14 trout and had an incredible cookout thanks to Wise Owl's culinary skills...
while enjoying incredible scenery.
Here are some of my favorite people from the trail - Brandon, Gina, and Connor. Brandon and Gina are high school teachers who wanted to do the JMT after a stymied attempt last year. They brought along Logan here who is a recently-graduated high school student. How cool!
Tony and I on day 15 on Forester Pass - the highest pass we'd cross discounting Mt. Whitney itself.
13,200 ft. not bad for a day's work!
No pass or evil would keep Tony down. (I almost walked right off that cliff Tony is in front of ... yikes!)
Not even though shadow of Mt. Doom ... I mean Mt. Whitney. This is base camp, at Guitar Lake, the night before we summited. We went to bed early in order to get up at 2:00 a.m. and catch the sunrise from the top. A final lesson that the JMT taught me was to do the hard work in the morning. Sleep at the base of your mountain and tackle it as soon as you get up!
Night hike up Mt. Whitney ... we mostly walked by moonlight and even got to hear a rock slide on the opposite of the valley ... a mighty rumbling in the dark!
Approaching the Muir Hut atop Mt. Whitney.
Success!
It was freezing!
14,505 ft and still smiling
Tony playing games!
The top was a reunion of sorts. It is funny how when you have a goal, the whole world comes out to support you.
an incredible view
Back in Lone Pine with Marlon enjoying a big warm meal while in clean clothes after an amazing hot shower!
There is so much more about the JMT that this blog entry does not do justice to, but at least it is an attempt. I leave you with this quote from John Muir:
Fear not, therefore, to try the mountain-passes. They will kill care, save you from deadly apathy, set you free, and call forth every faculty into vigorous, enthusiastic action. Even the sick should try these so-called dangerous passes, because for every unfortunate they kill, they cure a thousand.
