September 2017 John Muir Trail

Bob, Rick, Steve and Bob's daughter Michelle hiked 230 miles over 19 days, covering the entire length of the John Muir Trail (JMT), its exit at Whitney Portal and several side trips, most notably to summit Half Dome in Yosemite National Park (itinerary with campsites here). Jerry hiked with us the first six days. Because of permit considerations, we spent the first three days backpacking the JMT south from Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park, then returning by bus the fourth day to Toulumne Meadows to continue the trek southeast. The weather was dominantly outstanding with some notable exceptions, including hail and lightening near sunset at Donohue Pass on Day 4 and high winds, bitter cold and snow on the last day, preventing all but Rick from summiting Mt. Whitney. We resupplied four times, at Tuolumne Meadows, Reds Meadow, Muir Trail Ranch, and by pack train at the Kearsarge Pass Trail junction, and neroed with restaurant meals and laundry three times, at Yosemite Valley, Reds Meadow (beds here also!) and Vermillion Valley Resort.