John Muir Trail

In 2009, my husband and I hiked 230 miles on the John Muir Trail which spans from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney. The trail itself is 211 miles so our total mileage includes as trip up Half Dome and other side trips. It was a challenging and fabulously rewarding experience. For those not familiar with the trail, it's the longest stretch of Sierra trail which does not cross a single road. That means we had to carry all of our supplies on our backs and then hike off of the trail to get more food and supplies. I used a solar battery charger to ensure I never ran out of a charge and could take as many pictures as I wanted. We hiked anywhere from zero to 14 miles per day; 23 trail days. We are looking forward to doing it again.

One of the best trail signs I've ever seen.
JMT trail sign John Muir Trail
On the way up to Donahue Pass in Yosemite. This is run off from the Lyell glacier. This water feeds Lyell creek in Lyell Canyon. The mountain range in the background is the Kuna Crest.
Lyell Canyon Kuna Crest Donahue Pass high Sierra Yosemite John Muir Trail
Rush Creek area, just south of Donahue Pass. The mountain range in the distance is Koip Crest.
Donahue Pass mountains creek Koip Crest John Muir Trail
This is beautiful1000 Island lake (near Mammoth Mountain). Banner Peak is proudly reflected in the water.
1000 Island Lake Mammoth John Muir Trail mountains Banner Peak
1000 Island Lake with a near perfect reflection of Banner Peak.
1000 Island Lake Banner Peak High Sierra reflection John Muir Trail
This is Purple Lake. This was so very scenic, it was hard to leave.
Purple lake John Muir Trail
Lake Virginia on a semi-grey day.
lake virginia John Muir Trail
This is Marie Lake, looking north from Seldon Pass.
Marie Lake Seldon Pass John Muir Trail mountains
Looking south at Heart Lake from Seldon Pass.
Heart Lake high Sierra mountain John Muir Trail
These are what we call "Evolution Falls." This is Evolution Creek which runs through McClure Meadow.
Falls below Evolution basin flowers John Muir Trail
Evolution Lake, Evolution Basin.
High Sierra Evolution Basin lake John Muir Trail
Evolution Lake on a grey day.
Evolution lake cloudy skies John Muir Trail
The Muir Hut. The Sierra Club built this hut on the top of Muir Pass in 1931 as a storm shelter.
Muir Pass Sierra Club Muir Hut John MuirTrail John Muir Trail
Looking south from Muir Pass towards Helen lake.
Mountains Muir Pass lakes granite high Sierra John Muir Trail
The lovely Upper Basin, just south of Mather pass. The mountain range in the background includes the Vennacher Needle (12,996).
Upper Basin Mather Pass High Sierra.John Muir Trail
Upper Basin, just south of Mather Pass.
Upper Basin red flower carpet John Muir Trail
Palisade Lake on the Kings River.
High Sierra lake Palisade granite John Muir Trail
Palisade Lake looking south towards Mather Pass.
Palisades lake High Sierra Mather Pass John Muir Trail
Mather Pass: just south of the Palisades Lakes and north of Upper Basin.
Mather pass John Muir Trail
This plateau was just south of the Bench Lake cutoff and north of Pinchot Pass. This is looking north towards Upper Basin.
Bench lake area looking north John Muir Trail
This lovely plateau is just south of the Bench Lake cut-off and just north of Pinchot Pass. It was freezing cold and very windy on this day. We camped near a small, shallow, warm lake but it was too cold to go swimming and enjoy.
Pinchot Pass High Sierra Bench Lake trees clouds John Muir Trail
This unnamed lake was shallow and warm (on a very cold day). It's just south of the Bench Lake cutoff and north of Pinchot Pass.
Bench lake area campsite looking south John Muir Trail
Pyramid Peak, northwest of the Woods Creek bridge.
Pyramid Peak John Muir Trail
Dollar Lake. This beautiful, lesser known lake is just north of the better know Rae Lakes. The pointy mountain reflected in the lake is Fin Dome.
Dollar Lake Fin Dome reflection High Sierra John Muir Trail
Fin Dome reflected in Rae Lake.
Fin Dome reflected Rae Lakes John Muir Trail
Deer Horn Mountain and Mt. Stanford from the north side of Forester Pass.
DeerHorn MtStanford Forester John Muir Trail
Looking south from Forester Pass on a stormy afternoon. Forester Pass is 13,153 feet high and is the highest pass on the John Muir Trail.
Looking South atop Forester John Muir Trail
After crossing Forester Pass and heading south, turn around and you'll see the pass itself and the Great Western Divide.
Forester pass Great Western Divide John Muir Trail
Guitar Lake on the way up Mt. Whitney from the west.
High Sierra lake granite reflection John Muir Trail
Mt. Hitchcock and Hitchcock Lakes, sunrise.
Whitney zone Mt. Hitchcock sunrise John Muir Trail
The view from Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the 48 contiguous states at 14,505 feet high. Mt. Whitney is also the start and/or ending point of the John Muir Trail.
Whitney John Muir Trail
Spectacular sunrise at Lone Pine Lake on the Mt. Whitney trail.
Sunrise Lone Pine Lake Mt.Whitney trail John Muir Trail
Cathedral Peak and Cathedral Lake, Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite lake High Sierra Cathedral Lake Cathedral Pass John Muir Trail
Meadow near Sunrise High Sierra Camp, Yosemite.
meadow near high sierra camp John Muir Trail
Half Dome by early, pre-sunrise pink light.
pre sunrise pink half dome John Muir Trail
A rare moment of solitude on the Half Dome cables, Yosemite National Park.
Half Dome Yosemite cables mountain John Muir Trail
Climbing Forester Pass, the highest pass on the JMT and the PCT.
Forester Pass John Muir Trail
1000 Isle Lake in Black and White
1000 Isle Lake BW
1000 Isle Lake

Cairn Foto

John Muir Trail