Hiking to Muir Peak and Inspiration Point from the Cobb Estate in Altadena is challenging. The 11 mile trail climbs over 2800 feet, gives you a taste of LA history and some really great views. Even with a coastal haze, we spied Catalina Island poking up in the distance. I hiked this with the Sierra […]
Thru-Hiking the JMT: Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney
Day 22 on the John Muir Trail… Technically, this day begins at the end of Day 21. We went to bed early last night, sleeping lightly for a few hours and waking to our alarm at 11:30 PM. We ate Clif Bars and packed up our sleeping gear and tent. Donning our headlamps, we made […]
Thru-Hiking the JMT: Over Forester Pass to Wright Creek
Day 20 on the John Muir Trail… At 13,200 feet above sea level, Forester Pass may not be the highest point on the John Muir Trail (that would be Mt. Whitney) but it is the high point of the Pacific Crest Trail. As we’ve hiked further and further south on the JMT, our average altitude has […]
Thru-Hiking the JMT: Over Pinchot Pass to Woods Creek
Day 17 on the John Muir Trail… We awoke just before sunrise, with frozen beads of condensation clinging to outside of our tent. It was chilly. Boil water! Make coffee! Stat! Most of this trip, we were spending all day in shorts and short sleeves. I put on my knit cap at night to keep […]
Thru-Hiking the JMT: Over Muir Pass to Helen Lake
Day 14 on the John Muir Trail… This morning we warmed ourselves by a campfire as our new friend Brian defrosted his pants, still wet from his creek crossing yesterday. Today we would hike over Muir Pass (11,955′) — our highest pass to date and home to the iconic stone Muir Hut. Our distance was […]
Thru-Hiking the JMT: Tully Hole to Vermilion Valley Resort
Day 9 on the John Muir Trail… Today, we climb 10,900 ft Silver Pass. Our total ascent is 2,272 ft, but we will also be descending 4,121 ft. to Lake Thomas Edison, where we will ferry to the far end of the lake to rest and resupply at Vermilion Valley Resort. VVR takes us several miles […]
Thru-Hiking the JMT: Deer Creek to Tully Hole
Day 8 on the John Muir Trail… After a “half day” of hiking yesterday, we looked forward to getting back on the trail today. We planned to head from Deer Creek to Tully Hole — about 12 miles. The elevation gain would be mainly slow and steady, and we would be hiking right at the […]
Thru-Hiking the JMT: Thousand Island Lake to Reds Meadow
Day 6 on the John Muir Trail… I woke up before sunrise to take  photos. Thousand Island Lake was still, reflecting Banner Peak like a mirror. The sun cast a brilliant yellow glow as it struck the mountains, and we welcomed the warm rays. At 9,850 feet, Thousand Island Lake is just below the tree […]
