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Thru-Hiking the JMT: Over Forester Pass to Wright Creek

August 15, 2013 By Jeff H

Forester Pass Looking North

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.

img
John Muir Trail Day 20
Distance: 12 miles
Cumulative Distance: 199 miles
Total Ascent: 3,869 ft
Cumulative Ascent: 54,249 ft
Harrison Map Sheets 2 and 1
As we’ve hiked further and further south on the JMT, our average altitude has risen. Much of today’s trail is above the tree line, in a rugged, rocky landscape that’s as beautiful as it is desolate.

Our goal this morning was to reach Forester Pass before noon, and we got there just before 11:30am. The route up looks like piles of gravel with the occasional patch of snow and lake a the bottom of the slope, but there is a surprising amount of life flourishing in the high altitude.

IMG_2767

The trail cuts across a steep slope of scree that is often covered in snow, making it even more treacherous. Keep your eyes on the trail. When you want to look around, stop and steady yourself first.

In our case, we had a few patches of snow, but their were plenty of boot prints leading the way and it wasn’t too bad.

Snow patches on Forester Pass

When we reached Forester Pass, we celebrated! We took the requisite photos, ate a snack,  and communed with the marmots.

SoCal Hiker on Forester Pass

On the south side of Forester Pass, the John Muir Trail drops down a series of expertly engineered switchbacks in a narrow chasm, then winds around the steep sloping scree to the basin below.

Looking South from Forester Pass

Once in the basin, the trail continues downward on an easy grade to Tyndall Creek. There were patches of trees, and we were able to find a shady spot for lunch.

As we headed on, we passed a couple trail junctions, and our first sign announcing the distance remaining to the top of Mt. Whitney! It was thrilling to realize that we were actually going to complete the JMT! We could practically smell it. Oh wait, that was just us…

Trail Junction on the JMT

Although we had already hiked over Forester Pass, we weren’t finished climbing for the day. We had about another 600 feet of elevation gain up to Bighorn Plateau.

img
Are We There Yet?
JMT-JeffThere was no car to pull over, but this last stretch up and beyond the Bighorn Plateau seemed to never end. It was one of those points on the trail when you think to yourself, “How much further?!” To which the reply is typically, “Oh, about a mile… mile and a half.”

Prepare yourself. It’s always more than a mile and a half. Or at least, it feels that way.

Tyndall-Creek-Basin

Finally the trail dipped down into a valley and we reached Wright Creek. Tonight we would sleep in the shadow of Mt. Whitney.

Trail Map: Forester Pass, Bighorn Plateau and Wright Creek

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: JMT-Day-20.gpx

JMT Day 20 Photo Gallery

Click on any photo to view a larger version. You can also leave comments on any photo.




Mt. Whitney!



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Tomorrow, we head to Guitar Lake, just below Mt. Whitney.

Originally hiked on August 15, 2010.

Filed Under: JMT Resources, Trail Guides Tagged With: 11+ miles, Backpacking, Forester, Forester Pass, Hiking The John Muir Trail, JMT, John Muir Trail, Mount Whitney, Muir Trail, National Park, Pacific Crest Trail, Sequoia National Park, Sierra Nevada, strenuous, The John Muir Trail, Trail Guide, wilderness

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Jeff H

About Jeff H

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

Comments

  1. Kathleen l Our Favorite Adventure says

    August 25, 2013 at 9:46 am

    Hey Jeff! I just found your website through Triberr and wanted to tell you I think your pictures are gorgeous and that your site is refreshing and professional compared to so many others we’ve seen. We just finished a JMT hike on August 10 so I’m loving your posts about your trip!

    I love Joan’s comment, “there was no car to pull over”. That was my go-to on our bike tour last year and found it frustrating that wasn’t an option on the JMT 😉 And, our answer to everything was always ”mile…mile and a half”

    • Jeff HJeff Hester says

      August 26, 2013 at 11:51 pm

      Thanks Kathleen. I’m glad you’re enjoying the JMT posts. I still am absorbing the experience… and looking forward to hiking it again! Maybe as soon as 2015.

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JMT Planning

  • Overview of the JMT
  • JMT Maps, Guidebooks & Software
  • Our JMT Itinerary
  • Resupply Addresses
  • JMT Discussion Forum

Day-by-Day on the JMT

  • Driving to Lone Pine
  • Shuttle from Lone Pine to Yosemite
  • DAY 1: Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley (plus Half Dome)
  • DAY 2: Little Yosemite Valley to Sunrise Camp
  • DAY 3: Tuolumne Meadows Resupply
  • DAY 4: Tuolumne to Upper Lyell Canyon
  • DAY 5: Lyell Canyon to Thousand Island Lake
  • DAY 6: Thousand Island Lake to Reds Meadow
  • DAY 7: Devil’s Postpile to Deer Creek
  • DAY 8: Deer Creek to Tully Hole
  • DAY 9: Tully Hole to VVR
  • DAY 10: Zero DAY at VVR
  • DAY 11: Mono Creek to Rosemarie Meadow
  • DAY 12: Rosemarie Meadow to Muir Trail Ranch
  • DAY 13: Muir Trail Ranch to McClure Meadow
  • DAY 14: Over Muir Pass to Helen Lake
  • DAY 15: Le Conte Canyon to Palisade Creek
  • DAY 16: The Golden Staircase and Mather Pass
  • DAY 17: Over Pinchot Pass to Woods Creek
  • DAY 18: Woods Creek to Rae Lakes
  • DAY 19: Rae Lakes, Glen Pass to Vidette Meadow
  • DAY 20: Forester Pass to Wright Creek
  • DAY 21: Wright Creek to Guitar Lake
  • DAY 22: To Mt Whitney and Whitney Portal

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