JMT article and trip comments

imported
#1

My brother and I just got back from our JMT hike and I thought I’d post a few comments/Questions.

First: We met a reporter from the Fresno BEE who was following a couple of JMT hikers as part of series of stories his paper is doing on the JMT. Here’s the link:

http://www.fresnobeehive.com/jmt/

Second, The evening before we went over Muir pass we came across a hiker coming down from the pass claiming that there was a group of Cal students handing out free beers and hot dogs at the Muir hut. Regrettfully we didnt have the energy at the end of our long day to find out wether this was true or wether the man was mereley pulling our leg. The Fresno Bee reporterwe met later said that a psychologist and his wife did this on an annual basis. I’m not sure if it was an experiment to test how far a hiker would push the limits for a free beer and a dog or a fraternity hazing ritual but I’d like to find out.

Thirdly: Summiting Mt Whitney was an intereasting experience. I can’t believe how many weekend warriors we saw up there trying to conquer the 14000+ summit with little or no preparation. I saw two or three folks who looked in really bad shape and was wondering how serious altitude sickness can be. I know it is only 14000 feet but it seems to me that many of these hikers were risking serious problems by pushing it all the way to the top.

Finally, the hike gave me a renewed respect for those PCT hikers who dare to hike through this section when it is covered in snow. It was difficult enough without snow. I can’t imagine how draining it must be with snow.

jalanjalan

#2

The Cal students with beer apparently was true. We were a day or so ahead of you, and later heard 2nd-hand complaints about a “frat party” on top of Muir Pass and what a loud disgrace it was.

Amen to the Whitney scene. I felt sorry for the people trudging up the main trail. And also to the PCT hikers. Every steep pass i kept wondering how in the world anyone could manage this trail with snow on it. Routefinding alone must be a nightmare.

markv

#3

The story about the Cal students is true. I was heading north bound on the JMT on reaching the top of Muir pass at the hut were two guys in their early 20’s cooking hot dogs and giving away beer(pabst blue ribbon beer) or lemonaid, they also provided two lounge chairs along with a radio playing older rock music from a radio station from Reno. The reason they were doing this was to “give back” It seems the year prior one of these guys had spent a day with a sheep herder while hiking and was given food and tea, they thought this was a great way to give to others so they made their plans and spent three days hiking up from their base camp 5 miles below each morning weighted down with 70 pounds of beer hot dogs and condiments along with the radio, stove, and lounge chairs ( they said the rules wouldn’t allow them to camp on the pass). I don’t remember their names but I spent two hours talking to them along with eating the hot dogs IT WAS AWSOME. I’m still laughing about the experiance. In case anyone is wondering I’m 50 years old

Bugg

#4

Hey, come to think of it, I’m 50 too.
gKd
NH

theThriftstoreMountaineer

#5

Well, I guess I am the villan who was giving away beer at Muir Pass. Thank you Bugg for the ringing endorsement. Its an unfortunate truth that no matter what you do you are gonna piss someone off. Nevertheless it is a bummer to hear that some people thought or presence was a disgrace when we were just trying to be alturistic. This came as quite a suprise to me as all of the people we met were pretty happy about the beer and hot dog scheme. So happy, in fact, that I was thinking of doing the same thing next year. It would be good for people to voice their concerns about a beer and hotdogs stand at muir pass directly with the offending party. In this way they may affect change and make their world a better (and perhaps less hotdogful) place instead of triangulating their rage on some hapless hiker. In this spirit I strongly recommend making your opinions known to me, so feel free to email me at beerandhotdogs@gmail.com. I won’t bite and would appreciate hearing your opinion. To set the record straight, fortunately for me and unfortunately for the greek system, I have never been a member of a fraternal organization.

Beer & Hot Dogs

#6

I did the JMT in early July. It was a trip of a lifetime! The only way it could have been more perfect would to of ran into your crew serving brews.

Requests for next years menu:
Wine - for the cry babies (bag in a box)
Margaritas (pre-mixed and served over snow)

JMT 2006

#7

How about posting the date and time of the next HotDogs and Beer (or wine or margaritas) Party at Muir Pass. Planning to walk that way in August and September. Must schedule an afternoon stop on the day of the party.

JDCool