Section for Friends?

imported
#1

Hi,

I’m planning for the John Muir Trail this summer and I have a few friends that can’t go for the whole thing, but would like to meet up and hike with us for a few days…

Does anyone know of a spot that they could hike in, meet up at the trail, hike with us for a few days then take another trail back out? Obviously they have to figure out how to get to their car but that’s their problem.

I was thinking maybe they could meet us at Red’s Meadow Pack Camp then follow us down a few days then hike out but not sure where they could hike out… Any ideas?

Thanks

Trevor

#2

They could do as you suggest, but their first day would be the one and only day of the trail that isn’t all that great. If they’re only out for a couple days, they could loop back on a couple different really great trails (you’ll see the options on your map) and just go right back to their car.

If they want to do you a huge favor, they could hike over Bishop Pass with a resupply for you. You can drop your pack at the JMT, and just carry your food and essentials up to meet them at the pass. Then they can go out any number of pass trails further south depending on how long they’re hiking for.

Probably the easiest, and a very beautiful, section would be just to start with you. Then you can place their car or they can take the bus back to Yosemite, and you’ll all be starting from the same acclimatization level.

The one thing i would NOT do is have them meet you to hike anywhere from Kearsarge south. You’ll be acclimated and they won’t be, and it’s some of the highest more strenuous parts of the trail.

markv

#3

I did the JMT this past summer. I second the idea of having them start with you (if they don’t want to start in the Valley, they could meet you up at Tuolumne) - and then hiked with you until Red’s Meadow. From Red’s, they can easily get a shuttle to Mammoth, and then bus/train back to Yosemite. Plus, this is a spectacular part of trail…Lyell Canyon is super pretty and chill for a first day, and then going over Donohue Pass to Thousand Island Lake, and all of the gem-named lakes is just stunning…you can all celebrate with burgers when you get to Red’s.

Otherwise, I guess they could meet you at Red’s and you could do the section from Red’s to Vermillion Valley Resort (you gotta spend a day here). VVR offers transportation to Edison Lake, at which point civilization can (somehow) be reached…though it’s probably best to have a car parked there. This is an OK section of trail…Lake Virginia is really nice, and Silver Pass is nice, but it’s not the prettiest stretch.

Finally, you could have them meet you at VVR, and hike to Muir Trail Ranch and then catch the ferry out across Florence Lake. This is a nice stretch…Seldon Pass and Marie Lakes are stunning. OR meet up at Muir Trail Ranch (and have them bring your re-supply! because MTR charges a fortune) and hike through Evolution Basin, over Muir Pass and into Le Comte Canyon, where they can then exit out over Bishop Pass. I’ve never hiked Bishop pass myself, but I’ve heard it’s pretty steep. Evolution Basin, Muir Pass, and Le Comte will definitely be memorable, though it is harder to figure out the logistics of getting back to one’s car.

sophia