John Muir Trail 2016-2023

PanShiBo

KM 70.7

2023-09-13 Emerald Lake

 

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PanShiBo

KM 71.1

2023-09-13 Navigating Ruby Lake on our way to the tent at Garnet Lake, following our ascent of Donohue Pass, was a 33km round-trip day hike.

 

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vera

KM 73.4

2023-09-13 After hiking 33km to Donohue Pass and back, there is only 600m left to our tent, located near the footbridge over the Garnet Lake outflow.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 73.4

2023-09-13 Garnet Lake in the morning, Ritter - Banner in the background

 

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vera

今年继续 ....
期待再睹JMT 之风采 ......

PanShiBo

KM 73.4

2023-09-13 Garnet Lake in the morning, 

 

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vera

KM 74

2023-09-13 Our tentsite at Garnet Lake, we are leaving for the 33km day hike to Donohue Pass.

 

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vera

KM 74

2023-09-14 After spending 2 nights at Garnet Lake, we are ready to return and hike out 24 km to our car at Red's Meadow.

 

Ritter-Banner, as seen in the morning from our tent site at Garnet Lake.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 74.7

2023-09-12

First view of Garnet Lake, our destination after a 22km hike with an elevation gain of 1,200m. We begin searching for a tent site where we will be staying for two nights; our ultimate goal is Donohue Pass.

Although Garnet Lake is very beautiful, it is not among the three most impressive lakes along the John Muir Trail (Thousand Island Lake KM73, Evolution Lake KM197 and Rae Lakes KM283).

 

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PanShiBo

KM 75.6

Ups and downs are among the top fun parts of the JMT, along with fords, dispersed camping, and mountain passes. Switchbacks are not for everybody to enjoy, but after experiencing BC wild trails (like Wedgemount, for example, or even the BCMC trail), this is pretty good. Why complain if the trail is class 1 all the way for 344 km from Yosemite to Mount Whitney?

 

2023-09-12  En route to Garnet Lake

 

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vera

KM 75.4

2023-09-14 Day 3/3 marks the conclusion of our journey to Donohue Pass from Reds Meadow.

Here's an interesting tidbit about the John Muir Trail (JMT): Spanning approximately 211 miles (344 km), the trail begins at Yosemite Valley and concludes at Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States.

 

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vera

KM 77.3 (1.7km northward of Shadow lake)

2023-09-12 Commercial packers are frequent along the JMT. They carry supplies and sometimes help stranded hikers.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 76

2023-09-14

2.8 km northward of Shadow Lake, The Minarets stand proudly against the skyline.

• The Minarets are a series of jagged peaks in the Sierra Nevada, named for their resemblance to Islamic towers. Climbing the Minarets is a challenging and rewarding adventure, but also a dangerous one. Here are some impressive facts about climbing the Minarets:
• The Minarets are part of the Ritter Range, a volcanic remnant that predates most of the Sierra granite. The rock is often loose and unstable, requiring caution and skill.
• The Minarets have 17 named pinnacles, each honoring one of the first or second ascensionists. The first recorded ascent was of Michael Minaret in 1923 by Charles and Enid Michael, a Yosemite postmaster and his wife.
• The most difficult and highest of the Minarets is Clyde Minaret, named after Norman Clyde, a legendary mountaineer who climbed more than 130 first ascents in the Sierra. The Southeast Face Route of Clyde Minaret is a classic climb featured in Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.
• The Minarets are also the site of two tragic fatalities: Walter Starr Jr., a famous guidebook author, fell to his death on Michael Minaret in 1933 and was buried there; Steve Fossett, a world-renowned aviator and adventurer, crashed his plane near the Minarets in 2007 and was found a year later.
• The Minarets offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and lakes, such as Mount Ritter, Banner Peak, Thousand Island Lake, and Evolution Lake. The area is part of the Ansel Adams Wilderness, named after the famous photographer who captured the beauty of the Sierra."

 

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vera

KM 78

2023-09-12

Day 1/3 of the Reds Meadow - Donohue Pass - Reds Meadow trip. We passed the fork to Ediza Lake, where we camped a year before during our trip to Banner - Ritter.

 

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vera

KM 77.3

2023-09-14

Day 3/3 of Reds Meadow - Donohue Pass - Reds Meadow 81km trip. 700 m northward of the trail to Ediza Lake.

Fun fact about JMT: The trail passes through three national parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 78

2023-09-14 Day 3/3 of the Reds Meadow - Donohue Pass - Reds Meadow trip.

At the fork to Ediza Lake, passing this spot for the forth time (and hopefully not the last). We plan to do JMT again (2x344km = 688km distance) this season (2024 that is) and looking forward to it.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 78.1

2023-09-14  Passing by Shadow Creek

 

Fun fact about JMT: The trail was constructed between 1915 and 1932, following a route that John Muir and his companions explored in 1908.

vera

KM 78.1

2023-09-12  Mighty Wester Juniper tree lives up to ~3,000 years, impressive!

 

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PanShiBo

KM 79

2023-09-12  At the marker "Shadow Lake"

 

2023-09-14 As always, we stop every 45 minutes, have snacks, drink some water, and check the map.

 

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PanShiBo

KM 79

2023-09-14 Passing west end of Shadow Lake on return from Donohue Pass (Day 3/3).

 

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