Post by RedDoug on Dec 10, 2015 22:39:30 GMT -8
First, here is a link to an overview of the JMT:
johnmuirtrail.org/trail.html#segment_five
I started nobo joining the PCT at Cottonwood Pass with one companion. First night out I made my way over to the far side of a small lake we camped at and introduced myself to Todd. Todd and I would become good friends and trail companions.
The trip lasted, I think, 22 days and covered about 230 miles.
First partner and I only scheduled one resupply point and that was at Vermillion Valley Resort. Expensive, but nice place.
From the first I could see Partner was unprepared for bad weather. Bad weather had a definite impact on his mood and we had a lot of bad weather. From early in the trip I understood he was having a miserable time and wanted to go home. He stayed because of me.
From the first day, I was prepared. I do pretty well in bad weather. And I found every day on the JMT a delight. On most hikes it seems I hit a mood about the 3rd or 4th day where my mind and body don't get along with one another and one of them starts arguing about what in the world we are doing out there. By the 5th or 6th day the argument is over and mind and body start cooperating with each other and once that point is reached, the next 3- 4 weeks, or longer, are much easier. On the JMT my mind and body never had that discussion. I set a very doable pace of 10- 13 miles a day. I took my time with frequent breaks during the day to take in everything, and I just found every day a delight.
The JMT is an excellent trail to get a taste of long distance hiking.
It is just over 200 miles so doable in one month or less.
It is busy enough you have an active backpacker community around you sharing the same experience.
And the scenery is spectacular.
2015 all the major passes were free from snow by July 1. My Partner could not have handled any serious river crossings, or steep slopes with snow on them. He had all he could handle in fair to excellent conditions.
In spite of him, I was overwhelmed with the JMT and consider the entire experience one of the best hikes of my life.
I highly recommend the JMT.
Really
