John Muir Trail Itinerary

 

Sunday, July 19: CAMPERS ARRIVE

• Drive to Yosemite National Park
• Set-up camp at Wawona Campsite
• Play getting-to-know-you games
• Talk about campsite policies and hard skills
  • Rooms of the house
  • Tent set-up
  • Cooking/Kitchen safety
  • LNT
  • Leader of the Day
  • Hand/Tarp Drawing group activity

 

Monday, July 20: FUN VALLEY DAY

• Bridal Veil Falls
• Yosemite Falls
• Learn about John Muir

• Ansel Adams Museum
• Drive to Glacier Point to take pictures (or after dinner for sunset)

Tuesday, July 21: PACK-OUT DAY

• Pack-out and distribute group gear
• Pack-out group dinners
• Pack-out personal breakfasts and lunches
• Explore Tuolumne Meadows

 

Wednesday, July 22: DEVIL’S POSTPILE, GET READY TO GO

• Explore Devil’s Postpile
• Go to Horseshoe Lakes Campground
• Run the shuttle to North Lakes Trail Head
• Out on the trail talks:
  • Pooping in the woods
  • Staying found
  • Lightning position
  • Bear protocols and safety

• Look at maps, routes, evac plans, orienteering

Thursday, July 23: HIT THE TRAIL

• Start Hiking at Horseshoe Lake Trail Head along Mammoth Pass to Red Cones and head South on JMT
• Hike through Upper Crater Meadow
• Camp at large site just to the north of the Deer Creek crossing in open lodgepole forest; other sites nearby

Mileage: 5.6 miles

 

Friday, July 24: DESCEND TO DUCK PASS JUNCTION

• Hike South on JMT, gradual ascent in morning
• Trail levels off in afternoon, descends to Duck Pass
• Camp at small sites among slabs to the edge of creek draining Duck Creek; parallel creek downstream to find several choices

Mileage: 5.4 miles

 

Saturday, July 25: DUCK PASS TO PURPLE LAKE TO VIRGINIA LAKE

• Hike South to Duck Pass, steep ascent
• Descend to Purple Lake
• Ascend to Virginia Lake
• Hike along Fish Creek
• Camp at large site in hemlock and fir forest, a bit south of Fish Creek junctions

Mileage: 7.4 miles

*BIG DAY!  If we need to cut it short, we can stay at Tully Hole (cut-off 1 mile+) and make it up Sunday*

 

Sunday, July 26: SILVER PASS

• Hike South from Cascade Lake to Silver Pass
• Short descent
• Camp at one of many small, scattered sites along Silver among lodgepole pines and a few hemlock

Mileage: 4.4 miles

Monday, July 27: SILVER PASS to LAKE EDISON

• All day decent to Lake Edison
• Hike along Silver Pass Creek
• Camp at large, open area beneath Jeffrey pines at Junction with Lake Thomas Edison Trail

Mileage: 5.7 miles

 

Tuesday, July 28: ZERO DAY!

• Hike 1.4 miles along Lake Thomas Edison Trail from campsite to water taxi
• Take 9 am water taxi to Vermillion Valley Resort
• RELAX
• RESUPPLY

Accommodations: Vermillion Valley Resort (four tent cabins)

Wednesday, July 29: BIG CLIMB

• Take 9:00am water taxi from Vermillion Valley Resort to Lake Thomas Edison Trail
• Hike 1.4 miles on Lake Thomas Edison Trail to JMT
• Big climb, 2000 feet elevation gain, lots of switchbacks
  
• Pass Bear Ridge Trail Junction
  
• End day descending
• Camp at larger site shaded by large Jeffrey pines

Mileage: 5.4 (6.8 with Lake Edison hike) miles

 

Thursday, July 30: BEAR CREEK TO ROSE LAKES

• Descend to Bear Creek
• Hike along Bear Creek through Upper Bear Creek Meadows
• Gradual climb to Rose Lakes
• Camp at sites on slabs to the side of Rosemarie Meadows

Mileage: 5.8 miles

 

Friday, July 31: SELDON PASS

• Morning: Summit Seldon Pass (10890 feet)
• Descend through Sallie Keyes Lakes
• Camp at site in lodgepole forest along Senger Creek; respect posted “no camping” areas

Mileage: 6.2 miles

 

Saturday, August 1: DOWNHILL DAY

• Switchbacks to JMT cut-off trail (leads to Muir Trail Ranch and Lost Valley)
• Hike along San Joaquin River past Tule Lake
• Camp at large site beneath open Jeffrey Pines on the south side of the bridge at Piute Pass junction

Mileage: 5.6 +

*OPTIONAL: Keep going on to Piute Pass Trail to get out 1 day earlier)*

 

Sunday, August 2: PIUTE PASS TRAIL

• Hike on Piute Trail along Piute Creek
• Cross West and East Pinnacles River
• Camp near Hutchinson Meadow at junction with trail to Pine Creek Trailhead along French Canyon River

Mileage: 5.3 miles

 

Monday, August 3: ROUTE TO PIUTE PASS

• Hike along Piute Creek
• Summit Piute Pass
• Camp near Piute Pass

Mileage: 7.1 miles

 

Tuesday, August 4: OUT OF THE WOODS

• Pass Piute Lake
• Follow trail to North Lake Trailhead, out of the wood
• Camp at North Lake Trailhead

Mileage: 5.0 miles

 

Wednesday, August 5: SHIRA’S BIRTHDAY!

• Grocery Store
• Mariposa Grove
• Devil’s Dance Floor
• Cookout!

Accommodations: Backpacker’s Campsite in the Valley

            * Back-up: Gary’s Aunt and Uncle’s house in Mill Valley, CA

 

Thursday, August 6: RETURN TO SAN FRAN

• Drive to San Francisco
• Check into hotel
• Explore city
• Out to Dinner in San Fran

Accommodations: Millwood Inn & Suites
            Location: 1375 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030
           Phone # (800) 516-6738

 

Friday, August 7: GOOD-BYE CAMPERS DAY

• Goodbye to campers!