Photos from my 220 mile hike on the John Muir Trail

[geoffp]

September 17, 2015: Day 17, Fish Creek to Red's Meadow . Distance: 19 miles.

Lot's of miles today but they were pretty easy. Hit the gas all the way to Red's Meadow for our second resupply. We got there around 5PM and had a burger and shake. Then we grabbed a campsite at the campground near Red's and got to use the "secret hot spring" there. It was nice soaking in the spring at night under the stars with the big pines silhouetted. I managed to lose a glove today but the camp host gave me a pair of gloves for free. Pretty nice of her. I would say Lake Virginia was the highlight of the day today - beautiful lake.

Tully Hole by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Tully Hole by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Tully Hole by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Lake Virginia by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Lake Virginia by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Purple Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Deer Creek by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Deer Creek by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
waffleswaffleswaffles and fawns by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
On the way to Red's Meadow by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Mammoth by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Red's Meadow by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Red's Meadow resupply by Geoff Potter, on Flickr

[geoffp]

September 18, 2015: Day 18, Red's Meadow to Garnet Lake. Distance: 15.2 miles.

Got up and soaked in the hot spring for a bit this morning, had breakfast and repacked our bear canisters with our resupply. Uh-oh, way to much food. Oh well, guess we'll have to stuff our faces the next few days. We had paid for shower tokens at Red's Meadow the previous day and hadn't used them so we used those after our hot spring visit (totally not worth the money for the shower). We hit Devil's Postpile first and saw lots of tourists there, they all looked at us like we were crazy, homeless people. After that we started getting some nice views of the Minaret's as well as a bunch of nice lakes in Ansel Adams Wilderness. We ended up at Garnet Lake for the night which was absolutely incredible. Probably my favorite spot of the trip. Got some okay night shots from the shore.

Red's Meadow secret hot spring by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Gregory Pack / Osprey Aether Pack by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Red's Meadow by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Devil's Postpile by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Devil's Postpile by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Ansel Adams Wilderness by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Ansel Adams Wilderness by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Rosalie Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Shadow Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Ansel Adams Wilderness by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Ansel Adams Wilderness by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Ansel Adams Wilderness by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Garnet Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Garnet Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Garnet Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Garnet Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Garnet Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr

[geoffp]

September 19, 2015: Day 19, Garnet Lake to Lyell Canyon. Distance: Approximately 17 miles.

Garnet Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Garnet Lake reflection by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Garnet Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Ruby Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Ansel Adams Wilderness by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Thousand Island Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Thousand Island Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Thousand Island Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Thousand Island Lake by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Donahue Pass, Yosemite NP by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Lyell Canyon, Yosemite NP by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Lyell Canyon, Yosemite NP by Geoff Potter, on Flickr

[geoffp]

September 20, 2015: Day 20, Lyell Canyon to Upper Cathedral Lake. Distance: 12 miles.

Ended up sleeping in the open last night without our tent. We hiked too late and didn't feel like setting it up. We needed to get to my car today, so we could move it to the valley. I parked it at the trail head of Cathedral Lakes off Tioga Pass. The reason we had to move it was because it was the last day of the shuttle service in Yosemite (at least from the valley to Tuolomne). We got to my car around 9:30AM and headed down to the valley. We were in the valley by 11:00AM or so. As soon as we hit the valley we were both ready to get back into the back country. Just way too many people, some were rude, and it just felt chaotic. We snuck a shower in at Curry Village and some coffee and danish. We caught the last bus back up to Tuolomne and hiked to Upper Cathedral Lake. As we were hiking to the lake I said to my girlfriend "You know we are in Yosemite because the people are wearing designer clothes while they hike and they are rude". As soon as we got 2 miles in, we only saw backpackers and they were all friendly.

Frost by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Yosemite National Park by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Cathedral Peak, Yosemite NP by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Cathedral Peak, Yosemite NP by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Echo Peaks, Yosemite NP by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Cathedral Peak, Yosemite NP by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Upper Catherdral Lake camp by Geoff Potter, on Flickr

[geoffp]

September 21, 2015: Day 21, Upper Cathedral Lake to Happy Isles. Distance: 17 miles

The last day of the trip. We woke up nice and early and started our hike to the valley. We both slept good and we were excited to finish. Most of the day was nice, and we didn't see many people. The people we did see were fellow backpackers, and much friendlier than your standard Yosemite "hikers". It felt funny seeing people that were just starting out on the JMT, especially telling them it was our last day. I remember how that felt, and thinking to myself the end was so far away. We enjoyed breakfast near Sunrise Lake, in a beautiful meadow. We had coffee and watch coyotes hunt. As soon as we got near Half Dome we started seeing crowds. We had a quick lunch, a squirrel opened my bag and chewed right through my phone charging cable We got too the end, and my girlfriend realized she dropped her Samsung S5 somewhere between there and Little Yosemite Valley. We opted not to look for it as we had no idea where it could have fallen out. We got to the car, showered up at Curry Village, and got a victory pizza and soda. We were done. It felt weird hitting the end, it was probably one of the biggest things I've undertaken in my life and there was no one at the end cheering for you. We felt good though, knowing what we had accomplished. This was an incredible trip, and I'm very proud that I was able to do it. It wasn't easy, but at no point did either of us consider turning back.

Upper Cathedral Lake, Yosemite NP by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Cathedral Peak by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Echo Peaks by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Yosemite National Park by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Long Meadow, Yosemite National Park by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
One last coffee by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Yosemite National Park by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Half Dome by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Yosemite National Park by Geoff Potter, on Flickr
Happy Isles, 220 miles complete! by Geoff Potter, on Flickr

Hope you enjoyed the photos, let me know if you have any questions! My girlfriend is extra crazy and went immediately to Sequoia National Park and completed the High Sierra Trail (70 miles), solo in 4 days (she started on the 23rd). I picked her up at Whitney Portal Sunday the 27th.

[geoffp]

Sorry it took so long to finish posting the pics, I was busy getting ready for a work trip to Virginia. Hope you all enjoy!

[varg]

Good lord, man. That's an amazing trip. Beautiful place, and I'd love to spend some time there someday. I don't think I would hike 220mi though unless my life depended on it :fishslap:

[Kershaw]

That is awesome!

[Cephas]

Really neat to see. Thanks for sharing those pics. I imagine it's a blast to do a hike like that, but the no bear spray rule would push me over the edge.

[bddog]

There are no brown bears(Grizzly). Just give them a wide berth, stay away from Mother bears and always sleep away from food. A large pistol always makes me feel safe.

[kickinindian]

lol so accurate on the yosemite valley people all wearing patagonia and columbia vests and jogging pants. I live so close and i never go because its so toxic now, plus removing a whole lane just for busses wtf! My favorite place to go is near jackass meadow and west of Iron Mountain. its super secluded and the area was never able to be touched by 1st generation logging so it looks different compared to most of the other parts of the sierra's.

[mrsleeve]

There are no brown bears(Grizzly). Just give them a wide berth, stay away from Mother bears and always sleep away from food. A large pistol always makes me feel safe.

Black bears are far more unpredictable than Grizz. A grizz is going to kill you or they are not, very rarely will the walk off, then come back. On more than one ocassion we have had a black bear lumber off into the bush, only to change their mind 3-5min latter and come charging back to us.....

Your generally correct when it comes to bears, your pistol better be 44mag or better though.

[bddog]

Black bears are far more unpredictable than Grizz. A grizz is going to kill you or they are not, very rarely will the walk off, then come back. On more than one ocassion we have had a black bear lumber off into the bush, only to change their mind 3-5min latter and come charging back to us.....

Your generally correct when it comes to bears, your pistol better be 44mag or better though.

So you would rather confront Grizzly?
"Black bears, for instance, are usually less aggressive and more tolerant of people. They often live near human settlements, whereas grizzly bears prefer to stay away from human settlements and are often extirpated from heavily used or populated areas."
Grizzly do not climb. They defend themselves when threatened.
Black bears usually climb or run.
Anyone in their right mind, between confronting the two, would it rather be a black bear. That is , of course, unless you plan on killing it first!

[mrsleeve]

I prefer not to encounter either, in a up close and personal way. My point was black bears in my area are less predictable than a brown bear, like I said a griz is going try and hurt/run you off or he's not. A black beAR might change his mind more readily. I am sure bears that are more habituated to human interaction are easier to deal with, and less aggressive towards people in general. Yes problem bears of both species are relocated, though usually with limited success rates.

I don't want to have to kill one either but I will not think twice if need be. Hence why I carry both bear spray, and a heavy hitting wheel gun.

[ian e30 318is]

Great trip and story! Awesome to see from start to finish!