JMT Day 12: Seldon Pass

Tuesday, August 02, 2011
	Destination: Senger Creek Starting Location: Slightly past bear creek	Today's Miles: 7.20 Trip Miles: 110.90

Today was one of the most beautiful days!



First, we hiked to Marie Lakes and took a litttle break.  Austin went for swim. 

From Marie Lakes it was a quick ascent to Seldon Pass.  The view was amazing! 

 We descended the pass somewhat off trail, but it wasn't too difficult. Then we walked by Heart and Sallie Keyes Lakes. It was a stunning view most the way!

Heart Lake Lake-looking back to Seldon Pass

Sallie Keyes Lakes

 We found a nice camping spot by Senger Creek and had our second fire of the journey. 

 Today was simply a spectacular day. You really need to be here to experience it for yourself!

JMT Day 11: Bear Creek

Monday, August 01, 2011
	Destination: Slightly past bear creek Starting Location: Vermillion Valley Resort	Today's Miles: 10.30 Trip Miles: 103.70

Today was a glorious first day with Austin joining us.

We hiked up the Bear Ridge trail instead of taking the ferry back to the JMT. It was quite difficult and nearly a 2000 foot gain. This helped us appreciate the JMT a lot more. It was a pretty long day hiking.

Near the end we crossed some streams including the Bear Creek  which wasn't all that difficult compared to what we had read about prior to our journey. We went directly across where the trail does.  It was up to my thigh and slightly swift but very manageble.  Some small boyscouts had crossed a little before we did.

A crossing before Bear Creek

Our packs are heavy as Austin brought in a big resupply so we wouldn't have to send a second bucket to Muir Trail Ranch. We had planned to take it easy for Austin to acclimate. However, this doesn't seem necessary as he's doing fine. We'll probably get to Muir Trail Ranch early.

JMT Day 10: Vermillion Valley Resort

Destination: Vermillion Valley Resort Starting Location: slightly past the mono creek trail

Today's Miles: 1.80 Trip Miles: 93.40

Took a nero to VVR! There was a nice rainbow as we packed up camp.


It was a short walk to the ferry stop at Lake Edison and we waited there a little before it arrived.

We had some great pancakes and got a free campsite. It began to rain and a river went under our tent. A little water even snuck inside through a small hole. We did laundry and got a showers after it stopped. We waited for our friend, Austin, to arrive who would be joining us for the remainder of the journey. It was a great, relaxing day!

JMT Day 9: Silver Pass

Saturday, July 30, 2011 Destination: slightly past the mono creek trail Starting Location: Lake Virginia Today's Miles: 11.00 Trip Miles: 91.60
Another great day in the wilderness! I didn't eat much for breakfast and became very confused and delirious by time we reached Squaw Lake. It might have just been the mosquitoes playing with my mind. They were quite hungry today. There was a big descent to Tully Hole which was followed by the climb to Squaw Lake. Squaw Lake I got the strategy of three consecutive rubs on my arm, then I would switched to the other and repeat this for a lengthy duration! I believe many of those friendly foes perished that day.  We heard thunder as we neared Silver Pass.  We decided it was best to seek cover so we made our way over the pass as quickly as possible. Near Silver Pass Descending to Silver Pass  It was fairly easy and the rain was like a shower! We had a great descent and the sun came out in time for some exciting stream crossings. One was even through a waterfall.  We hopped across some big boulders.  Another one we I just jumped from rock to rock and I think Josh found a log,  but then fell in and got a little wet. We could have done a normal ford taking our boots off easier. We camped near the trail junction for VVR.

JMT Day 8: Purple Lake and Lake Virginia

Friday, July 29, 2011
	Destination: Lake Virginia Starting Location: Deer Creek	Today's Miles: 9.80 Trip Miles: 80.60

Today we experienced our first rain! Previously the sky had been the purest blue with rarely a cloud in sight!

 I don't remember much from the hike today.  We went to Purple Lake and took a little break for some food. 

Purple Lake

Sometimes I just zone out while I'm hiking.  Then we moved on and camped at Lake Virginia which is where we encountered the rain after setting up camp.  Lake Virginia is actually one of the best lakes we saw!

After the rain, the sun came out and looked epic on the mountains! We camped really close to the lake on a peninsula, probably closer than regulation allows, but it was a nice flat campsite without vegetation.

We didn't really talk a whole lot while hiking, just listening to the sounds of nature (no music either). For a while I was wondering what makes hiking so special. After exploring beautiful Yellowstone by car I have come to the conclusion, that it is a full immersion of 4 of the 5 senses: touch (actually walking through the wilderness), sight (seeing all the beautiful mountains, lakes, and valleys), smell (the fresh air and body odor), hearing (listening to the running water, wind, and animals). Taste doesn't completely apply but cooked food certainly tastes a lot better in the wilderness! I'd like to add another aspect as well: time! The time it takes to walk to a place helps you appreciate the wilderness even more! To look back and see mountains way off in the distance and know that that's where you've come from is a very rewarding experience!

JMT Day 7: Devil's Postpile and Red's Meadow

Destination: Deer Creek Starting Location: near Devil's Postpile National Monument

Today's Miles: 8.50 Trip Miles: 70.80

Today we saw Devil's Postpile and went to Red's Meadow.  We continued past Red Cones and ended up at Deer Creek.


Devil's Postpile National Monument was amazing. The hexagon shapes were interesting!

We couldn't find the showers near Red's Meadow.  A sign said something about a bathhouse but the trail just took us to the road! I'm not even sure if the showers were working this year.   After finding the store and restaurant we got some food.  I got some hot cakes, a scrambled egg, a free slice of watermelon, as well as some OJ. The food was great! Then we went to the store and bought some avacado dip that tasted like ranch but was green!  The store was reasonably stocked, but not as well as Tuolummne and maybe slightly more expensive.  

We left Red's and hiked through burned forest and climbed up a little and saw the Red Cones.

We ended up camping at Deer Creek in the early afternoon. After this is one of the longest stretches without water on the JMT. We relaxed and while in the tent we looked up to see a mosquito army waiting for us to leave the tent. We had a great battle. Many mosquitoes died but we survived! This place had some of the worst mosquitoes.  Just popped a blister on my foot!

JMT Day 6: PCT detour

Destination: near Devil's Postpile National Monument
Starting Location: Garnet Lake
Today's Miles: 12.00
Trip Miles: 62.30

One week in the wilderness! Slight detour today, leaving JMT to miss a crossing of water where bridge hadn't faired so well! We left at Shadow Lake and went to the PCT. We had a big descent, then lots of flat hiking in the woods.

Early morning reflections at Garnet Lake

Shadow Lake

Taking a break on the PCT

The view was actually very nice on the descent. We did miss some lakes on the JMT, however.

We still hear and see airplanes here in the beautiful blue sky!.

This statement had two key observations! Planes and blue sky! If we saw planes, we concluded that the world was ok and that no serious threat had been imposed against society.

We camped near Devil's Postpile (actually a little backtrack on the JMT because camping wasn't allowed in the National Monument area). Cellphones even worked.