Post Trip Notes

Post Trip Notes:

Looking back several weeks after completion I really yearn to be back on the trail. There were many times throughout the trip that I really did not wish to be there, wherever that might be. The weather had a great deal to do with that. I know weather is part of the experience, but fifteen days of thunderstorms out of nineteen was a bit too much. I averaged right about eighteen miles a day which I would do again, the challenge of the mileage and terrain was great, but I was getting to camp at 1:00 pm most days just ahead of the rain which is a very fast pace through the Sierra Nevada. I would prefer to do eighteen miles and get to camp around 5:00 pm, much more time to soak in the views. I went to a very bad place on two occasions; Sallie Keys Lake and Thousand Island Lake. Being solo is fun and all, but you really crave human contact during dinner and when the weather gets bad. I would not have completed this journey if not for my super supportive and loving wife, she really did give me the strength to continue on during a couple of weak moments. I am already in the planning stages of another JMT journey for next year (2013), but this is going to be a really special trip, the best yet. If the good lord willing and the creek don't rise, Judy and I will be backpacking the JMT together next August which will really be a dream come true. Being able to share the trail with her is going to be awesome to say the least.

 

Overall the trip was successful and I would do it again, just at a slower pace and with company. I love the High Sierra Trail and the John Muir Trail and plan to backpack both many more times in the future, just not together. This was really a once in a lifetime experience. The lesson learned going forward is to find a balance between big mileage/big mountains and peace and serenity. I do believe I can accomplish this worthwhile goal.

 

The band Rush released a new album earlier this year (its a good one) and their song "Headlong Flight" completely speaks to me. Here are the lyrics, just hits home with what I experienced and hope to experience again........

 

All the journeys of this great adventure
It didn't always feel that way
I wouldn't trade them because I made them
The best I could, and that's enough to say

Some days were dark
I wish that I could live it all again
Some nights were bright
I wish that I could live it all again

All the highlights of that headlong flight
Holding on with all my might
To what I felt back then
I wish that I could live it all again

I have stoked the fire on the big steel wheels
Steer the airship right across the stars
I learned to fight, I learned to love, I learned to feel
Oh I wish that I could live it all again

All the treasures, the gold and glory
It didn't always feel that way
I don't regret it - I'll never forget it
I wouldn't trade tomorrow for today

Some days were dark
I wish that I could live it all again
Some nights were bright
I wish that I could live it all again

Sample Photos

Judy Dropped Me Off At The Start Of The HST

 

Hamilton Lake

Precipice Lake

Kern River

Looking West From Trail Crest

Rock Formations From Summit Of Mt. Whitney

Mt. Whitney From Timberline Lake

Forester Pass From The South

Looking North From Forester Pass

Bullfrog Lake Reflections

Mt. Brewer

Early Morning Light In Route To Pinchot Pass

Upper Basin From Mather Pass

View West From Mather Pass

Palisade Group From Mather Pass

Lower Palisade Lake

The Black Giant & Le Conte Canyon

Looking North From Muir Pass

Wanda Lake

I Think This Is The Moon

Sunset From Mc Clure Meadow

Lake Of The Lone Indian

The Silver Divide

My Camp At Thousand Island Lake

Banner Peak

Closer View Of Banner Peak

Early Morning Light On Summit Of Half Dome

Myself On Summit Of Half Dome

Daily Mileages

Here is a list of my daily mileage. Full trip report coming slowly..........

Day 1=Crescent Meadow To Hamilton Lake, 15.5 Miles, +3300'

Day 2=To Kern Hot Springs, 21.3 Miles, +4100'

Day 3=To Crabtree Meadow, 16.4 Miles, +4300'

Day 4=To Mt. Whitney, 15.4 Miles, +4200'

Day 5=To Center Basin, 18.9 Miles, +4000'

Day 6=To Onion Valley Trailhead, 12.2 Miles, +2300'

Segment 1=103.2 Miles, +22,700'

Day 7=Zero Day In Bishop

Day 8=Onion Valley To Woods Creek, 18.6 Miles, +3900'

Day 9=To Upper Basin, 14.6 Miles, +4700'

Day 10=To Le Conte Canyon, 17.4 Miles, +2100'

Day 11=To McClure Meadow, 17.8 Miles, +3600'

Day 12=To Sallie Keys Lake, 17.9 Miles, +2800'

Day 13=To VVR, 17.7 Miles, +1900'

Segment 2=107.2 Miles, +19,000'

Day 14=To Lake Virginia, 17.6 Miles, +5000'

Day 15=Reds Meadow, 16.1 Miles, +1300'

Day 16=To Thousand Island Lake, 15.7 Miles, +2800'

Day 17=To Tuolomne Meadows, 21.2 Miles, +2300'

Day 18=To Clouds Rest Junction, 18.8 Miles, +2100'

Day 19=To Curry Village via Half Dome, 12.0 Miles, +2000'

Segment 3=101.4 Miles, +15,500'

Total=312.0 Miles, +57,200'

Photo Links

A bunch of photos are now up at Smugmug and a whole lot more will be added. Here are the addresses: They are in three segments and I put all the topo maps and profiles in their own gallery.


http://calicokat.smugmug.com/Hiking/Sierra-Nevada/HSTJMT-Segment-1-August-2012/24938061_GQLsM2#!i=2043294834&k=5FrRc7L

http://calicokat.smugmug.com/Hiking/Sierra-Nevada/HSTJMT-Segment-2-August-2012/24938096_fQPcmn#!i=2043092188&k=WNwmn4r

http://calicokat.smugmug.com/Hiking/Sierra-Nevada/HSTJMT-Segment-3-August-2012/24938133_Kkn5RM#!i=2043597062&k=PbqnGkb

http://calicokat.smugmug.com/Hiking/Sierra-Nevada/HSTJMT-Topo-Maps/24947094_hZsqVS#!i=2043699580&k=FVCXwRk

Mission Complete

I did it. 312.0 miles and 57,600' of elevation gain later :). It took 18 days to complete. I am so relieved to be home after the epic trek in the Sierra Nevada. Thunderstorms ruled for 15 of those days including a couple of epic displays. My time at Sallie Keys Lake and Thousand Island Lake will forever be vividly remembered. I will add some sample photos and the complete daily report soon.....

Spot Page & Bucket Send Off

The journey begins next Friday at 0700. You can follow along at: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0NaOFNhTbA984ca9UpXcPDTBLyVnieIR2

I sent my re-supply bucket to Vermillion Valley Ranch yesterday. I will be re-united with it on August 15th.

Food Organized By Day Waiting To Go Into The Bucket

Updated Itinerary

News has come that the ferry servicing the Vermillion Valley Resort has closed for the season due to low water in the lake. This will add five miles of hiking each way so I revised my itinerary to facilitate this extra walking. This new itinerary allows me an extra day if the weather should dictate.

 

Day One, 08/03:  To Hamilton Lake, 17.0 Miles, +2900'

 

Day Two, 08/04:  To Kern Hot Springs,  21.2 Miles, +3800' (Kaweah Gap)

 

Day Three, 08/05: To Crabtree Meadow (Camp 12.15), 16.3 Miles, +5000'

 

Day Four, 08/06:  To Mt. Whitney-Crabtree Meadow, 15.0 Miles, +4000' (Mt. Whitney)

 

Day Five, 08/07:  To Camp 11.19, 3.0 Miles North Of Forester Pass @ 11,230', 15.5 Miles, +3000' (Forester Pass)

 

Day Six, 08/08:  To Onion Valley, 13.8 Miles, +2300' (Kearsarge Pass) 

 

Segment Total=98.8 Miles, +21,000'. 5 Nights/6 Days

 

Day Eight, 08/10: To Dollar Lake, 14.7 Miles, +4200'

 

Day Nine, 08/11: To Camp 9.02 (2.6 Miles South Of Mather Pass), 16.9 Miles, +4300'

 

Day Ten, 08/12: To Le Conte Canyon RS, 16.1 Miles, +1500'

 

Day Eleven, 08/13: To McClure Meadow RS via Black Giant (3.0 Miles, +1600'), 20.4 Miles, +4700'

 

Day Twelve, 08/14: To Sallie Keys Lake, 16.4 Miles, +2500'

 

Day Thirteen, 08/15: To VVR via Mono Creek,=21.8 Miles, +2200' To VVR via Bear Ridge Trail=18.5 Miles, +2200'

 

Segment Total=103.0 Miles, +19,400'. 5 Nights/6 Days

 

Day Fourteen, 08/16: To Lake Virginia, 20.8 Miles, +5100'

 

Day Fifteen, 08/17:    To Reds Meadow, 16.3 Miles, +1200'

 

Day Sixteen, 08/18: To Thousand Island Lake, 17.2 Miles, +4000'

 

Day Seventeen, 08/19:  To Tuolomne Meadow, 19.2 Miles, +2200' (Island Pass, Donahue Pass)

 

Day Eighteen, 08/20:  To Clouds Rest Junction (Camp 1.02) 16.7 Miles, +2000'

 

Day Nineteen, 08/21:     To Clouds Rest-To Half Dome To Happy Isles, 17.1 Miles, +4700' (Clouds Rest & Half Dome) 

 

Segment Total=107.3 Miles, +19,200'. 5 Nights/6 Days.

 

Trip Total=309.1 Miles, +59,600'