Sam (Verso L'alto Roaster) will be taking a few weeks off July 26 - August 14, 2023
to complete a long time dream of hiking the John Muir Trail.
ALL COFFEE ORDERS WILL BE ROASTED AND SHIPPED AUGUST 16, 2023
Thank you so much for your continued support!
The John Muir trail is a long distance thru hike in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It is named after John Muir, a naturalist.
From the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley (37.7317°N 119.5587°W) and the southern terminus located on the summit of Mount Whitney (36.5785°N 118.292°W), the trail's length is 213.7 miles (343.9 km),[2][1] with a total elevation gain of approximately 47,000 feet (14,000 m).[1] For almost all of its length, the trail is in the High Sierra backcountry and wilderness areas
Route
Happy Isles on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley is the northern terminus of the John Muir TrailHikers approach the southern end of the John Muir Trail. The Mount Whitneysummit plateau can be seen in the distance.
The JMT is 213.7 miles (343.9 km) long.[2] From its northern terminus in Yosemite Valley, the trail runs southeast, passing south of Half Dome and then on to Tuolumne Meadows.[19] From Tuolumne Meadows the trail turns south, running parallel to the main range of the Sierra Nevada, through Yosemite National Park, Inyo and Sierra national forests (including the John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness), passing through Devils Postpile National Monument, Kings Canyon National Park, and ending on Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park.[20]From the southern terminus of the JMT at the summit of Mount Whitney, an additional 10.6-mile (17.1 km) hike on the Mount Whitney Trail is required to reach the nearest trailhead at Whitney Portal, thus making an end-to-end traverse of the JMT effectively 221 miles (356 km).[21]
Yosemite National Park
The trail begins at the Happy Isle bridge near the Happy Isles Nature Center. The trail ascends steeply up a paved incline before crossing another bridge meeting with the junction with the Mist Trail. The trail continues along a cut into Panorama Cliff, called the "Ice Cut". Although broad and well-traveled, hazardous winter conditions and close proximity to civilization (attracting large numbers of day hikers) make this one of the most dangerous parts of the trail.[3]
After some elevation gain via long switchbacks, the trail reaches the top of Nevada Falls. The trail continues into Little Yosemite Valley, past the trail junctions to Half Dome and Cloud's Rest, and then into a subalpine basin and passing the Sunrise High Sierra Camp. The trail then crosses the Cathedral Range at Cathedral Pass before dropping steeply into Tuolumne Meadows, a common resupply point. The trail passes a visitor's center and some campgrounds before linking up with the Pacific Crest Trail. The John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail then turns south, through the mild Lyell Canyon meadow, and crosses the Cathedral Range again and exits the park at Donahue Pass.
Ansel Adams Wilderness and Devils Postpile National Monument
A log bridge on the John Muir trail crossing part of Thousand Island Lake. Mount Davis is visible in the background.
At the crest of Donahue Pass, the trail enters Inyo National Forest and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The trail passes Thousand Island Lake, Garnet Lake, and a number of smaller lakes. The trail continues into Devils Postpile National Monument, where there are a number of opportunities to resupply or exit the trail. Devil's Postpileis located a short distance from the trail.
Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park
The John Muir Trail next enters Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park crossing some spectacular alpine regions, including Evolution Basin, the Golden Staircase, and Forester Pass. The trail ends at the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States.[22] From the summit of Mount Whitney, the closest trailhead is Whitney Portal.
