And I was a “weekend warrior” in the Northeast for eight years, I’ve snowshoed and backpacked the New England winter throughout the White Mountains, so I’m not afraid of a little snow. On the other hand, as far as my knee went, everything sounds worse than it really is when spoken in medical jargon, right? And besides, the orthopedist said hiking is fine – I don’t suppose it mattered that I just asked about hiking and not about a High Sierra traverse, I was positive that detail was irrelevant.
Snow along the John Muir Trail was reported to be between 150-200% of normal, with many adventurers canceling completely, postponing, or packing an ice axe and crampons to complete the trail throughout the month of June.Īll reasons to potentially not do this. Top Gun words to live by: “your ego is writing checks your body can’t cash!” In addition to that, 2019 was an unusually high snow year in the High Sierras. “Adolescent invulnerability” is not an excuse for doing stupid, risky things anymore. I put off going to the doctor for what I deemed to be a reasonable amount of time (i.e., 3 months), but the eventual post-MRI assessment was that I had a “near-complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, vertical longitudinal tear of the medial meniscus with a small piece of irregular displaced meniscal tissue in the inferior medial gutter, and a moderate-sized popliteal cyst with partial rupture.” I guess my strategy of just rubbing some dirt on it and getting back in the game may not have been the best plan. The first is that in January I injured my knee. But hey, the highest peak in the country? Massive elevation changes? Three National Parks? Some of the most stunning natural beauty in the country? Vintage California? With an attempt possible within a 3-week vacation window? Game on.Īt this point, I should mention a few pieces of information for context. I honestly had little idea what that elevation profile meant in reality – I just knew it seemed like it might be a lot. The total elevation change on the trail is approximately 47,000 feet, including six mountain passes over 11,000 feet: Forester, Glen, Pinchot, Mather, Muir, Seldon, Silver, and Donohue. The trail passes through three national parks in total – Sequoia and King’s Canyon as well as Yosemite – as well as portions of Inyo National Forrest, the John Muir Wilderness, and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The JMT lies in the High Sierra largely along the Pacific Crest Trail, stretching approximately 211 miles from the valley of Yosemite National Park to the peak of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet in elevation. But in researching these I discovered the John Muir Trail. The big American trails, like the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, have been in my awareness for years, but seemed just-out-of-reach, in terms of the time commitment needed to complete such an adventure.
An Average Gym Member Attempts the John Muir TrailĪlways inspired by challenge and endurance events, I’d wanted to tackle a longer thru-hike for a long time, having done shorter trips in Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon in recent years as time away from work allowed.
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