Five years ago this month, back in September of 2013, I had the good fortune to be able to accompany a friend on a 65-mile section of the John Muir Trail.
Starting in Yosemite Valley, we set out to cover the 65 miles to Mammoth Lakes in six nights and seven days. We climbed past Nevada Falls, through Tuolumne Meadows, along Lyle Canyon, up and over Donahue Pass, and down the Eastern side of the Sierra to Red Meadows and Mammoth Lakes.
To this day the 65 miles remains the longest backpacking trip of my life.
The total distance of the John Muir Trail is over 200 miles, finishing at Mount Whitney on the other end.
