John Muir Trail
From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids
| John Muir Trail | |
|---|---|
 View looking west to Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak in the |
|
| Length | 211 mi; 340 km |
| Trailheads | Yosemite Valley Mount Whitney |
| Use | Hiking, Backpacking, Horse travel, Trail Running |
| Mount Whitney (14,505 ft) | |
John Muir Trail is a
The trail runs through Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park,
There are advantages and disadvantages of travelling in either direction. North to south has a net gain of 10,000' in elevation over the hike. South to north requires climb Mount Whitney (approximately 6,000' of gain) at the start of the trip. Weather is also a factor, so most hikers start in after the major snowmelt in the later sierran spring and seek to arrive at the northern end before the fall storms. Backpackers travelling at a generous pace can complete the trail in two or three weeks.
Construction of the trail, begun a year after Muir's death in 1915 with a $10,000 grant from the California legislature, was completed in 1938 with the construction of the portion of the trail over Mather Pass.
[edit] Records
- Unresupplied- Reinhold Metzger 5 days 7 Hours
- Resupplied- Kevin Sawchuck 3 days 21 hours 5 minutes
[edit] References
- Starr, Walter A. Jr. Starr’s Guide to the John Muir Trail and the High Sierra Region ISBN 0-87156-172-7
- http://backpackinglight.com