I'm hesitant to post photos since I feel they can taint the experience when you first encounter these settings in real life. Proceed with caution, but for those who just can't resist, here are a few of my favorite moments from our trip.
Our packs. All packed.
The bus ride to the start of the route watching hundreds of miles
of the Sierra pass, that we would have to tread back.
Whitney Portal
Smoke on the horizon at Tuolumne
Olmstead Point, the start of our hiking
The Valley appearing smokey below
The big moment... the official start to the JMT
The smoke on the first day. So thick you could look
directly at the sun.
So thick you couldn't see Half Dome from the mist trail
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| The morning of day two, clearer skies |
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| Donahue Pass |
One of the endless livestock gates, just waiting to clothesline you...
Early morning water stop
Mount Ritter
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| Can you spot the pika? |
Virginia Lake campsite
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| Devils Postpile National Monument |
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| near Reds Meadow |
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| Majestic peaks peak over the horizon |
Marie Lake from atop Seldon Pass
Crystalline clouds
Feng Shui in nature
One of the lazy dogs at Muir Trail Ranch outpost
The bear proof Shed. You food waits for you here.
stream crossing at Evolution Meadows. Feels so good!
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| The unmistakable Muir Pass |
The Muir Pass summit hut
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| Rock Monster! |
Horse Train!
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| The unrivaled Evolution Lake |
near LeConte Ranger Station
below the Golden Staircase
Always leave a note
Celebration at the bottom of Piute Pass. We were never so happy to see a bridge.
Our stalkers
Arrowhead Lake
The Fin
en route to Forester Pass
The mind-boggling switchbacks of Forester Pass
Bighorn Plateau under golden sunlight
Whitney from the back. The amazing windswept plateau coming up the
backside of Whitney. It looks extremely different from this angle.
Majestic bowl
Hug.
Heading down to our salvation, Lone Pine and the Owens Valley
Whitney under sheets of rain
The coolest guy in the world - our friend Bob meets us at the top
It's official - we finished
Toasting to a lifelong goal