John Muir Trail - Shadow Lake (Agnew Meadow) to Tuolumne Meadows

[@bry4950]

Great insight to fabulous hiking!

[@raymondlowry8564]

Wow, thanks so much for sharing this. I (along with a couple of friends) made this same hike back in June of 1968 as a teenager. I still remember some of the sights you recorded- Shadow and "Thousand" Island Lakes, Donahue Pass, the hike into Tuolumne Meadows. Great memories. I would like to see the second half of your trip but cannot seem to find it. Thank you again, very enjoyable!, Ray Lowry

[@topshotrhit]

Raymond Lowry Wow, now that is quite the memory. I was a year old. Second half is at kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoavnmqVeamMgLs

[@SacWildlife]

Very nice vid - I'm thinking of doing this hike next Sept. I see your buddy had a Jampack - did that work well for him? How much weight was he carrying? And is that at a Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo you two were using? How did THAT work for ya? Really liked all of the details you included - I learned a lot about hiking the area. thanks

[@topshotrhit]

I've been quite happy with the LD. I only use it when not solo but have had it 5 years now. Sealed one small tear in the floor (I never use a groundsheet) and was the only tent not to get water in it when we had torrential downpour on designated pads in the Smokies with water standing and/or flowing under all the tents. We have several GoLite packs (mine is a Pinnacle). This son isn't in as good a condition as me so I carried all the food. I believe he had 15-18 pounds. I was probably 28 to start. It's a shame they're going out of business because I really like the packs (though they are too big for skinny folks). Very flexible - I've done overnights to 7 days so far and could do 14 days if I wanted though you do need to supplement the suspension with that load. The recent trip with my youngest son to Wind Rivers I started with 40 pounds (7 days of food for both of us). I roll up his sleeping pad (shortened generic blue CCF) inside my pack and then stuff everything inside (burrito style). I removed the stock foam pad long ago so it's a true frameless pack now. The son in this video will be going to Philmont this summer, and I'll have him do the same or add in some corrugated plastic to beef up the load carrying ability.

[@SacWildlife]

Thanks for all the info - happy trails!

[@joedesantis1109]

I loved your video! I'm planning to hike this section in Aug. 2015 (Agnew Meadows to Tuolmne Meadows.) I've never hiked the JMT before, and am trying to figure out the logistics/ transportation/ permits. Did you pick up your wilderness permits at Yosemite or near Agnew Meadows? Thanks! And thanks for sharing your trip!

[@topshotrhit]

We actually came from Bristlecone Pine NF so I had scheduled to pick them up in Bishop so I didn't have to detour into Mammoth on our way into Yosemite. I could have picked them up at the Mammoth ranger station the morning we started but wanted to start before the office opened (and YARTS doesn't get back to Mammoth until about 9 PM so they were closed of course). From all my reading it's easier to get a permit from Inyo and hike into YNP rather than the opposite direction. I suspect that is even more true now with the new permitting system YNP just put into place for the JMT. And I did get them the first day I was able (I think it was either 6 months or 180 days in advance). It was a nice hike. Great way to finish our trip. Lots of bugs though at that time.

[@joedesantis1109]

topshotrhit Thanks so much! this is very helpful! How long did YARTS take to travel from Yosemite to Mammoth? Was it several hours? Thanks again. I really appreciate it!

[@topshotrhit]

Joe DeSantis Yes, it was 3.5 hours from the Valley (5 PM pickup from visitor center). There are several short stops along the way. www.yarts.com/schedule/2014/HWY%20120%20-%20Mono_.jpg We got off at 8:30PM at the Shilo Inn stop, ate McD's and then walked across the street to the site I'd reserved. You could of course stay at one of the Inns further uphill and not have the walk in the morning, but I'm too thrifty for that. :)

[@joedesantis1109]

topshotrhit Thanks again! This was very helpful. Peace.

[@MountainFisher]

I got chased down that road by a damned bear.

[@MountainFisher]

Hold your camera up all we see mostly is trail and where the HELL is Lyell Peak? Seriously!