John Muir Trail Afterthoughts

Trail life is all about living simply. Imagine, if you will, opening your eyes every morning and finding yourself immersed in the splendor of Nature, inhaling crisp, clean oxygen, and knowing you will walk through stunning scenery, enjoy splendid views, chat with good peeps, take a dip in cold, refreshing water (maybe), eat good food and camp somewhere scenic. Friends, that is a recipe for happiness!

The challenge of course, is creating a similar recipe for everyday life in the city.

After I got off the trail, the tug of certain responsibilities, people and events were overwhelming at times. I clearly lacked balance and this caused me to become more withdrawn, tense, on edge, and irritable. 

Importance of the Transitional Period

I was back in Los Angeles the day after I stepped off the trail. The next day I attended a wake, and two days after that I had a job interview. At the same time, family and friends bombarded me, wanting to congratulate me and hear stories of the trail. I REALLY appreciated their love and support, but it was too much too soon. 

I was not ready for it. It was a shock to my way of life for the past three weeks. Instead of easing into the madness, I dove right in and had a difficult time coping.

If I ever venture into the backcountry again for an extended period of time, I will make sure to include transition time after my trek to adjust back to city life. Three to five days lounging about in smaller towns, contemplating, and replenishing my caloric deficit should do the trick ;)

Lessons from the John Muir Trail

Ever since I was little, I was the shy, quiet kid who kept to himself. My shyness resulted in low self confidence and an irrational need to rely on others early in my adult life - even though I knew I was capable taking care of myself. To this day, every now and then this habit rears its ugly head.

Case in point: In 2011, my friends and I hiked from Onion Valley to Mt. Whitney. I was confident in my abilities to navigate the trail and locate adequate camping spots for the group, but I relied on others (whom I perceived had more experience in the backcountry) and let them make a few decisions on my behalf.

Hiking the JMT solo forced me to break this habit for good. Though it was easy for me to return to my old ways and want to rely on others when I camped and hiked with a group, I constantly reminded myself to remain confident in my abilities and always made my own decisions. 

In short, my biggest takeaway from the trail is how much I expanded my comfort zones. As Neale Donald Walsch once said, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

I want to forever learn and grow, and challenging myself physically is one way to do that. 

On the John Muir Trail, hiking for 16 continuous days, being responsible for my safety, finding creative solutions to problems and adapting to change expanded my comfort zones by leaps and bounds. It's extremely satisfying to know that you - and ONLY you - are responsible for achieving something. 

And while this might not seem like a big deal to others, I don't know if I can put into words the immensity and importance of this journey to me. Suffice it to say that it's HUGE!

Gifts of the John Muir Trail

Remember when I mentioned I was shy and reserved growing up? Well, I still am to a degree, but the trail tremendously helped me become more social. Sure there were times when I wanted to interact with others yet shied away and said nothing, but for the most part, I engaged in conversation with 98% of the people I met. More importantly, I was usually the one who approached others and started the conversations.

I'm happy to report that I'm still just as social now as I was on the trail. I'm still not sure how or why this transformation occurred, but I'm sure glad it did! 

I believe this hike also enhanced my ability to focus and stay present. My mind seldom wandered when I consulted my map, calculated mileage, set up my tent or journaled on my phone - even after days on the trail when these tasks became routine. I was more aware on the trail than I had ever been in the city. 

There were also many moments of great clarity when I got lost in thought. I was better able to think things through because my mind wouldn't rapidly transition from thought to thought as it usually does. (This is probably because there are fewer distractions in the wilderness.) My mind felt clearer, more relaxed and less scattered. It is a place I try to get back to everyday but it takes more mindfulness and effort since I'm once again exposed to the distractions of the city. 

Social skills and clarity are great, but the most rewarding experience of all was the oneness I felt with Nature and other hikers. Although I was hiking many miles a day, I didn't rush through Nature with restricted senses, feelings or emotions. 

Quite the contrary - I was more in tuned to Nature and welcomed her gifts with open arms. And I'm not exactly sure how to explain this without sounding woo-woo, but I felt a connection between myself, Nature and other hikers that I've never felt before. I felt their energy in my heart; and this energy gave me great strength and a considerable sense of peace. 

One month after my hike, I experienced this same feeling in yoga class. It's happened a few more times since, both when I've been around others and when I've been alone, and I tell ya, I've felt AMAZING when that sensation has taken over me. It's lasted between 30 seconds and a few minutes each time, and never have I felt as balanced and relaxed. 

Speaking of relaxed, the most delightful surprise of my entire John Muir Trail experience was the gratification I received post hike from my journal entries. I decided on day 3 of my hike that I would journal every night but wait until I finished the hike to insert pictures for each entry. (Taking photos with my camera and my phone, then searching for the photos at night to insert into each entry was extremely time consuming and not very fun.)

Reading my journal entries and scanning through the 1,200+ photos was very therapeutic - especially on the tough days. Flashbacks of the evaporating vapor from morning dew, the cold drops of rain, the breeze atop the passes and the wonder-full people I met, painted huge smiles on my face.

If you're on the fence about journaling on your hike, I say go for it. You won't regret it!

Final Thoughts

If you're pondering a thru-hike of the John Muir Trail, you are in for an awesome adventure! No matter the month, the duration or direction you choose, your soul will thank you for the experience. Just do yourself a favor and pack your rain gear. Cut weight elsewhere but don't neglect this essential piece of gear. 

So what's next for me? At this point, I really don't know. And I'm totally okay with that. 

I still have a burning desire to hike (and celebrate my 30th birthday on) the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013, but right now there are other matters in my life that require my attention. 

Although I'm confident that my left Achilles is healed and my physical conditioning is excellent, I wouldn't feel comfortable hiking the PCT knowing I didn't do what I needed to do before stepping foot on the trail. 

I'm certain that if I take productive action everyday, and be receptive to the magic of life, I will be exactly where I need to be come April 2013.

Namaste & Happy Trails

"You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So...get on your way!"
~Dr. Seuss

John Muir Trail Gear Review

Below you will find my review of the gear I used on my thru-hike of the John Muir Trail.

Bear in mind that with the exception of a few items, most of my gear was not purchased just prior to my  hike; rather, I accumulated, tested and refined my gear to suit my needs over the last two years. Overall, I was very happy with most of my gear choices. I won't be providing a review for ALL the gear I used but I will touch upon the major items. 

Backpack: ULA Circuit - Hands down the best pack I've ever owned! I've lost a lot of weight (~20  pounds) since I first purchased this pack a year and a half ago, but with all the adjustment options of this pack, I've always achieved a comfortable fit. 

The pack looks, feels and performs flawlessly. It is plenty durable and still has lots of life left. This pack also carries a 25 - 35 pound load effortlessly. Can't say enough about it. 

Tent: Zpacks Hexamid Solo With Beak - In a word: SOLID! Super lightweight and very waterproof. It also dries very quickly in the sun. The beak is very functional and keeps rain out of the tent when pitched correctly. 

My most favorite feature of this tent is that the interior doesn't get wet when setting it up in the rain. While other people struggle with keeping precipitation out of their double wall tents, the Hexamid stays dry because when laid flat on the ground, the tent protects the interior space. It feels great getting into a dry tent after a wet day of hiking. 

Ground Sheet: Zpacks Solo Cuben Ground Sheet (Spring 2011 model) - This groundsheet is simply awesome. It's tough and lightweight - an excellent combo! Sure it's pricey, but it is well worth it because I can see this ground sheet lasting a very long time. 

Sleeping Bag: Montbell U.L. Super Spiral Down Hugger #3 - If you're like me and can't sleep comfortably in mummy bags, this bag is what you need! It's stretchy and perfect for those of us who move more during the night and require more space in our bags. I can easily stretch out in this bag with one leg bent in tree pose! 

In regards to warmth, I'm a warm sleeper and this bag is great down to the mid to high thirties. When the temperature has dipped below that - to ~27 degrees - I've been plenty warm in the bag while wearing my down sweater. I highly recommend this bag. 

Sleeping Pad - REI Stratus Insulated Air Pad - A bit on the heavy side, but I tend to beat my gear up so it was the wise purchase as this air pad seems to be more durable than the competition. All I know is that it sure can take a beating and keep on ticking. And, when it got wet during a night storm, I stayed warm and dry. Great product. 

Like with other regular size pads, it's a bit on the narrow side, so unless you opt for a longer, wider version, you're gonna have to find a way to get comfy. 

Pack Liner - Zpacks Pack Liner - I experienced 6 days of rain on the trail and all of my gear stowed in this dry bag stayed dry. I've never been a fan of pack covers, and I was very happy with my decision to go with this pack liner. 

Joe of Zpacks makes very high quality and durable products. This dry bag comes with the seams taped so you don't have to worry about anything - just insert into your pack and you're ready to go. Yes, it's pricey, but it's very durable, lightweight, and very waterproof.  

Down Jacket - Montbell EX Light Down Jacket - I LOVE this jacket!! I wear a size medium and it keeps me plenty warm down to 30 degrees. It's very comfortable and a perfect fit for my body. It is a bare minimum jacket with no pockets, but it is very lightweight, quite durable and great for layering. I highly recommend this jacket. 

Rain Jacket - Outdoor Research Helium - Very lightweight, very durable, very comfortable. It's waterproofness was put to the test for 6 days on the trail and kept me totally dry. 

It also subs as my wind breaker. This jacket has kept me dry from the Sierra Nevadas to the jungles of Laos. It works!

Rain Pants - Frogg Toggs Dri Ducks UL - Cheap, lightweight and awesome. They are fragile and you can easily put multiple holes in them - by sitting on a rock for example, but with some care and mindfulness they will last a while and serve you well! 

Did I mention I beat up my gear? Well, I almost put a hole in them the first day I wore them when I sat on a sharp rock. Lesson learned and from then on I've been more careful with them. Excellent piece of gear that also subs as my wind pants. Sure you won't win any fashion awards wearing these, but hey, as long as they get the job done, they have a place in my pack. 

Shorts - Nike Running Shorts - I love these shorts because of their versatility. I wore them when I took dips in rivers and lakes, on laundry days when I washed my pants, whenever I didn't want to wear pants, and since they have built in undies, whenever I washed my undies. 

Weighing under 4 ounces, this is one piece of gear I will never think twice about taking with me. 

Socks - Darn Tough 1/4 Cushion Wool - Durable, breathable, comfortable, and dry very quickly. And, with a lifetime warranty, how can you go wrong? 

Make no mistake - socks are one of the most important pieces of gear for any hiker, and I've tried many pairs of socks from various manufacturers prior to these. For my feet and hiking style, these socks are the best fit I've found so far. 

Warm Hat - Mountain Hardwear Wind Stopper Beanie - awesome. Awesome. AWESOME. 

This is one of my favorite pieces of gear! I'm bald and wear this beanie when hiking in cooler weather, when lounging about at camp, and when I sleep. I LOVE it! 

Gloves - Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Gloves - Not a fan of these gloves. My fingers get really cold when the temps drop below 50 degrees and these gloves don't warm my hands. 

On colder mornings (temps ranging from 30 degrees to 45 degrees), my fingers take over a half hour to get warm - even while hiking. They're also not very durable. Again, I beat up my gear so take that statement with a grain of salt, but for my needs, they just don't get the job done.

Hiking Pants - REI Saraha Cargo Pants - Durable, comfortable, lightweight, breathable. This is one piece of gear I purchased just prior to my hike. They outperformed my expectations and definitely won me over. 

They fit well and are very water repellant. The only recommendation I have for REI is to offer them with insect repellant already applied.  

Hiking Shirt - Smartwool Microweight Long Sleeve - Feels great next to my skin, dries quickly, and is far less stinky than polyester shirts. I wore this shirt for the last four consecutive days on the trail, and - without washing it - on the fifth day, I wore it on the bus and train rides back home. The shirt didn't smell at all. 

These shirts are amazing and their anti-microbial properties are great! Sure, when the shirt gets wet from perspiration, and you wear it day after day without washing it, you start to smell like a sheep, but once dry, it is as good as new. I Love this shirt!

Shoes - Montrail AT Plus - I put over 300 miles on a pair of these in the span of a year prior to hitting the trail. They are super comfortable, very breathable, quick drying and have great grip. During the first 7 days on the JMT, my feet were happy in these shoes, but after day 8 my feet became battered and bruised. I felt every rock I stepped on. That's not a knock on the shoes, but rather my need for shoes with thicker soles. 

I do want to warn you though..from day one, these shoes had a rubber like stench that never dissipated with use as Montrail's customer service team said they would. And, when the shoes got wet during stream crossings, the stench was amplified. Overall, great trail runners that are more durable than other brands. 

Scree Gaiters - LevaGaiters - My favorite piece of gear!! Super easy to use - no glue, no velcro, no mess, no string looping around the bottom of the shoe. Simple and very effective. From day hikes to multi-day outings, I wear these babies everywhere. 

They dry super quickly and breathe very well. They exceeded my expectations from day one and I can't say enough about these gaiters. They are awesome! 

Hat - Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap - Dorky yes, but effective? Totally! I'm not on the trail to win any fashion awards so I don't mind looking a bit goofy - very easy to accomplish with this hat. I also don't use sunblock so this hat saves my skin from the hot sun because it covers most of my face and neck very well. 

It also stays put in windy conditions, dries very quickly and doesn't stink too badly. Love this hat! 

Sun Gloves - Coolibar Fingerless Gloves - This was another last minute purchase and I am very glad with my decision to buy them and more importantly to use them. Because I don't use sunblock, my hands take a beating. Last year, while section hiking the JMT, my hands got sun-burned (yes I applied sunblock liberally) and became very dry. These gloves saved my hands on my JMT hike this year. 

I wasn't sure how comfortable they'd be, but lemme tell ya - they are super comfy. They are also very durable and dry quickly. 

Sleepwear - Terramar Thermasilk EC2 Long Sleeve Top and Bottom - These seem very brittle because they are super thin but they've lasted for two backpacking seasons and don't have a single hole in 'em yet! 

They feel awesome next to my skin and I love wearing them in my sleeping bag. I've never hiked in them and don't plan to as they are solely part of my sleep system, but I love em and wouldn't wear anything else. They provide enough warmth for me as I'm a warm sleeper and the funk factor is very minimal. Great product. 

Sleeping Socks - Goosefeet Down Socks (+ 1 oz extra down, size large) - I purchased these after a cold night of camping in Virginia last year. They are as light as a pair of thick wool socks but WAY warmer. Sure they are more expensive, but I did not have cold feet one night on the John Muir Trail. 

The quality of these socks is exceptional and they are super comfortable. I'm very happy with this purchase. I have worn them down to 30 degrees and my feet have stayed very warm. 

Trekking Poles - Leki Voyager - Not a fan of them on cold mornings, especially after rainstorms because they are very hard to unlock. 

Otherwise, they are great poles and relatively lightweight for the price. The grips feel great and the poles are plenty durable. 

Ditty Bags - Granite Gear Air Pockets (Medium) - I applied Sil Net to these weather resistant bags (equipped with water resistant zippers) in hopes they would keep my maps (outside my pack) and electronics (inside my pack) dry. 

Glad to report that they worked flawlessly! The external bag got rained on for six days and held up very well - not a drop of water inside the bag! These bags are very lightweight, durable and well worth the $. 

Water Bottles - Platypus 1 Liter PlusBottle With Push Caps - These bottles are my favorite for the trail. They are light, pack up small when not in use, plenty durable and easy to clean. What more can you want from a bottle? 

Food Pot - Decor 750mL Round Screw Top Container - This BPA free, plastic container is very durable, lightweight, and surprisingly watertight. I packed teflon tape to apply to this container but never used it as nothing ever leaked from this container. Very happy with this purchase. This is my preferred container of choice on stove less trips. 

Water Treatment - NutraSilver Colloidal Silver - This product peaked more interest from others on the trail than my diet/food or any other piece of gear. Hands down, this product is the best, most efficient and easiest water treatment system available, period! The last thing I want to do on the trail is filter up to 5 liters of water each day. I'm too lazy for that. With this awesome product, all I have to do is add 1 drop to 1 liter of water, wait 15 to 20 minutes, and enjoy. 

NutraSilver does not alter the taste of the water at all, although it does turn the water a yellow color. It also stains my Platypus bottles but those are non-issues for me. What matters to me is that I have NEVER gotten sick in the backcountry while using this product. It's super lightweight, super compact, super effective. I LOVE it!

Bear Canister - Bearikade Weekender - This bear can is lightweight, spacious and very user friendly. But as I found out on the John Muir Trail, it is not waterproof. Water does enter through the screws. Not a major issue though.

If I have to use a bear can, I prefer this one every time. 

Camera - Panasonic SZ7 - This is a great camera at a great price with many great features. It's best feature is the wide angle lens. For the price, you can't beat it. It even takes panorama photos. 

But be very careful. It is not a waterproof camera and you have to be very careful not to get it wet. I experienced 6 days of rain on the trail and my camera paid the price. I did take pictures the first day I hiked in the rain and after that day, the camera developed a black spot in the lens. Lesson learned.

Battery Pack - Anker Astro 5600mAh - Fantastic product! I charged my phone (equipped with an extended battery) twice and my camera 4 times on the trail and it still had 25% juice left.  

It is very durable, well made and super easy to use. 

Satellite Communicator - SPOT Connect - In a word - unreliable. I sent messages everyday from the trail and only about 60% of them were received. IMO, it's not worth the $$ for the unit and the $ for the annual subscription for something that works part of the time. 

I never used the SOS feature so I can't report on that function, but for updating people on your whereabouts, its not very reliable. 

Maps - Blackwood Press JMT Atlas - Very good atlas. Many people besides myself benefited from this atlas on the trail and at resupply points. From Post Office information, to shorter distances between two points, to the elevation profile of the entire trail, this atlas has it all. It makes planning your trip and your day very easy.

Yes, it is more expensive than the Harrison Map pack (which I also had but hardly used), but it is well worth the $. 

**If there's anything I didn't cover from my gear that you're curious about, drop me a line and I'll review it.**

JMT Fun Facts

Below are a few (fun) facts from my John Muir Trail thru-hike. I found it fun and therapeutic to keep track of these things at night.

*Nerd Alert* Prior to getting on the trail, I created an excel spreadsheet of the things I wanted to keep track of, printed it out, and stapled it to my JMT Atlas.

Ok, here goes...

Total Miles Hiked:                                                232

Total # of Days Hiked:                                         16

# of Days Off:                                                       0

Shortest Day:                                                        4.3 miles

Longest Day:                                                       19.4 miles

# of Times I Used A Toilet On Trail:                    3

Consecutive Days Without a Shower:                 4

Lake/River Showers:                                           7

Consecutive Days Without Laundry:                  3

Lake/River Laundry:                                           5

Days Hiked Solo:                                                11

Nights Camped Solo:                                          7

Got Lost/Took Wrong Turn:                               Once (Day 5)

Rainy Days/Nights:                                            6

Blisters/Hot Spots:                                             3

# of Times I lost My Temper:                             Once (Day 12)

Items Lost On Trail:                                           1 (Sunglasses on Day 8)

Damaged Gear:                                                 1 (Camera that got wet, developed black spot in lens)

Weight Lost During Hike:                                  0 Lbs. (That's right, I didn't lose ANY weight!)

Day 16: Mt. Whitney

Thursday, August 15, 2012

Guitar Lake (mile 217.2) to Whitney Portal (mile 232).

Today's miles: 14.8
Trip miles: 232

Last night, around 8 pm, it began to sprinkle. I thought, ”here we go again.” But, the skies cleared shortly after.

Around 11pm, the wind picked up and I thought, ”here we go again.” The wind howled all night long, but no precipitation accompanied the cooler temperatures.

At 4 am, I woke up, got dressed, broke camp, topped off my water, ate two bars for breakfast, and was on the trail by 4:54 am. It was a chilli, slightly windy, starry morning - perfect for hiking.

ready to summit!!

The hiking was rather uneventful with my headlamp on, but that all changed after 5:45 am.

the show is about to begin

I could not have had a better day to summit Mt. Whitney. Blue skies dominated as the storm clouds took the day off.

Hitchcock Lakes and Mt. Hitchcock 

surreal trail up to Mt. Whitney trail junction

very well maintained trail

Guitar Lake

At 6:38 am, I made it to the Mt. Whitney junction, where I dropped off my pack, took my daypack - essentially my clothing drysack stuffed with food, water and clothes, and made my way towards Mt. Whitney.

The trail to Whitney is super scenic, other-worldly, slippery and at times very sketchy - requiring some boulder hopping. This trail definitely makes you earn your summit. In fact, the entire trail makes you earn it!

Just before 8 am I summited Mt. Whitney. It was VERY cold with the wind chill making it even colder. My fingers were frozen solid in a matter of minutes. I took a few celebratory pictures at the summit, or shall I say, asked my new friends Laurie and Richard to take my photo, and was outta there.

the Needles...almost there!

no caption required

BEAUTIFUL day to summit a grand mountain! 

weather station atop Mt. Whitney with register just left of center

no door = too cold to hang out in the hut

During the descent which literally had the wind pushing me off the mountain, I ran into Dwight and Chris. Great guys. Congrats to them on their successful hike of the John Muir Trail.

left to right: Chris, me, Dwight

I hurried to catch up to Laurie after chattin with the boys for a few freezing minutes because I enjoyed talking away the miles with her. Laurie made the 11 mile, knee shattering descent to Whitney Portal pleasureable :)

Guitar Lake

Mt. Whitney junction

Looking towards Lone Pine with Consultation Lake right of center

rugged but beautiful mountains

the infamous 99 switchbacks

We even stopped off at Lone Pine Lake where she took a dip and I soaked my feet.

Beautiful Lone Pine Lake 

Lone Pine Lake - one of my favorite lakes in the Sierras

Laurie and I making our way to Whitney Portal after leaving Lone Pine Lake

At Whitney Portal, we ran into Chris and Dwight again who were enjoying a generous serving of cheese fries and washing it down with cold beers.

I too splurged and ordered fries (no cheese) and enjoyed a beer. It's a shame that just as my fries were ready, Richard and Laurie had to leave. I didn't get their contact info or a picture. Bummer.

I needed to hitch into Lone Pine to crash there for the night, and Dave, friends with Chris offered me a ride. Thanks Dave!

I checked into the Dow Villa Hotel and immediately took a shower. It felt so good to have hot water touch my skin for the first time in 16 days. That was without a doubt the longest shower I have ever taken.

There hasn't been much time for reflection as I spent most of the evening chatting with patrons of the hotel, and figuring out my ride situation back to Los Angeles tomorrow. Not to worry though, because that will happen in due time.

For now, I'm tired and need to sleep. It's hiker midnight and even though I'm in a hotel room and not in the woods, I'm still on mountain time.
-----
”Your footsteps may not always be loud, but your footprints leave a silent message of where your soul has traveled.” ~Samantha Strosberg

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