John Muir Trail - Yosemite Valley to Mt Whitney

Coming the Summer of 2017

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/6/8/a/600_451126730.jpeg

I know this is exceptionally early to be posting a trip, but this one is not your run of the mill type of backpacking trip either. It will involve getting a minimum of 21 days off of work (unless you have the coveted job of retirement), and hiking 221 miles of the most majestic part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It will take us through Yosemite National park, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sequoia National Park, King's Canyon National Park, and ends at the highest peak in continental United States, Mount Whitney at 14,496 ft. This hike is the quintessential high Sierra trek and I would recommend it to any avid backpacker. However, this is also one of the more strenuous trips with an elevation gain totaling nearly 50,000ft, a majority of the trail residing above 7,000ft, and several passes above 10,000ft. But along the way it is a land of dramatic towering peaks, tranquil mountain lakes, cascading rivers, ancient forests and views that go on for as far as the eye can see, which will leave you more breathless than the trek itself.

With that brief summary said, there will be a lot more information to come, but for now I am trying to get an idea of the interest level for this once in a lifetime trip...that is until we post the Pacific Crest Trail through hike(?) I would like to leave sometime around the end of June 2017 or the beginning of July 2017. Permits have to be applied for 6 months in advance so that actually only gives a couple of months to decide on a group and exactly how many people will go. So far that number is obviously as little as one, and I am thinking on the high end six. Four would be perfect especially with the shuttling requirements, but I am also open based on getting from the Whitney Portal to Yosemite Valley.

So, here is what you need to do. Jump on the wait list. Even if you are not sure about getting the time off of work, show interest and we can work things from there. If the boss says no, well no harm no foul.