These are Helpful Links: * Best Map (I think this is the best one): http://amzn.to/JMT_MAP * Planning Book (Descriptive and accurate): http://amzn.to/JMT_BOOK * JMT's Most Essential Gear Item: http://amzn.to/trekkingpoles General Info: * Blog: http://walkifornia.blogspot.com/2011/06/john-muir-trail-video-of-trail-from-mt.html * Permit Help (Information for either direction): http://bit.ly/aQGIUJ * Mileage: http://bit.ly/ak1INf * Elevation Profile (Click on the Image and it expands): http://bit.ly/bodOxf * Transportation from one trailhead to the other (best price): High Sierra Transportation 760.258.6060 Get in touch with me if you have questions about the John Muir Trail. I'm happy to help. Facebook Message: Ryan Commons This is a summary of an October thru-hike on the John Muir Trail. I traveled seven days on foot from Whitney Portal to Yosemite and stuffed my camera with as much beauty as I could. Evening temperatures were below freezing each night and signs of winter were ever-present. I hope you enjoy the pictures and the story. General Summary: The John Muir Trail climbs out of Yosemite Valley northeast over the Cathedral Range to Tuolumne Meadows then descends into Lyell Canyon which it follows south, up Lyell canyon, to Donohue Pass (11,050' high), in the ridge which divides Yosemite National Park from the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Inyo National Forest. The largest glacier in the Sierras lies on the face of Mt Lyell. Over Donohue Pass the trail descends into the valley of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, a wet region with many lakes and streams that attracts fishers (who need a permit from the State Fish and Game Department.) It descends to Shadow Lake, a famously-beautiful lake, then rises up over a ridge before descending to Devil's Postpile. The scenic Ritter Range, an old range whose rising preceded the rising of the Sierra forms the east wall of the valley. The soil changes from the rough grainy soil of eroding mountains to volcanic dust, a less pleasant soil to deal with keeping clean against, especially when wet. At Devil's Postpile and Red's Meadow. A small National Monument, Devil's Postpile features the unusual formation of hundreds of hexagonal posts of basalt that had the opportunity to solidify without mixing, allowing them to freeze in hexagonal posts. A mile from Devil's Postpile lies Red's Meadow which has a campground (with a site for backpackers that always has room for one more), a hot springs plumbed into shower stalls providing free hot showers (perhaps after a wait for the water to get hot, especially the further down the pipes your stall. Wait for it.), a store (food but few supplies for hikers - it appears to serve fishers more) and cafe, both open 7 AM to 7 PM, and a shuttle bus goes to the town of Mammoth Lakes (round-trip: $8). The trail climbs out of the valley of the Middle Fork through forest still burnt from the 1993 fire through a meadow, past Deer Creek, and then along the west face of the ridge above Cascade Valley to Duck Creek. From Duck Creek the trail ascends a ridge-point then descends into Purple Lake, then another ridge-point before descending into Lake Virginia. The trail descends steeply to Tully Hole, on a fork of Fish Creek, then gently to the head of Cascade Valley, where it crosses Fish Creek on a bridge and ascends another fork of Fish Creek past high rocky Squaw and Chief Lakes to Silver Pass on Silver Divide. The trail descends Silver Pass past Silver Pass Lake, follows Silver Pass Creek to the North Fork of Mono Creek at Pocket Meadow, then descends to Quail Meadows, a mile east of Lake Edison. It crosses Mono Creek then rises steeply to Bear Ridge, follows the ridge then descends to the bank of Bear Creek. It follows Bear Creek, then its west fork, to its source, Marie Lake, then over Selden Pass. The JMT now descends Selden Pass past Heart Lake, through a meadow to Sally Keyes Lakes, crosses Senger Creek and descends an exposed ridge to the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. About halfway down a trail that leads directly to Blayney Meadows and its hot spring meets the JMT. The JMT itself descends a little less steeply than that trail to the bank of the South Fork to where the Piute Creek joins the South Fork and the border with King's Canyon National Park. The JMT continues up the South Fork, crossing it on bridges twice until it reaches Goddard Canyon, where it heads east steeply up into meadow-filled Evolution Valley. After passing through Evolution, McClure (ranger station here), and Colby Meadows it climbs to Evolution Lake, surrounded by many high mountains named after famous scientists who contributed to the theory of evolution, mountains popular with climbers. From Evolution Lake the JMT passes four more lakes before ascending to Muir Pass on the Goddard Divide. Muir Pass has a well-built stone shelter where stranded hikers can spend a night (no fires!). The JMT descends past Helen Lake then follows the