Introduction
Photo by Peretz Partensky It's official. The Three Amigos are hiking the iconic John Muir Trail (JMT) in the Sierras this August 2019. Our permit application was accepted. Our trek, if all goes well, will begin in Yosemite Valley and end atop Mount Whitney some 208 miles away some 9 1/2 days later. The JMT is the longest maintained hiking trail in the United States that is entirely contained within wilderness areas. From north to south the trail traverses, in nearly equal lengths, the Yosemite Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness and Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness. Additionally the JMT crosses four national park units; Yosemite National Park, Devils Postpile National Monument, Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park where Mount Whitney sits. After summiting Mount Whitney at 14,505' there are an additional ten or so miles down to the Whitney Portal trailhead wh...