Blog
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Hiking Nutrition 101: How to Boost Your Energy and Reach New Heights on the Trail
Hiking Nutrition is more than just packing snacks—it’s the key to maintaining energy, stamina, and performance on the trail. Whether planning a quick day hike or a multi-day trek, knowing what to eat and drink can make the difference between a successful hike and an exhausting ordeal. This guide covers everything you need to fuel…
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Guitar Lake to Mt Whitney from Crabtree Meadows Campground – John Muir Trail, Day 13
As I woke up at 4:00 am, I knew today was going to be an incredible day. Don and I plan to summit Mt Whitney before noon to avoid getting caught in a thunderstorm. We had a good breakfast and…
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Vidette Meadows Over Forester Pass to Crabtree Meadows Campground – John Muir Trail, Day 12
As I woke up at Vidette Meadows on the twelfth day of our JMT backpacking trip, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. Don and I were gearing up to conquer the famous Forester Pass, a significant milestone on our journey with an elevation of 13,200 feet. However, as we started…
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Marjorie Lake over Pinchot Pass and Glen Pass to Vidette Meadows – John Muir Trail, Day 11
Lake Marjorie to Pinchot Pass As I start my trek early in the morning, Marjorie Lake is a beautiful sight, reflecting the sunlit mountains around me like glass. Today, we’ll cross two passes, Pinchot Pass and Glen Pass. Our first pass for the day is Pinchot Pass at 12,100 feet. From the campsite, it’s a…
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Grouse Meadow, Up the Golden Staircase and Over Mather Pass to Marjorie Lake – John Muir Trail, Day 10
Waking up at Grouse Meadow, I couldn’t help but appreciate the serene beauty of my surroundings. The calmness of the morning provided a great opportunity to work on my morning routine. However, Don was already two steps ahead, showing his mastery of our daily routine. He’s up and ready for our hike up the Golden…
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Colby Meadows Past Muir Hut and over Muir Pass to Grouse Meadow – John Muir Trail, Day 9
Early to bed, early to rise gives you those glorious, grand mountain highs. Starting from Colby Meadows, we hit the trail early in the morning for Muir Hut on Muir Pass, and the scenery quickly captured our attention. The trail led us to a series of stunning lakes that left us in awe, starting with…
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Marie Lake to Muir Trail Ranch Resupply and Colby Meadows – John Muir Trail, Day 8
Not many experiences compare to waking up next to a pristine, reflective lake in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains on a crisp, cool morning. Marie Lake is beautiful this morning. The pure, untouched beauty of nature is a humbling experience that never fails to remind me of the majesty and grandeur of our…
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Squaw Lake to Marie Lake – John Muir Trail, Day 7
As I wake up at Squaw Lake to the sound of my alarm ringing at 5:30 am, I’m reminded that today is another day on my JMT backpacking trip. We’ll be camping at Marie Lake tonight, but I woke up on a flat air mattress again this morning. There’s nothing like sleeping on a cold,…
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Reds Meadow to Squaw Lake – John Muir Trail, Day 6
As I set out from the backpacker’s camp at Reds Meadow, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and adventure. We’ve got a lot of mileage to cover today, but we’ll have some time to relax for a few minutes at Virgina Lake. Don and I were both feeling strong and ready to…
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Past Donahue Pass to Reds Meadow Campground – John Muir Trail, Day 5
As sunlight broke on my tent, I was unpleasantly surprised to find my air mattress had popped during the night. It was a frustrating start to the day, but I quickly overcame that feeling when I saw the sunrise. Things like this are bound to happen on a backpacking trip. I just needed to focus…