Day: 3 | Distance: 10.1 mi | Mountain Pass: 1/10 – Cathedral Pass (9703′)
On day three of our hike on the John Muir Trail, we woke up to a beautiful mountain sunrise at Sunrise Lakes. I had a fresh coat of frost covering my sleeping bag. But the cold was no match for my 10-degree sleeping bag. I stayed warm and toasty all night.
We had another leisurely morning, warming up by the campfire and drinking coffee before heading out for Cathedral Peak and on to Tuolumne Meadows.
After enjoying breakfast, sipping on hot coffee, and taking down camp, we started our hike towards Cathedral Peak, and the first of ten High Sierra mountain passes we will cross before reaching the summit of Mt. Whitney in ten days.
The hike to Cathedral Peak was relatively easy, and we were a little disappointed to discover we had crossed the pass without even noticing. It was no big deal, though. We knew that we would cross plenty of other mountain passes in the coming days, and most of them were said to be spectacular.
On our way to Cathedral Peak, we passed a cowboy leading a group of pack mules. It was a first for me, but we would soon learn that sightings of this sort are pretty common on the JMT.
Cathedral Pass to Tuolumne Meadows
Soon after crossing the pass, we arrived at Cathedral Lake. We took a moment to admire the pristine and crystal-clear lake, with Cathedral Peak’s magnificent reflection in the water. Although the beauty of the place was mesmerizing, we had to leave soon as mosquitoes and flies started swarming around us.
While hiking towards Tuolumne Meadows, I was amazed by the changing nature of the scenery around us. The trail took us on a wandering tour of dense forests, across high-elevation meadows, and rocky outcroppings. We felt like we were walking through a scene worthy of a postcard at every step.
While hiking towards Tuolumne Meadows, I was amazed by the changing nature of the scenery around us. The trail took us on a wandering tour of dense forests, across high-elevation meadows, and rocky outcroppings. We felt like we were walking through a scene worthy of a postcard at every step.
Resupplying and Fueling Up in Tuolumne Meadows
We stopped at the post office to pick up our first resupply as soon as we arrived in town at Tuolumne Meadows. Good planning paid off. The post office was still open and our packages were there waiting for us. That guaranteed we would have enough food for the next leg of our hike, at least until we got to Red Meadows in four days.
With a fresh resupply in hand, we headed over to the Tuolumne Meadows Grill for a burger. While we waited for our burgers, we went to the general store to grab a beer. They were welcome rewards after three days on the trail, and we savored every bite and sip.
Welcome to Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers Campground
After a longer than expected hike from town, we finally arrived at the Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers Campground, which was our home for the night. The directions we had to get there were a bit vague, and we took a few wrong turns along the way. However, we eventually made it to the camp where we managed to find a large site right in front.
As we arrived, we noticed a lone backpacker sitting at the picnic table. I’d guess by his appearance that he was in his late 50s. His clothing and gear were not typical for a backpacker and were more reminiscent of a homeless person. However, he greeted us with a smile and handed over claim to the campsite with pleasure.
We struck up a conversation with him and traded him a beer in exchange for letting us stay at the campsite, which he gladly accepted. His name was Alex, and he had hiked the length of the JMT at least five times over the years. Alex runs a website called TahoeToWhitney.com. Despite his eccentricities, Alex was a wealth of knowledge when it came to hiking in the Sierras. He shared his experience hiking the trails, and answered all of our rookie questions.
Around 9pm, we decided to call it a night. Don and I set our alarms for 4:30 am. Our goal was get to the Ranger Station early enough that we could to obtain the necessary permits to exit Tuolumne Meadows via Donahue Pass.
My Backpacking Meal Plan
For breakfast, I had oatmeal with milk and blueberries, which was starting to get old really quickly. I had a burger a the grill for dinner, of course, which was a welcome treat. Despite the break from my meal plan, I was really starting to crave more variety. Unfortunately, my resupply wasn’t going to be too accommodating.
Links & Resources:
- John Muir Trail
- Backpackers campgrounds
- Sunrise Lakes High Sierra Camp
- Wilderness Permits
- Tuolomne Meadows Resupply
Photos:
- John Muir Trail Day 13 – Mt. Whitey Summit from Crabtree Meadows Past Guitar Lake - January 10, 2017
- John Muir Trail Day 12 – Vidette Meadows Over Forester Pass to Crabtree Meadows. - January 9, 2017
- John Muir Trail Day 11 – Lake Marjorie over Pinchot Pass and Glen Pass to Vidette Meadows. - January 8, 2017