Discovering the John Muir trail : an inspirational guide to America's most beautiful hike

"From beginners to thru-hikers, Discovering the John Muir Trail has something for anyone that wants a connection with what Backpacker Magazine has called "The best hike in the world." Taking on the JMT is a pilgrimage because of both its beauty and accessibility. Let Damon Corso guide you across the best trails that the John Muir Trail has to offer. Complete with full-color photography of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from acclaimed photographs like Galen Rowell and Jimmy Chin, you'll also have hikes suited to every ability, mile-by-mile directional cues, sidebars, and maps."--Amazon.com Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 8 HUMAN HISTORY......Page 14 GEOLOGY BY MICHAEL HASSON......Page 21 NATURAL HISTORY......Page 24 FAUNA......Page 25 OUTDOOR ETHICS......Page 28 WEATHER......Page 29 HAZARDS......Page 31 WILDERNESS PERMITS......Page 35 TRANSPORTATION......Page 36 EQUIPMENT......Page 39 SECTION 1 YOSEMITE VALLEY TO TUOLUMNE MEADOWS......Page 41 SECTION 3 TUOLUMNE MEADOWS TO RED’S MEADOW......Page 61 SECTION 3 RED’S MEADOW TO MUIR TRAIL RANCH......Page 85 SECTION 4 MUIR TRAIL RANCH TO LECONTE CANYON......Page 113 SECTION 5 LECONTE CANYON TO KEARSARGE PASS TRAIL......Page 135 SECTION 6 KEARSARGE PASS TRAIL TO MT. WHITNEY......Page 161 Sources......Page 187 Top Ten Vistas & Side Trails......Page 189 Index......Page 190 About the Author......Page 193 Contents 6 Introduction 8 The Sierra Nevada and the John Muir Trail 14 HUMAN HISTORY 14 GEOLOGY BY MICHAEL HASSON 21 NATURAL HISTORY 24 FAUNA 25 FLORA 28 OUTDOOR ETHICS 28 WEATHER 29 HAZARDS 31 WILDERNESS PERMITS 35 TRANSPORTATION 36 EQUIPMENT 39 SECTION 1 YOSEMITE VALLEY TO TUOLUMNE MEADOWS 41 SECTION 3 TUOLUMNE MEADOWS TO RED’S MEADOW 61 SECTION 3 RED’S MEADOW TO MUIR TRAIL RANCH 85 SECTION 4 MUIR TRAIL RANCH TO LECONTE CANYON 113 SECTION 5 LECONTE CANYON TO KEARSARGE PASS TRAIL 135 SECTION 6 KEARSARGE PASS TRAIL TO MT. WHITNEY 161 Sources 187 Top Ten Vistas & Side Trails 189 Index 190 About the Author 193