JMT Early-Season 2017

Categories

John Muir Trail early-season 2017: What was it like? || Part 4: Mosquitoes & final thoughts

By Samuel Chaneles / July 24, 2017 /

Q | Did you encounter any mosquitoes? At what elevation and times of day? Thankfully, we encountered mosquitoes only a few times, and only once or twice were they bad enough that we put on our headnets. That said, those mosquitoes we encountered swarmed aggressively (that that’s coming from someone who grew up in South…

John Muir Trail early-season 2017: What was it like? || Part 1: Snow coverage, navigation & snowshoes

By Samuel Chaneles / August 3, 2017 /

Q | Describe your your prior backpacking experience — generally, in the High Sierra, and in early-season conditions. A | Since I was young, family vacations have revolved around outdoor activities (hiking, skiing, fishing, etc.). My true “backpacking” experience began in the summer of 2016 when I went on an 11-day expedition to Alaska as…

John Muir Trail early-season 2017: What was it like? || Part 2: Passes, axes & crampons

By Samuel Chaneles / August 3, 2017 /

Q | Did you carry an axe or crampons? Did you use them? Would you recommend them? We both had Hillsound Trail PRO Crampons and a Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe, and we did use them in the mornings when conditions were suitable. Most mornings we were on the trail by 5:30 a.m.to take advantage of…

John Muir Trail early-season 2017: What was it like? || Part 3: River fords

By Samuel Chaneles / August 5, 2017 /

Q | What techniques and equipment did you use in safely getting across? Our general protocol for creek crossings was: a) Look for a log or a rock to hop across to avoid getting our feet wet. Often times this method worked for smaller creek crossings, yet for the bigger fords it almost always failed.…