Episode 44
Ep 044. John Muir Trail Day 10 (Trail Series). Mather Pass, Raining Ash, and Tough Decisions Ahead
Welcome to the John Muir Trail Podcast Series - I'm taking a little summer break from the podcast while I head off on some new adventures (and guide some epic client trips too!). But I didn’t want to leave you hanging—so I’m sharing something special: a never-before-released Trail Series from our John Muir Trail thru-hike.
Day 10 was big—both in mileage and emotion. We climbed Mather Pass early in the morning, took in its wide-open views, and then descended the iconic Golden Staircase. It was one of our longest days so far, but the terrain felt surprisingly manageable... until smoke began to fill the air again.
At camp, we started hearing reports of new fire evacuations nearby, and we were forced to face a difficult trail reality: what happens if the JMT closes?
In this episode:
- Climbing Mather Pass and savoring a smoke-filtered view
- Descending the Golden Staircase
- Hunger pains
- Wildfire updates from my friend
- Big decisions ahead
🎧 Hit play for one of our longest and most uncertain days on the trail.
JMT Resources on the Blog:
- The Stress-Free Guide to John Muir Trail Permits
- The Ultimate John Muir Trail Planning Guide
- 15 Reasons I’m Excited to Hike the John Muir Trail
Where to learn more about Allison:
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