John Muir Trail | NOBO

John Muir Trail: Cottonwood Pass to Happy Isles, Yosemite. August 14 - August 29 2020. This is simply a fun video I made for our families and friends to see what our experience was like on the trail.

00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:30 - Day 1
00:03:35 - Day 2
00:06:08 - Day 3 Mt. Whitney
00:12:16 - Day 4 Forester Pass
00:18:42 - Day 5 Rae Lakes
00:22:56 - Day 6 Pinchot Pass
00:29:15 - Day 7 Mather Pass
00:32:52 - Day 8 Muir Pass
00:37:43 - Day 9 Muir Trail Ranch
00:41:40 - Day 10 Selden Pass
00:45:19 - Day 11 Silver Pass
00:50:27 - Day 12 Red's Meadow Resort
00:53:25 - Day 13 Garnet Lake
00:57:18 - Day 14 Thousand Island Lake & Donohue Pass
01:00:43 - Day 15 Tuolumne
01:06:18 - Day 16 Last Day!

JMT
~234 miles
~40,000ft elevation gain
~46,000ft elevation loss

16 days
4 bears
longest day: 24.4 miles
shortest day: 5.2 miles
Highest elevation campsite: 11,300ft
Lowest elevation campsite: 6,100ft
Most elevation gained in a day: 4,100ft
Most elevation loss in a day: 4,550ft
Most difficult pass (for us): Pinchot
Easiest Pass (for us): Selden

△ GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO
Backpack : ULA Circuit

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△ Special Thank You to:

MY FOUNDING PATRONS!
- Kevin Matherly
- M14lvr (Jason)

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive a small commission (AT NO COST TO YOU!) This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

[michaeldinwiddie]

I have watched a lot of JMT videos and I'm not sure why but this felt more authentic. I felt like I was on the trail with you guys more than pretty much any other JMT video. Thanks for taking the time to record and put this together!

[AmyRoutt]

Hi all. I know this video is long. I decided to make it into one long video because that's what felt right to me. Don't forget you can watch faster. If you click into the settings icon on the video, you can change playback speed. I like to watch videos at 1.25x speed. But 1.5x is also not a bad option! Hope you enjoy this video. We had a great time on this trip.

[runfourcover]

Great views, great video, great people! Thanks!

[michellehammer]

Love that you added comments (sitting in the chair) post trail. I haven’t seen that before and I really like it.

[kjhiker]

I loved this! At 74 with 2 hip replacements I no longer backpack although I still get out for hikes and take lots of van camping trips. I live in Washington State now but grew up hiking and backpacking in the Sierras when I lived in California. My dad and brother hiked the JMT but I had children to raise and could not go but earlier trips had taken me to Thousand Island and Garnet Lakes and I did Mt. Whitney as a day hike from the other side after my children were grown. Lots of Yosemite trips and hikes and even a snowshoe trip in Winter. (I have bear stories too). Anyway thank you for these beautiful videos. Just the right amount of "story", just the right length, and awesome photography.

[IsParkCir]

Best JMT video I've seen so far. Very helpful, very entertaining, high production value and I can tell you both spent a lot of time making it as good as it is. I did Cottonwood to Happy Isles in 2020 as well and watching this was such a nostalgia trip. Thank you for that!

Also, Glen Pass was weirdly hard!

[JustinOutdoors]

Awesome video sappy butt! I started watching it and then all of a sudden my afternoon was gone. Loved the interview segments, so cool. Cool to meet a fan on trail! No one has said hi to me yet! Best trip video I watch all summer, thanks!

[vancemccolm]

This is a great video; with a perfect blend of scenery and good and relevant narration.

[jazzfan]

After watching all of this superb video I feel I've earned a Clif bar, maybe two. Elevation gain out-and-back to my kitchen: 2 feet 🤣

[DavidKD]

Wise and mature young lady. I am feeling old with many feet and other problems that might stop me even getting out on a long hike or trail. I appreciate you for mentioning the privilege. Enjoy your youth and young healthy body 👍

[mattherhorn]

Planning on doing this exact route as part of my honeymoon :) Thanks so much for the excellent video, it’s a great reference guide!

[kimalexander]

I really enjoyed seeing the JMT with you both. Along with Billy Yangs adventure recently I can now appreciate this wonder. Thank you

[rockytopwrangler]

... Awesome video, , enjoyed the different style of filming and editing .. Thanks for the comment of bumping the speed, , have never done that before and it had it's moments of gained humor but really fit nicely.. ( put a little extra pep in your step, ,not that you guy's needed it but put you in beast mode )... How fortunate to find a partner with strong similar interests, , watching these many years from now will be a date night to cherish ... Enjoy your outings together Stay Safe and God Bless

[Torturedcows]

Great Video! I appreciate your adding location information throughout as it helps me place what I am seeing in the video with what I recall from my hike from Tuolumne Meadows to the exit over Kearsarge Pass a year ago in September. When I am finally able to finish the southern part of the JMT I will make a point of camping at that lake just north of Forester Pass per the recommendations from both of you. I had plans to finish that part in 2020 but the virus changed my plans; at 72, I thought I it wise to wait a while. I also found it hard to eat as much as I should and ended up losing more than a few pounds (a good thing). The one time I was actually famished was just at that Rock Monster's lair where I lounged and stuffed myself while sitting amongst the Rock Monster's half-formed brethren which were just to its left if you recall. And how brave of you to swim in that cold cold water! I longed to do that at Thousand Islands Lake and even more so at beautiful Rae Lakes but the water was just freezing cold even in September; a good long soak at the hot springs near MTR was a real treat however. It was a wonderful hike, my longest so far. I especially remember the people I encountered every day; funny with all the incredible views, it still is the people you remember most vividly. Happy Trails, I hope to meet you hiking one day!

[shawnheneghan]

Well done. I hiked SOBO and only had one T-storm - while I was on the Bighorn. I also almost got trampled - by a drunk on a horse at night. The Muir pass area is my fav. I planned about 4000 Calories a day and lost about 20 pounds. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

[edabrams]

Whatever direction life points you keep doing it together.. You're a beautiful couple!!

[markhaas]

Awesome video, so worth the wait. Can definitely tell you put a lot of time on it. Especially like the post trail thoughts. Thanks for the shout out, it was a highlight on our trip running into you on trail. My daughter said I was fan geeking.

[karenlee]

You guys make it look so easy! Thanks for sharing your experience and not complaining all the way to the end about how miserable the weather and hike was like some other videos I’ve seen. Appreciate the positivity.

[saladinadventures]

Thank you for this engaging video! Amazing videography, loved the scenery (especially Granite Lake). Really enjoyed the story telling too. You guys are great.

[rosev]

Thanks for sharing your hike! I did NOBO, Cottonwood Lakes to Happy Isles, Aug 20-Sept 9. You youngsters can really put on the miles, and make it look so easy! Well done!