john muir trail

Day 5: Minaret Creek Junction to Deer Creek
Our first stop for day 5 was a visit to Devil’s Postpile National Monument. ​We were there early enough to beat the regular tourist crowd and we also got to see the sun rise over the odd columnar rock formations.

Day 3-4: Gem Lake to Minaret Creek Junction
On our third day on trail we joined up with the JMT.
We were up and out of camp nice and early, taking advantage of the cool morning air as we climbed up through the forest to nearby Agnew Pass. We especially enjoyed crossing through the meadows beside Clark Lakes.

Day 1-2: ​Tioga Road Trailhead to Gem Lake
After nearly a year of planning, we made it to our start day.
We woke up in Yosemite Valley and took the time to enjoy breakfast, a last shower and to do one last check on all of our gear. Then my father-in-law drove us up to our trailhead, a couple hours away near Tioga Pass.

In all of my hiking and backpacking I have never encountered a permit lottery system that is as nerve-wracking as…