From Tully Hole and the Fish Creek Trail junction at 9,091 feet, the trail ascends almost seventeen hundred feet in 3.3 miles, so it’s a fairly hard climb to Silver Pass. On the other hand, it’s a good trail and footpath too, and this time going over the nearly 11k pass I didn’t bonk orContinue reading “Smoky Afternoons on the JMT: SOBO Sept 2025”
Category Archives: PCT
Trouble at the Fish Creek Footbridge: SOBO on the JMT, September 2025
The trail crosses the Purple Lake outlet at 10,078 feet: Chris consulted with passing hikers who said they were heading for an exit a couple of hours north on the Duck Pass Trail. More than one party we met had resolved to get off the trail, away from the smoke. You couldn’t blame them, butContinue reading “Trouble at the Fish Creek Footbridge: SOBO on the JMT, September 2025”
When the smoke hit the throat: from Red’s Meadow to Purple Lake
Everything changed the morning that Tugboat and I left Red’s Meadow, headed south and uphill, aiming for the popular and memorably beautiful Purple Lake. Red’s Meadow is at a low spot on the JMT — 7,630 feet — and heading south the trail climbs mostly gradually but steadily to 10,300 feet and Duck Pass.* NotContinue reading “When the smoke hit the throat: from Red’s Meadow to Purple Lake”
Southbound on the JMT: Gladys Lake to Red’s Meadow
From Gladys Lake to Red’s Meadow is what Muir would call a saunter — a long lovely walk, brisk but as it happens mostly downhill, through a sunny and mostly dry forest. Not especially taxing and pleasant in a cozy sort of way, such as this little trailside pond, which officially is one of theContinue reading “Southbound on the JMT: Gladys Lake to Red’s Meadow”
Southbound on the JMT September 2025
The first two nights on the John Muir Trail, southbound, in September 2025.
Podcast interview re: PCT completion: Talk of the Town — Ojai Quarterly
Bret Bradigan, the publisher of Ojai Quarterly and other magazines, talked to yours truly for a Talk of the Town podcast on my completion of the Pacific Crest Trail. I thought this was an illuminating and even entertaining conversation (although I must stop laughing like a crazy person). About an hour long. [use link forContinue reading “Podcast interview re: PCT completion: Talk of the Town — Ojai Quarterly”
Kit Stolz 