Here’s a story in Ojai Quarterly about my struggle with the legacy of my long-time hero John Muir while walking his trail — in smoke — this past September. [This first image comes from the story in the winter issue of the magazine, as linked above, and has a slightly different tone and fewer picturesContinue reading “BLAME JOHN MUIR: Fire on the JMT 2025”
Tag Archives: Garnet Fire
From Silver Creek to Bear Creek: SOBO on the JMT
Here’s a junction sign at a crossroads: one arrow points towards Lake Edison and the Ferry, and another arrow points up the long forested hill to the Bear Creek Meadows area. It’s a relentless but soft under foot climb of about five miles and 2,000 feet. On that all-afternoon uphill stretch, I ran into aContinue reading “From Silver Creek to Bear Creek: SOBO on the JMT”
Smoky Afternoons on the JMT: SOBO Sept 2025
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”
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”
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”
Kit Stolz 