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: JMT
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”
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”
Kit Stolz 