Follow Ellen on the JMT

[KathyW]

My guess is 8/16.

[mlevineisme]

hi all,

Ellen and I found each other over Donahue pass (well, we were at the wrong spot). We managed our way down, then back up the right Donahue pass. Ellen was awesome and very fun to talk to. She is a role model and a great lady. We got to a junction before thousand island lake where she said she was going to camp and went our separate ways. She was definitely and very understandably down from going up the wrong pass (trust me I was too), but seemed a bit better once we were over Donahue. I think that's the "ready to pull the pin" message you received. I'm hoping a few days later she decided to continue on. The rest of the hike was not as bad and always doable, the stream crossings are no longer thigh+, the passes aren't ice and danger (snow in parts, sure, steep sometimes, but doable). Whitney from guitar has only one stretch of maybe 50 feet of well worn in snow prints.

I figured I'd say hello and give everyone an update. She definitely lifted my spirits after my mistake and I was glad to hike with her. I'm not a regular on this board and just signed up to post this. I leave for a wedding in Chicago in a few days but Ellen I plan on emailing or calling when I get back. I'm sorry for forgetting to give you some extra food when we parted. I asked the group we passed to make sure they found you and offered some more, but I'm not sure if they did.

I finished in 13 days and got to hike with an ultramarathon runner and a K2 guide, fun! I was definitely sore! Mather was a ton of snow, Muir was steep, but as you said Ellen nothing was as bad as my mistake of going over the wrong pass in the early morning ice! It definitely gave me the confidence by comparison to finish. Thanks for that.

I'm so glad you kept going =)

*Mike

[lilbitmo]

Mike, thanks for that update, looks to me like if she does a very long day tomorrow she can finish very late otherwise as Kathy guessed it looks like Tuesday will be the day = Go, Ellen Go

[zippetydude]

hey Mike, cool post. I wish I had the planning skills to do the JMT. Nice job, and thanks for cluing us in.

z

[AlanK]

Mike, thanks for that update, looks to me like if she does a very long day tomorrow she can finish very late otherwise as Kathy guessed it looks like Tuesday will be the day = Go, Ellen Go

I say Go, Ellen, Go too. But she is 4 miles north of Forrester Pass. She has 35 miles to go. Let her enjoy the trail and celebrate on the summit of Whitney. A sensible ETA at the Portal is Wednesday.

[zippetydude]

Let her enjoy the trail and celebrate on the summit of Whitney. A sensible ETA at the Portal is Wednesday.

Alan, my friend...you're a techie dude, you know she can't see these posts...

My thought is a sensible ETA is whenever the cheeseburger and cold beer (okay, the cold beer) drives her into the portal. Gotta be hurtin' by now.

I think I'll do the JMT in a couple years...in one day. I'm not a real good planner, so I'll cozy up to Dean Karnazes, have him tow me and provisions on a little scooter of sorts...hey, if you do it southbound, it's all downhill, right?

So, Ellen, you're killin' us with the suspense. Can you pick it up a little?

JK. Hope you're glad the pin stayed in the grenade!

z

[Sally]

I appreciate your words about Ellen, Mike. Under the circumstances, you were both blessed to have run into each other on Donahue Pass.

Now I can stop wondering about those crazy spot tracks up on the pass!

I think it is realistic that Ellen will arrive at Whitney Portal on Wednesday, but, knowing Ellen, I wouldn't be surprised if she made it on Tuesday. It would probably be late, and I don't know if they would still be serving hamburgers and beer when she gets there. Yeah, I think it will be Wednesday.

[AlanK]

Alan, my friend...you're a techie dude, you know she can't see these posts...

It is true that Ellen is not following this now, but she might as well enjoy it later.

I have done the JMT. One thing I know is that we don't generally get enough calories to emulate our crazier day hikes. So, patience is required. Ellen has been making fine time, but a 35 mile push on the last day is asking too much. Especially if it gets one to the Portal Store after closing time.

[Cy Kaicener]

Either Wednesday or Thursday. She needs time to bag Whitney and something else

I hope this video comes out


Saturday, February 13th, 2010
"The mountains are calling and I must go"

- John Muir

Below is a video from Ryan Commons that documents his hike across the Sierra Mountains along the John Muir Trail.

Ryan made the trip from the Mt. Whitney Portal to Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park - 222.4 miles - in just seven days! Along the way he climbed a total of 42,000 feet, or, put another way, almost 8 miles of climbing! Obviously he put in some pretty insane milage each day to accomplish this goal.

Ryan followed the trail up to Mount Whitney, which, at 14,496 ft, is the highest peak in the lower 48. From there he passed through King's Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and the Ansel Adams Wilderness before ending his journey in Yosemite.

At 40 minutes in length, the video is fairly long, but is very well made, and well worth the spectacular scenery alone.


WINTER IS COMING - Seven Days on the John Muir Trail from Ryan Commons on Vimeo.



(if you have trouble with the streaming of the video, turning off the HD seems to help)

[Cy Kaicener]

Here is the blog that has the video

www.hikingtrailsblogs.com/?cat=1479