About the Author
Alan Castle has trekked in over 25 countries within Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Australasia, and for over 15 years has led organised walking holidays in several European countries. His longest solo walks include a Grand Traverse of the European Alps between Nice and Vienna (1510 miles), the Pilgrim’s Trail from Le Puy to Santiago de Compostela (960 miles) and a coast-to-coast across the French Pyrenees (540 miles).
Alan has written more than a dozen walking guidebooks, several on long-distance mountain routes in France. He is a member of the British Outdoor Writers’ Guild, and former national secretary and long-distance path information officer of the Long-Distance Walkers’ Association. He now lives at the foot of the Moffat Hills in Scotland.
Other guides by the author
The Grand Traverse of the Massif Central
The Robert Louis Stevenson Trail
The Southern Upland Way
The Speyside Way
Trekking in the Alps (contributor)
THE JOHN MUIR TRAIL
by
Alan Castle
JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,
OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL
© Alan Castle 2015
Second edition 2015 Reprinted 2018
ISBN 9781783621385
First edition 2004, reprinted with updates 2006 and 2010
ISBN 1852843969
ISBN 9781852843960
KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Photographs by the author, except for those on pages 91–95 by Charles Aitchison.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my fellow hikers along the John Muir Trail, the other members of the Anglo-Scottish JMT Expedition 2001, without whom I could never have walked the Trail, and hence would never have written this guidebook: Charles Aitchison, Stewart Logan, Kim Mason, David Tattersfield and Andrew Wilkins.
Acknowledgements
I am particularly indebted to Charles Aitchison, retired Lakeland GP and expert naturalist, for contributing the section on the Natural World in the Introduction. I am grateful, as always, to my wife, Beryl Castle, for all her advice, support and encouragement during the planning and writing of this guidebook.
I would like to thank all those who have written or emailed since the publication of this guide offering useful additional information. This has been invaluable in updating the guide for its 2010 reprint. In particular I wish to thank Sue Allonby, Robert Francisco, Kevin Freer, Linda Jeffers, Susan Lien, Tim Mason, Cameron McNeish, Craig Miller, Jeff Parr and Ronald Turnbull.
Warning
Mountaineering and wilderness trekking can be dangerous activities carrying a risk of personal injury or death. They should be undertaken only by those with a full understanding of the risks and with the training and/or experience to evaluate them. In particular, the John Muir Trail crosses remote mountain wilderness. Mountaineers and trekkers should be appropriately equipped for the routes. While every care and effort has been taken in the preparation of this book, the user should be aware that conditions can be highly variable and can change quickly, thus materially affecting the seriousness of a climb, tour or expedition. The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this guide was correct when it went to press, but, except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, they cannot accept responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person using this book.
Updates to this Guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/790/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal LA9 7RL.
Register your book: To sign up to receive free updates, special offers and GPX files where available, register your book at www.cicerone.co.uk.
Front cover: Hiker on the JMT near Muir Trail Ranch (Day 11)
CONTENTS
Background
Public Transport to and from the Trailhead
Food Supplies
General Fitness and Trail Fitness
Health and Medical Considerations
Water Purification
Coping with Altitude
Dealing with Bears
River Crossings
Other Natural Hazards
Low-Impact Trekking and National Park/Wilderness Regulations
Camp Routine
Time Difference
Public Holidays in the US