What is the JMT?

When I tell people I'm getting ready to hike the JMT, the first question everyone asks is "What is the JMT?" The second question that usually follow is "AND YOU'RE DOING THAT BY YOURSELF?!?!?!" The second answer is the easiest "Yes. Yes I am. And I'm awesome." The first answer takes a little more time. 

The JMT, or John Muir Trail, is a 211 mile trail that spans from the valley of Yosemite National Park to the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the continental United States. Ok, so... you have to get DOWN the mountain, so really, a JMT hiker will go about 221 miles. I'm actually starting at a different trail head, which is a little further than the Yosemite valley trailhead, so I will be hiking about 230 miles. Yes. All on my feet. WITH a pack weighing between 35-50lbs (Though I am trying desperately to get that weight down a little). 

Sure, it might not be your thing, but it is my thing. If it was everyone's "thing", it wouldn't be nearly as special for those of us who love to do this. See, the trail is beautiful. And, while it has become increasingly more popular over the years, it still is not highly traversed. Untouched, for the most part, by man. Because of this, the sky is super clear at night. You can see the milky way and millions of stars. I'm very much looking forward to that! 

To learn more about the John Muir Trail, you can watch a documentary on Netflix called "Mile, Mile & a Half". Below, you will find the trailer for it.