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Left on Sept 13, finished in Sept 28.

You should go for it! Definitely! Being a strong hiker will be a major factor. Durability is even more important. If/when I do it again, I'll be planning for fewer daily miles. Maybe I'll get up later and get to camp by 3 but that additional rest will help me avoid overuse injuries that seemed to pile up on me by the final few days. Next year I'm planning to do the SHR. Been dreaming of that for a few years now. That'll be a big test but the learnings from the JMT will be with me.

Yeah, you can see how shocked I was to see him. At first I thought I was seeing things. Honestly, still can't believe it.....

It's a special place. It was a blessing in disguise that I wasn't feeling well and backed out given my wife breaking her wrist. And, well, I've already been up on Pickering anyway. I was thinking doing the loop into Crabtree Lakes but now you have me thinking looping to Trail Crest and down.

Yes, they did. There were a couple of late stream crossings and avoiding getting my trail runners wet that late in the day was a positive. I'd do it again for sure. And yes, that JMT video is a time commitment. Most folks daily video's but I just thought it's nicer to have it all together in a single video...even it is long.

I think it's since been cleared. The park service has done an unbelievable job recovering from 2023. The SFSJ bridge has already been replaced and I saw a video of others going through this area this year and the trail looked like it had been cleared.

Thanks. It was one of those places where it was easy to capture great video...everywhere I turned was another photo op. We did a shuttle trip leaving from White Wolf and ending up in Tuolumne Meadows. Here's the CalTopo caltopo.com/m/D39Q9

Thank you so much for your kind message. I'm glad my love for the Sierra comes through. It's my home..at least that's how I feel when I'm there. I have read the book you're mentioning. His early trips remind me of my own although he's far more insightful about the geology and the history of the place. But his experiences are such a joy to read. Great book!!!

@peterbedford2610 I'm sure there is, but I don't fish, so couldn't say for certain. Lots of good looking fishing spots though.

Sure thing. Here you go. caltopo.com/m/RERAFTP. Let me know if that does't work.

If you're in good hiking shape. Yes, definitely.

Well, I'm still learning but really appreciate the encouragement! Big THANKS!!!

Thanks for the "content love" - truly appreciated. But yeah, a bear at 13K? In all my years in the backcountry I've never seen it before. I keep thinking it was a hallucination....but it wasn't. 🙂

@@sallybattista2726 I also have never seen a bear that high. Must be really hungry.

Seriously. What's the big deal. 😅😅😅

Yes, Dancing Bear is the fast way in/out. I chose the long way around intentionally because I wanted to check out White Bear Pass and because I wanted to see Lake Italy again. Bear Lake Basin has always been a magical place for me. I had a number of fond visits there in my teen years. Glad you appreciated the video and that you feel the same about the basin. Hopefully the video brought back memories for you. 🙂

@@wellseasonedhiker I managed to make Dancing Bear longer and much more difficult than it needed to be -- probably would have done just as well going via White Bear and not letting the minor infamy of that one scare me off. Somehow in the course of repeating to myself on the way up "as you approach White Bear Lake, turn north and ascend a grassy ramp", I managed to turn it into "when you REACH White Bear Lake, turn north." The problem is that, by the time you've gone through that rock-walled chute down to the lakeshore, the only ascending route is up a very steep, very crumbly scree-and-sand slope with a lot of exposure and not much solid rock -- at the top of which, you look to your right and immediately see the 100% walkable ramp you could have ascended had you turned a hundred yards earlier. Lesson learned...

@@taylorbrady1424 Yeah, I'm with you. I can't tell you how many times I've turned a trivial x-country route into a massive undertaking. It happens....but then it gives us all something to talk about 🙂

Absolutely. Which route you planning on? When we did this (50 years ago now) we climbed from the west - from Lake Italy. I don't remember pulling out the ropes but like I said, it was a long time ago.

@@wellseasonedhiker I think the East Buttress. Looks like it’s class 4, but doable without rope. There is a walk off through the couloir or the scree field next to it.

@@montezinsurance6393 Hmm, I looked it up on summit post and there it's a long (20+ pitch) 5.8 but there are probably variations. I've never been up BCS from the east. I made an attempt once but got pushed off the mountain due to weather.

It was epic... you would have hated me. LOL!

Yes. I carry a patch kit with me. But, as you probably know, finding a small/slow leak in the field is practically impossible. At least that's been my experience.

So true. "Embarrassment of Riches" nails it. Almost every moment of every day is another spectacle. Glad the recap captured it for you.

Pretty straightforward really..although it requires a shuttle trip unless YARTS is running. Leave a car in Tuolumne (we left our at Lembert Dome) and take a second car to White Wolf. You have to park along Hwy 120 because White Wolf camp is still closed. From there Hike into White Wolf, down the steep descent to the Tuolumne River. Then head up river to Glen Aulin and exit at Tuolumne Meadows. Here's my CalTopo caltopo.com/m/D39Q9

Anytime one goes into the sierra it's probably smart to have a jacket- particularly above 8K which you'll reach when you get to Glen Aulin. That said, you probably won't need it for most of the trip and might not even use it. It was pretty warm for us. Most of the times I was wearing mine was for bug protection.

@@wellseasonedhiker great thank you for the advice !

That's awesome. Thanks!!!

Let me know how it goes!

The bugs were not bad at all, but I treated my clothes with permethrin. I also brought a topical Benadryl pen that made any mosquito bite I got instantly stop itching. That was a game changer. The weather was a bit rough at times. I had a really bad thunderstorm coming down off of Silver Pass. The fishing was great. The trip was tough, beautiful, and so rewarding.

@@kevinhelfend555 I just got back from the Hoover Wilderness. There were still spots over there that were apocalyptic (mosquitos) and others that were super pleasant but for sure, things are calming down. And yes, we got weather every night as well. Typical Sierra summer afternoon thunderstorms. On the mossie front. I'm one of the lucky guys that doesn't react to bites. Their annoying for sure but I don't get the itchy welts that most folks do. Sounds like you've got a great plan with the Benadryl pen. I haven't heard of that before but will definitely recommend it to friends. Tx for the insight!!!

Yeah, last year was "special" for sure. Things are definitely more normal this year but the bug pressure is like I've never seen before. You'll be good by late August.That's the loop I wanted to do on this pass but it'll have to wait 'till another time. Enjoy it!!!

Thank you very much!

@@wellseasonedhiker Most Welcome.

Yeah, the mosquitos weren't much fun. If it was time off work, I'd have stayed, but I'm fortunate that I'm able to return whenever I like. Heading to Hoover Wilderness in 10 days. Hope I have better luck up there.

June 17-20

You should do it!!!

Yeah, it was stunning. More beautiful than I expected. Definitely worth the trip. Stream crossings weren't a challenge but feet got wet a few times. There's a bit of a swampy area between the last falls (forget its name) and Glen Aulin. Likely to get wet in there and the mosquitos there were heavy.

@@wellseasonedhiker Beautiful! Thank you for your response, and for the gorgeous video!

Tx for the kind comment. Been trying to improve my videography/photography. It's a process. Glad you enjoyed it.

Yeah, the melt is nearing it's end but still full streams everywhere. Feet were wet quite often. 🙂

Thanks for the kind comment. It is difficult to get a permit into Cottonwood because JMT folks suck em up. But Cottonwood Lakes is amazing!!! Just keep trying and you'll get a permit. Takes patience.