John Muir Trail Fastpack
Greetings all:
I am a novice fastpacker w/ one goal in mind; the John Muir Trail (JMT) in 8-6 days. The JMT is also known in the US as "America's Trail". It is a 211 mile (340K) trail which traverses California's Sierra Nevada range from Yosemite Valley (national park) to the highest point in the continental US; Mount Whitney (14, 495' / 4418m).
I have begun my training and do contemplate a supported run in 2011 -- followed by an unsupported run in 2012 for my 50th birthday. My early training efforts will tell me whether to step aside or go for this ultra trailrun. In 2009, a healthy man named Brett Maune went out and completed the trail in three days, 14 hours and 12 minutes; unsupported.
So much goes in to putting a show like this together; gear testing (all of it), nutrition at different levels of exposure and exhaustion; and yes, sugar levels. While preparing for this trek, I have found that my body will endure a baby ultra marathon (50K) with little difficulty, while on some occasions, I can't even run a simple mile because of leg cramping.
While some folks may refer to my efforts as "the conquering of the useless", I myself see it as the "running for my life"; for it is trail running and mountain biking what has maintained my sugar levels low and kept me away from medications since mid 2006.
As I embark in the race of my lifetime, I would like to share with you some of my ups and downs, some of my defeats and all of my victories. I hope for a better diabetic future and I believe the mountains have what I need. Please, do enjoy some pics of my JMT 2009 trek.
Happy Trails!
Fabulous photos. Makes me want to be in the Sierra. Banner Peak is so pretty as the others and Yosemite. Tons of water at Vernal Falls (is that the large waterfall on the right?).
Anyway, thanks for sharing your story, training, pics.
Cheers, dp
Greetings:
Thank you for your comments and support. The water fall on the pic is called "Bridal Veil Falls". I recently returned from a training trip to Yosemite. Although there is some fresh snow on the ground, the melt is on and all the falls are ligthing up beautifully.
Cheers!
JDD
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Thank you for the comments!!
Mt St Helens was very special to many folks. Its demise was devastating financially, but, that money has been recovered. The emotional and personal devastation to folks stilll endure.
Closer to my heart, the Long Valley Caldera is a volcanic depression adjacent to Mammoth Mountain... which is about 60 trail miles from Yosemite Valley. The Long Valley Caldera continues to be active and has indeed recorded some of the most intriguing volcanic activities in North America since Mt St Helens. Scientists are warning that the next volcanic eruption in North America may be here.
Trees in the southern Mammoth Mountain area are dying as a result of a large amount of carbon dioxide seeping up though the soil from magma deep underground. Also, the caldera has been swelling for years; and, we have been having sworms of earthquakes lately. All of this activity usually precedes an eruption. Any such eruption WILL decimate Yosemite and most of my beloved Eastern Sierra playground. I can only pray that the evacuations are swift when this happens but mostly, I pray that I never have to witness such destruction...