John Muir Trail --PCT 最美的一段

年輕時曾經妄想登上喜馬拉雅山, 現在可能連走完 Pacific Crest Trail 的夢,都只好放棄,但是,無論如何John Muir Trail 是不能再放棄了. 因為,沿途實在很美. 今年9月中和一個陌生人登上 Mt. Lyell, 優勝美地最高峰 (陌生人是臨時認識的, 朋友都認為我太離譜, 可是我需要的只是有人知道我在哪裡出事, 路線我都研究好了,帳篷食物也都自己揹, 還有甚麼需要的呢...) 那時走在 Lyell Canyon Trail (John Muir Trail 的一小段), 一路陶醉在寬廣的河谷, 在自然的美景中, 我的心一直是處在"空靈"的狀態, 就這樣埋下走John Muir Trail的心願. 回來後, 加上李昆明學長的鼓勵, 於是, 飛馬公主又再度重現山谷 (洛磯山旅之後就已決定退隱山谷, 不想再辦活動了, 只想把時間留給自己和山林獨處) 對於我來說, 爬山的動機是 "追求美的境界", 不是"征服", 更不是 "自我挑戰". http://picasaweb.google.com/sarah.view/09172010MtLyell# This is the best hike in the USA and includes many of the best sections of the longer Pacific Crest Trail. The John Muir Trail (JMT) stretches 212 miles(340 km) between Yosemite National Park in the north and Sequoia National Park in the south, terminating/beginning on the summit of Mount Whitney. Passing through what is arguably some of the finest alpine territory in the world, the trail works its way through 3 National Parks (Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia), two designated wilderness areas (John Muir Ansel Adams Wilderness), and a national monument (Devil's Postpile). Passing alongside 14,000 foot peaks and countless lakes and streams, the trail offers endless views, fishing, mountain climbing, and something for the adventurer in us all. Route: The official length of the JMT, as stated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), is 211 miles (340 km). From its northern terminus in Yosemite Valley, the trail runs northeast, passing south of Half Dome and then on to Tuolumne Meadows. From Tuolumne Meadows the trail turns south, running parallel to the main range of the Sierra Nevada, through Yosemite National Park, Inyo and Sierra national forests (including the John Muir and Ansel Adams wilderness areas), passing through Devils Postpile National Monument, through Kings Canyon National Park, and ending on Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park. From the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail at the summit of Mount Whitney, an additional 11-mile (18 km) hike on the Mount Whitney Trail is required to reach the nearest trailhead at Whitney Portal, thus making an end-to-end traverse of the trail effectively 220 miles (350 km). Elevation: With the exception of the first 9 miles (14 km) at the northern end climbing out of Yosemite Valley, the elevation of the John Muir Trail seldom dips below 8,000 feet (2,400 m). The trail crosses six passes in excess of 11,000 feet (3,400 m); from north to south, they are: Donohue Pass, Muir Pass, Mather Pass, Pinchot Pass, Glen Pass, and Forester Pass (the highest, at 13,153 feet (4,009 m)). When the length of the John Muir Trail was calculated by the USGS, elevation gain and loss was not taken into consideration. It is estimated[who?] that, when hiking north to south, the amount of ascent of the JMT is just over 46,000 feet (14,000 m) and the total descent is just over 38,000 feet (12,000 m), for a total of about 84,000 feet (26,000 m), or almost 16 miles (26 km); however, this does not mean the total length is increased by 16 miles (26 km). "Wilderness Permit" : First, you must apply up to 24wks to the day in advance of your intended start date. Try to get them online as there is a daily quota at all trailheads. Forest Service Permits. Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Service Permits. Yosemite National Park Permits. Wilderness Center, Yosemite Village PO Box 545, Yosemite, CA, USA, 95389,(209) 372-0740 http://www.besthike.com/northamerica/sierra_nevada/john_muir.html http://www.backpack45.com/johnmuirtrail.html