John Muir Trail 2016: Finishing Yosemite

This year's JMT trip was shorter than others, at 40 miles, but we were able to fashion a five day loop trip with just a one-mile car shuttle. The segment that we needed to close was the 15-mile stretch between Half Dome and Cathedral Lakes. Weather was perfect, mosquitoes were rare, and we visited three of the High Sierra Camps along the way (Vogelsang, Merced Lake, and Sunrise).  80% complete now, next year will finish the trail with a 68-mile trip between South Lake and Onion Valley in 8 days, without a resupply.
Mark posted his best shots here.

After an overnight stay in tentcabins at Tuolumne Meadows, we're ready to start

Day 1: Crossing Tuolumne Creek, we won't see dayhikers again til day 5

Approaching Vogelsang Pass

Day 2: on the descent into the Merced River drainage

Day 3: hiking past Merced Lake

A fawn at Merced Lake

The trail on the floor of Merced Valley

Near our joining of the JMT, and looking at Half Dome's backside. We climbed Half Dome when we hiked that segment in 2010.

That stripe is the cable route. Can you see hikers?

See them yet?

Day 5: Cathedral Pass, Cathedral Lake and Cathedral Peak