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JOHN MUIR TRAIL VIDEO – 7 Day Trip


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Home Forums Campfire Member Trip Reports JOHN MUIR TRAIL VIDEO – 7 Day Trip

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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 34 total)
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  • #1258397
    Ryan Commons
    Member

    @ryancommons

    Locale: Bay Area, California

    Hey All, thought this might get some of the JMT crew fired up about taking pics and video of the trail this summer. A quick note to Kevin Sawchuk–you are the man!!! I'd like to someday attempt the JMT in the winter.

    Here is the video: John Muir Trail Video

    This is a summary of an October thru-hike on the John Muir Trail. I traveled seven days on foot from Whitney Portal to Yosemite and stuffed my camera with as much beauty as I could. Evening temperatures were below freezing each night and signs of winter were ever-present. I hope you enjoy the pictures and the story.

    #1604227
    James Castleberry
    Member

    @winterland76

    I got my Sept. 19 entry permit for Whitney Portal a few weeks ago and looked for some videos to inspire me and came across Mr. Ryan Commons' video. It is stupendous for two main reasons: 1. Awesome photographs 2. Incredibly dramatic emotional rollercoaster journey.
    You really are pulling for this guy as you watch the video. He captures the spirit of John Muir and what we all hope to find out there.
    Ryan is not only a skilled photographer, he showed a lot of intestinal fortitude on that hike!

    #1604279
    Dirk Rabdau
    Member

    @dirk9827

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    …and I impressed. The JMT in seven days! Wow, that's hustlin'.

    Dirk

    #1604336
    Scott Bentz
    BPL Member

    @scottbentz

    Locale: Southern California

    I watched the video off and on all afternoon. It's quite beautiful. It was in the reverse of my trip last year (I recently posted my trip report sans photos and video). 7 days and taking all of those photos is quite an incredible feat to go along with the sore feet.

    Scott

    #1604339
    Philip Delvoie
    BPL Member

    @philipd

    Locale: Ontario, Canada

    Great video Ryan. Loved it and the notes throughout the video.

    #1604461
    Robert Perkins
    Spectator

    @rp3957

    Locale: The Sierras

    This was one of the coolest trip reports and photo documentaries I have ever seen. Way to go! I am even more 'fired-up' for my JMT hike than ever. Other than Jared at T.M., did you run into anyone else? Once again, FANTASTIC photos. Robert.

    #1604485
    Del Johnston
    Member

    @deljohnston

    Locale: Heart of Dixie

    Easily the best 40 minutes I have ever spent on the internet. Thank you for the incredible journey! Photos are amazing, music is fitting and the story…wow. I was scared for you. If I encountered bears in the dark, there would be much more on the trail than bear crap. I cannot wait to see more "walk-umentaries" from you!

    #1604820
    David W.
    BPL Member

    @davidpcvsamoa

    Locale: East Bay, CA

    Ryan,

    Thank you for sharing your great photos and experience. That was a thoroughly entertaining slide show.

    #1604890
    David Noll
    BPL Member

    @dpnoll

    Locale: Maroon Bells

    WOW! What a way to start my morning with a cup of coffee.

    #1604902
    Rog Tallbloke
    BPL Member

    @tallbloke

    Locale: DON'T LOOK DOWN!!

    Inspiring video, thanks Ryan!

    It makes me long or the chance to do a big long walk in the Rockies. Somehow, the 170 miles of the Pennine Way seems a bit tame by comparison. :-)

    #1604975
    Carol Brown
    Spectator

    @brownwetdog

    Locale: Idaho

    Ryan – – great video! You are a great photographer and I like your sense of humor. The two green dots (eyes) were brilliant.

    I am now super-psyched for my JMT hike this August.

    #1605254
    Ryan Tucker
    BPL Member

    @beartoothtucker

    as good as any TR I have ever seen.

    #1605262
    Jay Wilkerson
    BPL Member

    @creachen

    Locale: East Bay

    Very cool-amazing!! You were not alone you had 4 legged friends almost the entire way.

    -Jay

    #1605692
    Ryan Commons
    Member

    @ryancommons

    Locale: Bay Area, California

    Thank you all for the encouraging feedback. I hope to do more video of the Sierras and share it.

    Robert, I bumped into a few other people on the trail. Most days I saw one or two people and I went 48 hours once without seeing a person. The only JMT hiker I encountered was finishing the trail on Whitney when I was starting.

    #1605703
    Nate Meinzer
    Member

    @rezniem

    Locale: San Francisco

    wondering if you're a GRRM fan.

    #1605880
    Ryan Commons
    Member

    @ryancommons

    Locale: Bay Area, California

    GRRM? Curious…

    #1605890
    Michael L
    BPL Member

    @mpl_35

    Locale: NoCo

    Ha. So that is why the title sounded so familiar.

    George R. R. Martin.

    Great trip report. Watched the entire thing. By the end of the video I was pulling for you to make it!

    #1605891
    Nate Meinzer
    Member

    @rezniem

    Locale: San Francisco

    It's the House of Stark's motto in "A Song of Ice and Fire" series…soon to be an HBO series.

    #1605910
    Juston Taul
    Member

    @junction

    Locale: Atlanta, GA

    Can't wait to get out there. Thanks Ryan. Great TR. Loved it.

    #1606772
    Ryan Commons
    Member

    @ryancommons

    Locale: Bay Area, California

    Thanks for letting me know Nate and Michael.

    Anyone have general thoughts or actual experiences with black bears in the Sierras? I gather that they occasionally do false charges and almost never attack. The worst attacks I've read about involved some bad cuts and a lot of superficial trauma–no deaths.

    I am generally one to not fear the bears and would love to hear about any other experiences. Thanks.

    #1606907
    Michael L
    BPL Member

    @mpl_35

    Locale: NoCo

    Ryan,
    Did you find yourself setting up your tripod much?

    I tote along my D80 and my wife carries the cheap P&S canon, but I usually only bring a backup battery and maybe one extra lens. Never wanted to carry a tripod that long so I just forget it backpacking. But sure do miss it for some dawn/dusk shots!

    #1606925
    Hiking Malto
    BPL Member

    @gg-man

    Ryan,
    That was incredible. I was amazed at the number of pictures that I recognized. But better yet was how the video drew me in especially the night where you had given up and then you woke up believing again. That same thing happened at Muir Trail Ranch on my SB trip. Also loved your "bear eyes." Well done.

    Thanks for the time you put into this.

    #1607396
    Juston Taul
    Member

    @junction

    Locale: Atlanta, GA

    Ryan,

    I've never had a close encounter with a black bear in the sierras. However, I have in Alaska. I have been bluff charged, and it was a exhilarating experience. I do carry a handgun capable of stopping a bear while hiking in Alaska, but I gave him plenty of time to change his mind about attacking me. He came in close, paused, and then turned and walked away. It was just his way of saying I was in his territory and too close for comfort. I was never in any real danger. I don't find black bears to be aggressive at all. They mind their own business. I always like to remind people that we are in their home… not the other way around. Sadly, people being irresponsible leads to a bear becoming a nuisance/danger to humans.

    #1607449
    Graeme Finley
    Member

    @gfinley001

    Locale: SF Bay Area

    I did a solo trip at the end of September a couple of years ago through Tehipite Valley and along the JMT through Muir Pass and Evolution Valley. I didn't see any bears on the JMT, but in the space of 36 hours in Tehipite Valley I ran into 4 different bears – 2 sets of mothers with cubs and two loners (presumably males). In two cases the bears just turned around and ran the other way (in one case the cubs ran vertically up a couple of tree trunks). In one case I got off trail before the mother w/cubs got very close – I went 100 yards of trail and did a big loop around them.

    In the fourth case I came round a corner on a narrow trail first thing in the morning and a black bear was 20 yards away walking towards me on the trail. We looked at each other for a few seconds, then the bear stepped above the trail, went 10 yards upslope and stopped to look at me. I walked past the bear and carried on, and then the bear went back on the trail and carried on. It was almost like he was letting me pass – very odd but quite exhilerating.

    #1607874
    Tony Wong
    BPL Member

    @valshar

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    Ryan,

    That was amazing journey that you captured in your photos and with your story telling.

    Love the use of movement in the photos and choice of music.

    Must have taken you a very long time to put this together.

    Really touching and inspirational.

    Thanks for sharing the your journey.

    Next year friends and I will be doing the JMT…nice to see what we have to look forward to.

    -Tony

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