The Range of Light: Fastpacking the John Muir Trail in Under a Week

Great article, with the trial and tribulations faced (self-doubt, hungry bear altering the gear list, etc…).

Thanks for posting. I did the JMT SOBO in September 2012 in almost the same time you took – 6 days 18 hours and 10 minutes, in a similar style and with a similar gearlist, although I did bring a stove, ran very little, and hiked in the dark a bit more (usually only and hour or two at most).

Interesting to read your account and compare it to my experience. It was quite an experience for me and I did train and prepare for it quite a bit, but all on my own. Definitely an amazing trip in an amazing and beautiful place.

"I was shooting for six days based on how many miles per day I thought I could travel without night hiking (I didn’t want to miss the scenery), and I ended up finishing in just under seven. You should have a rough idea of what you’re capable of after a few months of training, but remember – you will move slower at altitude with weight on your back. Set a goal for yourself but have a backup plan for food and extraction should you be out there longer than originally planned. In order to complete the JMT in a week, you will have to average about 30 miles per day."

That's one way of doing it… the compulsive, goal oriented way…
But I preferred to leave that 'city mentality' behind and really get into just being out there…

I had no goal, no idea of what I was capable of and no real plan… Didn't know or care how many miles I would do in a day and had no idea each day were I would camp that night… and didn't want to know… just meld with the wilderness… my priority was to camp before I got too tired to appreciate the experience and find a really beautiful camp each night… take lots of breaks during the day to sit an contemplate the scenery… fish some… bag some peaks along the way… do some writing… but didn't take a camera… not because I wanted to save weight; rather, because I didn't want my face behind a camera… didn't want anything to come between my eyes and the beautiful scenery… and if there was a goal, it was to take as long as possible out there…

Each to his own…

billy

Well hot dang Billy, that verged on the poetic! Really liked what you wrote. It can be worthwhile to challenge yourself and occasionally set goals at times, but too much and too often of that and you can miss the forest for the trees. I usually go to the woods or wild places to get away from that mentality.

+1 to ole Billy Goat Gruff

Thanks Josh.

A nice read of a great adventure.

well, if Billy Ray was truly sincere in his final thought "each to his own …"
he would have simply said nothing,
or perhaps a simple " nice job … "

I'm glad you pushed your limits but I'm sad you fed a bear. Being fast doesn't mean you get to ignore the rules.

"well, if Billy Ray was truly sincere in his final thought "each to his own …"
he would have simply said nothing,
or perhaps a simple " nice job … " "

What a rude thing to write Art… questioning my sincerity…
and trying to tell me what I should say… very presumptuous… and rude…

a good example of how rude and nasty people can be over the internet…

Billy

Art +1

Billy Ray,

What you wrote was evocative, and in another context I'd have loved it.

I think what rankled Art (and me, to some degree) is that any time there's a discussion of anyone pushing their athletic limits, somebody chimes in with "You are enjoying the wilderness incorrectly. Here's how you should do it." Which, albeit in elegant paraphrase, is pretty much what you said. It is ALWAYS finished with a disingenuous "HYOH".

He might have sounded a bit rude to you, but I think I understand where Art was coming from. The style of what your wrote was nice, but in this context also pretty rude to the OP, imo.

all the best
Ralph

Bear bagging in the Sierras — hopefully others can learn from your mistake.

Assuming 'a fed bear is a dead bear' holds, no one gets to ethically save 20oz on their BPW.

"Being fast doesn't mean you get to ignore the rules."

+500

Thanks for taking time to share your experience Josh. I want to take on the JMT next Summer. At 66 I won't be running it but will maybe shoot for two weeks. Having said that most of your tips will aid my trip preparation.
For those who wish otherwise there is an old saying
"Take what you like and leave the rest"

Fantastic photos. Very well written, highly detailed narrative. Thanks for sharing your fantastic trip.

How did you reduce the weight of your OMM Classic Marathon 32l to 14.1 ounces/395 grams?

The OMM web site lists the Classic at a minimum weight of 19.6 ounces/550 grams, with a "normal" weight of 25 ounces/700 grams (I'm guessing the difference is removing the foam back/sleeping pad).

Thanks again,

CorryWan Kenobi

"a good example of how rude and nasty people can be over the internet…"

exactly how you sounded too.

basically telling someone who wrote an article on a style that you didn't agree with they were doing it wrong. some people like to take photos to share and remember the trip.. you don't, deal. some people can and will go fast, deal.

HYOH my ass.. as usual.

perhaps he can do 5 hikes in the same amount of days you do 1.. who is seeing more now?

Thanks Josh. So many journeys tied up into one article, well done.

I didn't find Billy rude, just a different set of goals.
and it's an open forum.

Great Pic's, fun article.

"perhaps he can do 5 hikes in the same amount of days you do 1.. who is seeing more now?"

Debatable. I suspect the faster person is seeing a lot of his feet.

"Debatable. I suspect the faster person is seeing a lot of his feet."

I will debate that with you. I have been happily cruising along only to watch out of shape overweight (pack) hikers staring straight at the ground. 3mph is not fast and staying consistent gets the mileage needed to achieve the pace he was on.

A lot of many trails is dull brown dirt with trees all around.. hiking quickly from one view spot to another sees the same as someone trudging along. perhaps more since I have time to enjoy the view spot and still make my destination by nightfall.

I have no problem doing 2-3mph and look around at all of the scenery I want. And take photos along the way to share. some people are more coordinated than others.

being able to move quickly over trail also helps when setting up a self timer and getting the shot ;)

"have been happily cruising along only to watch out of shape overweight (pack) hikers staring straight at the ground."

Why bring in another variable? Who said anything about out of shape, heavy pack laden hikers?

if you are moving very fast over uneven terrain, you can miss a lot apart from you shoes.

Personally I move pretty fast on the trail so this does come from experience.

Jake, can you tell me how you teleport? Could come in handy with bears….

Trailname is Speedy.. i do what i do ;) powered by peanut M&Ms

"Why bring in another variable? Who said anything about out of shape, heavy pack laden hikers?

if you are moving very fast over uneven terrain, you can miss a lot apart from you shoes.

Personally I move pretty fast on the trail so this does come from experience."

If you are moving fast and looking at your shoes then perhaps after a bit more experience you will start seeing the scenery as you move. Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others have the same limitations.