Tales From The Trail: Backpacking the John Muir Trail in 19 Days

Few things match the thrill of completing a childhood dream. And for Emma (trail name Pepper), that's exactly what thru-hiking the John Muir Trail was! A childhood dream come true.

We recently supplied Pepper with our Unstuffed Pepper and Hearty Harvest Bowl for her journey. She's chronicled her 19 day trip on her blog, and between her tongue-in-cheek wit, her beaming selfie smile, and the gorgeous scenery, you'll feel transported!

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Her honest telling of her tale and the fears and challenges she faced as a solo female hiker will have you in equal parts cheering and commiserating - simultaneously when it comes to her recounting the endless switchbacks!

Whether you're planning your trip or just looking for a good read, check out the links below! Happy hiking

Pepper Hikes - A 19 Day Chronicle of the John Muir Trail

JMT Day 1 – Post Apocalyptic Yosemite (Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Campground)
JMT Day 2 – In Which I Forget How To Communicate With Humans (Little Yosemite Valley to Sunrise Camp)
JMT Day 3 – Ouch. aka: Winnie the Pooh and the Very Blistery Day (Sunrise Camp to Lyell Canyon)
JMT Day 4 – My First Real Pass. Can't Turn Back Now! (Lyell Canyon to Rush Creek)
JMT Day 5 – A Wrong Turn and Some Extra Miles. (Rush Creek to Gladys Lake)
JMT Day 6 – Quack Quack or Bust (Gladys Lake to Duck Pass)
JMT Day 7 – Rain Rain Go Away (Duck Pass to Silver Pass Lake)
JMT Day 8 – Finding Steak and Ice Cream in the Backcountry (Silver Pass Lake to Vermillion Valley Resort)
JMT Day 9 – Friends, Fish, and Fire (VVR to Bear Creek)
JMT Day 10 – Fish. The Original Tube Meat (Bear Creek to Muir Trail Ranch)
JMT Day 11 – Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls. (MTR Campsites to Just before Evolution Meadow)
JMT Day 12 – Hut Hut... Hike (Evolution Meadow to Muir Hut)
JMT Day 13 – Lions and Tigers and What Now? (Muir Hut to Foot of the Golden Staircase)
JMT Day 14 – New Friends, Old Friends, Wet Boots (Foot of the Golden Staircase to Lake Marjorie)
JMT Day 15 – Update - Lakes are Freezing! (Lake Marjorie to Suspension Bridge)
JMT Day 16 – Let Me Tell You About My Favorite Pass (Suspension Bridge to Upper Vidette Meadow)
JMT Day 17 – This Is Where One Step At A Time Will Get You (Vidette Meadow to Shepherd Pass Trail)
JMT Day 18 – The Hardest Day Yet (Shepherd Pass Trail to Guitar Lake)
JMT Day 19 – The Summit! (Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney to Whitney Portal!)