Who the heck was John Muir?
He is the most famous and influential American conservationist, having been called, “Father of our National Parks.” He also founded the Sierra Club, and taught the people of his time about experiencing and protecting our lands.
A few basics about the trail:
- The trail is in California & is 211 miles long
- It runs from Yosemite Valley to Mt Whitney (the tallest peak in the lower 48!)
- It winds through some amazing parks: Yosemite, John Muir and Ansel Adams Wildernesses, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks
- You DEFINITELY need a permit! Yosemite wilderness permit reservations are available 24weeks in advance. More info on how & where to apply can be found HERE. There are only 45 permits per day to reduce the impact on the environment.
- The distance can be covered between 2-3 weeks. Keep in mind the distance, elevation, river crossings, and resupplies. Consider taking a few “zero days” at lakes and hiking huts, to rest and to chill out.
- The Golden Permit is from Happy Isles to Mt. Whitney, BUT you can section hike the trail! This means not hiking the entire trail, but maybe just for 5 or 10 days.
Getting onto a long-distance trail is a way to truly disconnect in one way, and to connect with nature in a new way. It’s empowering and challenging. It gives you to the time think about what kind of legacy you want to leave in this world.
“If you think about all the gains our society has made, from independence to now, it wasn’t the government. It was activism. People think, ‘Oh, Teddy Roosevelt established Yosemite National Park, what a great president.’ BS. It was John Muir who invited Roosevelt out and then convinced him to ditch his security and go camping. It was Muir, an activist, a single person.”
— Patagonia founder and outdoor enthusiast Yvon Chouinard
You might be surprised at the brilliant ideas you come up with, or problems solved while you’re breathing fresh air and focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.
Have you been thinking about doing a multi-day backpacking trip? Where to? Do you need support? Reach out and let me support you! Connect with me here!
Annette Poliwka is an Environmentalist and Adventurer who empowers women to get outdoors. She inspires and women to challenge themselves, and to connect with their deeper selves.
She passionately helps people take that first step toward their out of doors goals, where they can own their personal power and build momentum around their dreams. Whether you want to start hiking, plan a backpacking trip, or explore your soul’s desires Annette is your go-to gal!
After spending more than 15 years working to protect the environment for local, federal and international governments on Zero Waste, she started her own company to empower women in the outdoors. Her goal is to rekindle our inner flame, to nourish our inner child, and to embark on the outdoor adventures we’ve dreamt about.