As we flew from Kansas City to Indy last week, I saw a copy of the December 2007 Backpacker laying around looking lonely, so I filtched it and read it on the plane. There’s an interesting (at least moreso than usual for that soporific magazine) article about “fastpacking” the John Muir trail in 7 days.

It got me thinking. The articles’ best quotation? “The indifferent wilderness has seen countless struggles here, but it buoys me anyway. The scenery is morphine, and I’m a lab chimp constantly pushing the button for another dose.”

As the article notes, 7-10 days for the ~230 mile trip is a humane pace for fit and intelligently equipped folks. The records for various degrees of support hover on either side of the four day mark. That entails some serious sleep deprivation and suffering. (See below)

I’m thinking about making this one happen this summer. Moving and other demands on my time may make that unrealistic, but for now I’m indulging in research. The main point would be to have fun with minimal logistical hassle and in a manageable amount of time off. Some thoughts for now:

-5-6 days
-South to North would provide a better denouement, and allow for a lighter pack (more refueling options) in the last days.
-Proper planning and finesse would put in camps each night and obviate the need to obtain and carry a highly obnoxious bear canister.
-2.5-2.75 days to a food drop at Muir Trail ranch
-the rest of day 3 and day 4 to get to Red’s Meadow (restaurant and store there)
-day 5 and change to the valley (cafe and store in Tuolumne Meadows, ~20 miles from the end)

We shall see.

Some reading on the subject.

1) Blake Wood’s 5 day 1998 hike. I particularly like the one about bringing hooks to catch trout.

Stats
42/17hr (Vidette Meadow, bear box)
42/18hr (Grouse Meadow, bear box?)
Muir Trail ranch @ noon on day 3
42/18hr (Bear Creek)
39/__ (Red Meadow)
58/22hr finish

“2 mph up, 4 mph down”
(depart @~midnite, visitor center @ 1400)

2) Sue’s 2007 supported hike/run. Her stats:

(Location / Distance /Time of Day / Elapsed Time)

Depart Whitney Portal / 0.0 / 0400 / 00:00 / (8/24)
Arrive Whitney Summit / 11.0 / 0809 / 04:09
Leave Whitney Summit / 11.0 / 0828 / 04:28
Forester Pass / 31.4 / 1507 / 11:07
Glen Pass / 43.2 / 1909 / 15:09
Dollar Lake (rest) / 48.2 / 2037 / 16:37
Depart Dollar Lake / 48.2 / 0316 / 23:16 / (8/25)
Woods Creek Bridge / 51.9 / 0424 / 24:24
Pinchot Pass / 59.1 / 0720 / 27:20
Mather Pass / 68.9 / 1104 / 31:04
Middle Fork Jct. / 79.4 / 1411 / 34:11
Muir Pass / 90.6 / 1845 / 38:45
Piute Creek Jct. (rest) / 107.9 / 0030 / 44:30 / (8/26)
Depart Piute Creek Jct. / 107.9 / 0427 / 48:27
Selden Pass / 117.1 / 0813 / 52:13
Lake Edison Jct. / 130.9 / 1208 / 56:08
Silver Pass / 137.4 / 1512 / 59:12
Duck Pass Jct. / 148.2 / 1917 / 63:17
Red’s Meadow (rest) / 159.8 / 2245 / 66:45
Depart Red’s Meadow / 159.8 / 0307 / 71:07 / (8/27)
Garnet Lake Jct. / 173.2 / 0801 / 76:01
Donohue Pass / 182.1 / 1132 / 79:32
Tuolumne Meadows Jct. / 193.9 / 1528 / 83:28
Sunrise High Sierra Camp / 205.4 / 1928 / 87:28
Half Dome Trail Jct. / 212.5 / 2154 / 89:54
Happy Isles / 218.5 / 0000 / 92:00 (87:32 from Whitney)

3) Jacki Florine, unsupported with no drops in 2005:

“Happy Isles sign to Mt. Whitney Summit; 6 days, 6 hours, 53 minutes.Total time; trail head to trailhead, 6 days, 12 hours, 27 minutes.”

4) A six-day hike of the JMT, with lots of whinging.