John Muir Trail Date Set, Permit Reserved
The countdown begins for August 17, 2009.
After calling the Yosemite Association and talking to a less than courteous person on the phone, I made my reservation for the Wilderness Permit required for the John Muir Trail.
I called at the earliest time possible to make the reservation (24 weeks/168 days in advance) at exactly 2 minutes after they opened their office at 8:32am. My original plan was to complete the trail in 21 days but that would mean that I would be summiting Mt. Whitney during labor day weekend. In order to avoid the crowd I’m now leaning more towards doing it in 23 days, ending on September 8.
I now have a little less than 6 months to finish purchasing the equipment I need and take them for a few test runs. The main items I need to purchase are: waterproof jacket, stove, hiking poles, and sleeping pad. I’ll have to decide whether to take my heavy hiking boots or get some trail runners, and whether to bring a water filter or use purifying tables. Many questions that will be answered in the exciting months ahead.
“at exactly 2 minutes after they opened their office at 8:32am”….OF COURSE!!! WHAT DID U EXPECT?!?! the guy must hv been all groggy and saying to himself “WTF?? am trying to get some coffee and think about what to hv for breakfast and this guy wants to make a reservation???? CAN’T HE JUST WAIT A LITTLE BIT????? HAS TO BE NOW??????