Hiking the JMT: Muir Monster to Palisade Lakes (Day 16)

Lower Palisade Lake

Highlights of Day 16

Enjoyed a relaxing walk through the La Conte Canyon
Hiked up up up the Golden Staircase to Palisade Lakes
Made friends with an 18 year old gal who was solo hiking the JMT
Camped at Upper Palisade Lake

Trail Journal

8:50 pm

We’re poised on the brink of Mather Pass. It’s gorgeous but cold, & our alarm is set for an even colder 4:30 am.

I keep hearing tales of how steep Mather Pass is–that you can see the boots of the person on the switch-back above you, it’s so steep.

I think as long as the weather is good–as it’s been today (for our beautiful hike through La Conte Canyon), we’ll be fine. Tired–especially if we also cross Pinchot Pass as we’re hoping to, making it a 16+ mile day with lots of elevation–but fine.

This will be a short entry because I’m still processing yesterday’s events, and it’s way past my bed time. Tomorrow will be a full day, and I want to be 100% with-it for our first passes since that horrible experience just below Muir Pass. The weather is supposed to be better tomorrow, but now I’ll only believe what I see.

Thank you, universe, god, allah, spirits, mother earth and father sky, guardian angels and loved ones who are looking out for us–thank you for granting us safety and for allowing us to tell this tale.