Sierra Nevada - Yosemite National Park
1958 John Muir Trail-Glacier Point Loop

On August 16-30, 1958 I did a solo 85 mile (including 5 days cross-country) backpack loop out of Glacier Point including portions of the John Muir Trail in Yosemite National Park. This was my second visit to the Sierra Nevada.

This was my first trip on the John Muir Trail. I covered the section from Yosemite Valley to Thousand Island Lake. From the beginning of the John Muir Trail at Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park I hiked the Muir trail to Tuolumne Meadows, then south over Donohue Pass to Thousand Island Lake. I then turned west on a cross-country route over Lake Catherine Pass north of Banner Peak and worked my way to the Merced River headwaters then followed the river back to Yosemite Valley.

These pictures are primarily of that trip, however I visited the area additional times shown in some of the pictures.

I parked my car at Glacier Point with its tremendous views of the Yosemite Valley and Half Dome. My first day took me over a familiar trail past Illilouette Fall, Panorama Cliff to Nevada Falls where I made camp on the Merced River in Little Yosemite Valley next to a sandy beach.

Need NEVADA FALLS TOP pictures

A rainy day took me up the long climb past the Half Dome side trail to Long Meadow which I had all to myself (now there is a High Sierra Camp there).

Long Meadow and the views as I hiked past the Cathedral Peaks over Cathedral Pass to Tuolumne Meadows were beautiful. I hiked across Tuolumne Meadows to the Sierra Club camp and Soda Springs, then turned back to the nearby car camp.

Morning found me on the long flat Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. The day ended with a good pull up from lower - past middle - to upper Lyell Base Camp where I met an Explorer Post from the San Francisco area.

We also found a young boy in bad condition who had been left by his YMCA group when they proceeded over Donohue Pass. He was so sunburned he couldn't get in his sleeping bag. We finally were able to send a message with a hiker going to Tuolumne and a Ranger and horse came to evacuate him. I later received a thank you note from his parents.

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Tuolumne Meadows Approach

The John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails lead from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park south over Donohue Pass and Island Pass to Thousand Island Lake. Banner Peak is the pointy peak in front, Mt. Ritter is behind.

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Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak Views

At Thousand Island Lake there are many fine views of the lake and Banner Peak.

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The next day we headed over Donahue Pass.

The next morning one of the boys in the Explorer Post started off back down the trail toward Tuolumne and they had to chase him down and convince him to go on with them. We all finally hit the trail with wonderful views of Mt. Lyell and its glacier as we climbed over Donahue Pass and descended into the Rush Creek drainage.

At Thousand Island Lake I left the trail and proceeded cross-country toward a pass and Lake Catherine just north of Banner and Ritter Peaks. The lake still had an icy snowbank on its edge. In-route I passed a grave of someone who apparently died while on a trip in the area some years ago.

The cross-country route down the North Fork of the San Joaquin River headwaters was spectacular and exciting. There are a series of shelves and you keep worrying about ending up on top of a cliff - but a break always appears at the last minute. Evidence of mining operations add interest.

Toward the end of this day's hike I had to be careful in making the proper right turn up Bench Canyon. Two canyons joined the river at a point close together and I wanted to make sure I ended up in the right one. I over did it and missed them both by going down the left side of an "island" and made camp at Hemlock Crossing about 5 miles below my intended canyon.

The next day I proceeded along the steep valley slopes into Bench Canyon. As I approached its upper end it appeared that I was in a box canyon with no exit - but again, a break opened in the cliff and I made camp in good shape.

The next day involved crossing a "bouldery" pass next to Forester Peak and I took it slow. The views were great. Over the pass I dropped down toward the Merced River. Here I came upon a plateau which dropped off steeply to the river so I followed along the plateau until I intersected a trail near Lewis Creek where I made camp on some flat rocks after a tiring day.

I was beginning to tire of the lonesomeness of this trip so I charged on for sixteen miles the next day. Part of this was spent with some other hikers I met in-route as we passed Merced Lake and made camp in Little Yosemite Valley.

The last day took me back up the familiar trail to Glacier Point. Having completed my hike early, I took time to visit Sentinel Dome, the Wawona Tunnel and then drove the old one lane Tioga Pass Road (now replaced by a modern paved highway). This was a pleasant drive through scenic country including Tenaya Lake. I descended the narrow winding Tioga Pass road to U.S. 395 and proceeded to Mammoth Lakes and Devil's Postpile which I explored including a visit to Rainbow Falls before heading for home.

I stopped by the Devil's Postpile and Rainbow Falls on the way home.