Oh to be young again....

Came across this photo and it brought back many fond memories. This is basically the start, (at the bottom of the photo), to the John Muir Trail which I hiked in 1993. About 250 miles. Took me 3 weeks, well 22 days. But I was in no hurry.

The actual first step on the trail is just off the photo on the lower left. You hike over the lower waterfall, (Vernal Falls), then across the top of the upper waterfall (Nevada Falls middle of the photo). The trail then proceeds to the left, (north), and out of the photo. Then it heads east for a ways and finally turns south headed to Mt. Whitney - the end of the John Muir Trail. The trail is headed south just beyond the tallest mountain you can see in this background of this photo (My. Lyell). I took a side trip off the John Muir Trail to climb Mt Lyell and NO... it's not like ropes and stuff... you can hike up it but it's not for the light-hearted. Quite dangerous in places.

About that lowest Waterfall... Vernal Falls. I carried, on my back, all three of my kids and then all 7 of the grandkids to the top of it. (at separate times. ) It's called the 'mist trail' and depending on the time of year you hike it you'll get soaked.

I've also hiked several other trails in this photo... all the canyons and been atop nearly all, not quite all, of the peaks.

If there is anything I wish I was still capable of it would be backpacking, and visiting these locations in the Sierra Nevada Mountain... not sports, not even my 'dating days' although that would be close. I can still reach some places... top of both of these falls for example, the long treks and the highest peaks... well, those will have to remain memories. - JamesJM