Motion Fan Hikes with SYMG

The John Muir Wilderness Trip

  • ABOUT THE TRIP:
    The John Muir Trail is one of the most famous trails in the world. It is 212 miles long, spanning from Yosemite to the North, following the spine of the Sierra Nevada, and eventually finishing on top of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States (14,495') to the South. We will be hiking the first "half" of the trail from South to North, beginning in the John Muir Wilderness at Florence Lake ending in Yosemite National Park, a total journey of 135 miles in one of the most scenic mountain ranges in the world. This 4-day section is in the heart of the John Muir Wilderness between Yosemite National Park to it's north and Kings Canyon to it's South.

    GROUP SIZE:  
    4-9 clients, 2 guides, 1 packer and 3x Motion crew

    GRADE:
    Moderate. This section of the JMT has moderate but challenging hiking in elevations ranging from 8,000'-11,000. All hiking is on trail and daily mileage is between 6-11 miles/day. You'll only be expected to carry small daypack with water, camera, light rain gear.

    EQUIPMENT:
    All camping gear can be provided; backpacks, sleeping bags, ground pads, tents, if requested You provide your personal clothing, broken-in boots and other personal items.

    MEALS:
    All meals are provided while in the backcountry, beginning with Lunch on Day 2 of your trip and ending with lunch on day 5 of your trip. We take pride in providing excellent meals even in remote surroundings.

    COST OF THE TRIP: Tier pricing allows us to guarantee small group departures as well as pass along larger group savings to our guests

    $1695.00 per person (8-9 people)
    $1795.00 per person (6-7 people)
    $1995.00 per person (4-5 people)
    *Note the prices above include a 200$ discount per person donated from the Motion production crew.

    Single supplements: $100.00 per person on requested single and $75.00 for forced.

    Cost of the trip includes shared lodging at the Piccadilly Inn in Fresno on day 1 arrival, food while in the backcountry, guides, permits, group gear, daily pack stock, private shuttles to the trailhead on day 2 and back from Edison Lake on Day 5.

    NOT INCLUDED:
    Meals while in the front country (including dinner on day and breakfast on day 2 at Hotel), alcohol, personal items, tips for mountain guides and packers. Optional trip cancellation insurance.

    PREPARATION:  
    Hike. The John Muir Trail is a committing trip where you have minimum mileage each day. You should be aerobically and cardiovascularly fit, and should train by working out, carrying weight, and hiking stadium bleachers up & down. Reading The Guide to the John Muir Trail by Thomas Winnett will also be helpful.

    ABOUT THE PACK STATION:  
    Mules will be carrying all of our equipment and your personal gear each day. We won't be hiking with the mules and perhaps maybe not even camping with them. Pack stock regulations change frequently depending often on grazing considerations. You will need to pack your personal belongings efficiently into one mid- sized compression sack. You'll be entitled to 15 lbs of personal gear. This doesn't include your tent, bag, pad. Weight is strictly enforced for regulations in this area.

    ITINERARY:

    Day 1: Arrive Piccadilly Inn Fresno airport by 5 PM to meet your guide(s). We will do a final gear check and discuss the details of the trip.

    Day 2: Meet our shuttle and get driven deep into high-country at Florence Lake, where we will meet our packer and stock for the trip. We'll then take a ferry across the lake to start our hike. The days hike takes us from 7325' at the end Florence Lake to the junction of the John Muir Trail/Sally Keyes at about 7800' over 6 miles by early afternoon. Make camp on the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Fishing for native Golden Trout, sitting in natural Hot Springs round out our first day.

    Day 3:  Today is a big one, so we'll have a hearty breakfast and start up Seldon Pass on the John Muir Trail. We'll have lunch after 7 miles and 2,000' climbing at the picturesque Salley Keyes Lakes. After lunch we'll finish the climb another 900' or so to Seldon Pass (10,880') and descend past Marie Lakes to Rosemarie Meadow (10,000') for the night. 10 miles total.

    Day 4:  You've earned a layover day exploring the high country of the John Muir Wilderness. Swim in Marie Lakes,. Seven Gables, and everything in between! Most through hikers on the JMT don't allow themselves the time to explore this incredible region!

    Day 5: From Rosemarie Meadows (10,000') we'll be hiking down across Bear Creek (8900') down to the mouth of Mono Creek at Quail Meadows for the night (7870'). The hike is another 11 miles.

    Day 6:  Hike out from Quail Meadows 2.0 miles in the morning to catch the ferry across Edison Lake. Lunch and our shuttle will meet us at the other side of Edison. We'll leave Edison about 1pm for the 2.5 drive back to Fresno airport area.

  • Please call the SYMG office with any questions ~ 800 231-4575

Back to Motion Fan Hikes