Ep 056. John Muir Trail Day 22 (Trail Series). Twix, Rangers, and Milky Way Magic at Cathedral Lake

The Adventurous Reinvention

Welcome to the John Muir Trail Podcast Series - I'm taking a little summer break from the podcast while I head off on some new adventures (and guide some epic client trips too!). But I didn’t want to leave you hanging—so I’m sharing something special: a never-before-released Trail Series from our John Muir Trail thru-hike.

Today was what trail dreams are made of: sleeping in, resupply snacks, stunning views, and clear night skies.

We started the day with our coldest night yet, not crawling out of the tent until the sun finally warmed us up around 8:30am. With only 11 miles on the docket, we took our time hiking from Ireland Trail to Lower Cathedral Lake, stopping by Tuolumne Meadows for a well-earned treat break—kombucha, chips, and a Twix bar.

We chatted with curious day hikers, got our first bear can and permit check from a ranger (who welcomed us into Yosemite like border patrol), and reflected on our little trail detours along the way.

After a short but steep climb to Cathedral Lake, we landed at a beautiful campsite under epic peaks—and capped off the night with an incredible Milky Way display.

In this episode:

• The coldest night on trail… and our laziest morning yet
• Kombucha, kettle chips, and people-watching at Tuolumne
• Getting pulled over by a ranger (and proudly showing off our permit)
• A short uphill to Cathedral Lake with Dorito-powered legs
• Reflections on trail purity vs. fun side trips
• Campfire chats, double dinners, and banana pudding
• Milky Way photography and a sky full of stars

🎧 Come hang with us on a relaxed, joyful day filled with creature comforts and starry skies.

JMT Resources on the Blog:

• The Stress-Free Guide to John Muir Trail Permits
• The Ultimate John Muir Trail Planning Guide
• 15 Reasons I’m Excited to Hike the John Muir Trail

Where to learn more about Allison:

• She Dreams of Alpine Blog
• Instagram @shedreamsofalpine

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