Day 57: Iconic Muir Hut

June 15, Day 57: 827.4-845.4

Miles Hiked: 18

Gratitude of the Day:  I’m thankful to have arrived at Muir Hut. It’s been a dream long coming and I was never sure I’d ever be able to see it. 

Muir Pass

What a wonderful night of sleep. The waterfall right next to camp was like a “white noise” effect and I slept so well thru the night. I heard camp rustling bright and early, but I didn’t want to start out just yet, plus Clancy and Navi had made it to camp last night and we’d said we’d leave camp around 6:30-7am. I finally left camp and headed up the trail at 7:15 as they were packing their bags thinking they’d catch me soon and we’d hike up Muir Pass together, 11 miles from camp. Instead like most days, I hiked alone but what a day it was!

The morning I hiked thru the greenest of meadows with sheer granite walls on either side, picturesque is the best I can describe the gentle flowing stream and the buck deer grazing in the meadow, it’s like it was meant to be in a film. Then we started to gain some elevation but it wasn’t bad because I walked by waterfall after waterfall then the terrain would level out and I’d be in another peaceful meadow. This went on for miles, if it wasn’t a waterfall or a meadow that I’d come to it would be the most vibrant blue alpine lake, looking so inviting but the little bit of snow around the shores told me the water was freezing cold. Multiple breaks at these places just enjoying the beauty and the view back down trail showed an expansive valley I’d just climbed out of. 

Finally around 2pm I rounded a switchback and I could see the iconic Muir Hut that sits at the top of the pass as an emergency shelter at 11,969 feet. This hut is amazing, built in 1931, it has withstood driving winds and mounds of snow fall. Today it was basking in a sunny day with a slight breeze. 

 

I had lunch here with several hikers and soon Clancy would join me followed by Navi and Pony Boy. All total I spent 2 hours on top of the Pass enjoying the hut and the beautiful views. 

At 4 I decided to start down into the valley below, following the head of Evolution Creek, passing Wanda Lake right on the shore then dropping down and having dinner at Sapphire Lake, aptly named. Deeper into the valley the granite peaks on either side framed Evolution Lake like an Ansel Adam’s photo, I’d walk another mile to camp where Clancy and I are staying for the night. The sunset lit the valley below us and we watched the changing colors explode on the peaks around us. Navi and Pony Boy are a couple miles behind and the rest of the Salty Butt Bandits are around 11 miles behind. Clancy and I have decided to push the next two days to get into Vermilion Valley Resort a day ahead of the crew and take a proper zero there as we wait for them to catch up.