Jogging the John Muir Trail: a trail runner’s account in the Sierra Nevada

The account is based on a start at the Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to run the John Muir Trail. The author says he did not obtain a permit for the closest south entry from Whitney Portal, which adds kilometres before tackling the 211-mile section.

For the stated period, the plan was to cover 237 miles and 42,500 feet of elevation gain in eight days. The author notes that the ninth day on his calendar allowed no flexibility for the eight-day itinerary, except by leaving the route.

On arrival, the author shares running figures: 260.1 miles over 8 days, and 87 hours and 33 minutes elapsed during the activities. He also breaks down the moving time, elevation gain, and the average weight of his pack.