Ep 055. John Muir Trail Day 21 (Trail Series). Safe in Yosemite, Donahue Pass, and a Real Rest Day

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.After three early wakeups and back-to-back big-mileage days to outrun another forest closure, we finally made it to Yosemite—and slowed down for the first time in a while.We climbed Donahue Pass in the soft morning light, soaking in alpine glow and still reflections in the high-elevation ponds. It was stunning, peaceful, and (finally) wind-free.On the other side of the pass, we reunited with Twiggy for a few final miles together before parting ways again. Then we set up camp early—at 2pm!—and embraced an actual, honest-to-goodness rest day. Michael fished. Allison napped. And we both finally opened our Kindles.In this episode:Crossing safely into Yosemite after a stressful few daysGlowing alpine reflections and photo stops at Donahue PassReuniting with Twiggy and hiking into Lyell Canyon togetherOur first early stop and real rest dayFishing with a broken rod, naps, and reading timeThe strange joy of doing nothing on trailThe magic of warm-feeling creek water (maybe a hot spring?)🎧 Tune in to hear how slowing down gave our feet (and minds) a chance to recover—and why Donahue might be our favorite pass of the whole JMT.JMT Resources on the Blog:The Stress-Free Guide to John Muir Trail PermitsThe Ultimate John Muir Trail Planning Guide15 Reasons I’m Excited to Hike the John Muir TrailWhere to learn more about Allison:She Dreams of Alpine BlogInstagram @shedreamsofalpine🎁 FREE GIFT: Grab the Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit for FREE here to get started on your journey with backpacking.🥾 BACKPACKING COURSE WAITLIST: This is our signature program where we teach you how to become a safe, confident, and self-sufficient backpacker. It's an online course, coaching program, and community to support you in your journey to becoming a confident backpacker and step into your adventurous identity.