John Muir Trail 2023 | Day 12 Evolution Meadow, crazy bridge crossing, MTR & Sallie Keyes Lakes 

Great video guys. I enjoy hearing your conversation. Lotsa humor. Love it. Keep em' coming.

What kind of camera are you using to video this hike?

Every nice video. And way to tackle that damaged bridge. Hopefully when I go in 2025 the trail will be cleared out from debris & the bridge fixed. Looking forward too the rest of your trip.

Something you may not have taken into consideration about the its size when you crossed the San Joaquin on the first bridge... Evolution Creek joins the river downstream from the bridge ;-) Enjoyed the video 🙂 I saw another video posted by a pair going southbound that claimed to be the last to cross the damaged bridge, as the Park Service was demolishing it the next day. That climb up to Sallie Keyes is a butt-kicker. I remember taking a little nap at the bottom to let the heat of the day lessen, but it was still very warm. I reached camp just before sunset, washed up and dove into my tent to escape the mosquitoes 😛 I'm betting you still had a good snowpack on Selden, as it sits in a narrow slot that gets a lot of shade. I made it from Sallie Keyes to the ferry landing with about 20 minutes to spare. I bet you'll find the prices similar to MTR at VVR, since they both have a long drive to bring in supplies (probably from Fresno or Visalia). I believe MTR is more of a resort than a camping facility, as VVR is. They have private hot springs there. There is a spring open to the public on the other side of the river, tho. Not sure if the employee meant theirs or the public hot spring. I remember reading rumors of VVR taking items from the hiker box and putting them on their shelves for sale. Not sure if it was true, but I do remember individual oatmeal packets for sale. Curious to hear your thoughts on the decent into Mono Creek. It seems most videos I see have the people taking the Bear Ridge cutoff to the dam.

Glad the bridge worked out for you. As for MTR, I've heard the same story for years, they're just not too hiker friendly there, but it's good you can at least charge your devices. I keep noticing Gabriel's Hyperlite pack, I think it's the Southwest model, but it looks like everything, especially the bear can, fits very well. I have an Osprey Exos 58, but trying to get the big BV500 in it doesn't really work. I'm considering getting a Hyperlite, but the only thing I don't like is the lack of ventilation. I'm wondering how happy Gabriel is with hers after putting in all those miles?

Did you guys use the Sawyer mini or the bigger size?

No coffee, Chris?! 😂

MTR blows...