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John Muir Trail -- August 24, 2016
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John Muir Trail
Camp along Bubbs Creek after the others departed (view N)

Day 8. Backpacking Day 7.
Bubbs Creek to Kearsarge Lakes

I was up early with my camp guests, but as they headed south early, I hobbled around camp trying to loosen up my shin. I decided to do a short 3-mile day to let my leg rest and hopefully begin to recover. Hikers who had experienced shin splints before said there was nothing to do except rest.

I slowly hiked down Bubbs Creek about 2 miles and stopped at Vidette Meadow, a good place to spend the night. I soaked my leg in the creek, but by lunchtime however, I decided that I needed to get out and sent Liz a satellite message to please come and pick me up in two days. With the aid of cold water, trekking poles, and drugs, I could move, so I decided that I needed to move while I could.

John Muir Trail
Trail in the woods along Bubbs Creek (view N)

I continued down along Bubbs Creek to a trail junction in Lower Vidette Meadow. Turning uphill, I continued on the JMT climbing steeply out of Bubbs Creek Valley. The trail was steep, but there was a stream crossing about halfway up that provided more leg-soaking time. Fortunately, hiking uphill was more comfortable than hiking downhill.

Continuing, I hobbled up steep trail to a junction that would lead east and out over Kearsarge Pass. I rested up for more than an hour (soaking in the creek), then decided to press on figuring that I could find a nice campsite away from the crowed JMT.

To my surprise, it was another 2 miles before I found a suitable campsite at Kearsarge Lakes. There, I met some nice people, one of whom let me use his Delorme Satellite Communicator to send Liz a text message that I'd be out the next afternoon.

JMT Backpack
Rocks and trees along Bubbs Creek (view N)
JMT Backpack
Meadow along Bubbs Creek (view N)
JMT Backpack
Looking back up Bubbs Creek (view S)
JMT Backpack
Gate to block run-away stock (view N)
JMT Backpack
Looking back up waterfall on Bubbs Creek (view SW)
JMT Backpack
Approaching 10,000-ft elevation sign (view N)
JMT Backpack
10,000-ft elevation sign (view S)
JMT Backpack
Camp area at Vidette Meadow (view NW)
JMT Backpack
The trail climbs steeply over the saddle (view N)
JMT Backpack
Trail in the woods (view N)
JMT Backpack
Bubbs Creek (view SW)
JMT Backpack
Wildflower on edge of Bubbs Creek
JMT Backpack
Bubbs Creek (view NW)
JMT Backpack
Trail junction; JMT turns right (view W)
JMT Backpack
Sign at trail junction (view NE)
JMT Backpack
Switchback climbing out of Bubbs Creek Valley (view W)
JMT Backpack
View towards Kearsarge Pass (view E)
JMT Backpack
Sunny trail climbing across hillside (view E)
JMT Backpack
Shady trail (view E)
JMT Backpack
Small stream seeping across trail (view NE)
JMT Backpack
Grand scenery (view S up Bubbs Creek Valley)
JMT Backpack
Trail crossing rocky hillside (view NE)
JMT Backpack
Looking back down Bubbs Creek (view W)
JMT Backpack
Grand scenery (view S up Bubbs Creek Valley)
JMT Backpack
Stream with water to soak the shin (view SE)
JMT Backpack
Extremely steep trail (view NW)
JMT Backpack
JMT-Kearsarge Pass trail junction (view NE)
JMT Backpack
JMT-Kearsarge Pass trail junction sign (view NE)
JMT Backpack
JMT-Kearsarge Pass trail junction sign (view W)
JMT Backpack
Jim departing the JMT (view W)
JMT Backpack
Mule deer in small meadow near trail junction (view SE)
JMT Backpack
First Lower Bullfrog Lake (view E; no camping)
JMT Backpack
Second Lower Bullfrog Lake (view E; no camping)
JMT Backpack
Bullfrog Lake (view E; no camping)
JMT Backpack
Kearsarge Pass above Bullfrog Lake (view E)
JMT Backpack
Hobbling along rocky trail (view E)
JMT Backpack
Bullfrog Lake (view S towards Upper Bubbs Creek Valley)
JMT Backpack
Bullfrog Lake (view S towards Upper Bubbs Creek Valley)
JMT Backpack
Campsite at Kearsarge Lake (view S)
JMT Backpack
Kearsarge Pass (view NE)
JMT Backpack
Kearsarge Lake (view SE)
JMT Backpack
Kearsarge Lake (view SW)
John Muir Trail
Kearsarge Lake (view S)
John Muir Trail
Camp Kearsarge Lake (view E to Kearsarge Pass)

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 170207

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