Tuolumne Meadows, Pacific Crest

A short hike from Crabtree Meadows is the John Muir Trail. With its southern terminus at the summit of Mt Whitney, the trail descends its western slopes. Mt Whitney was named after Josiah Dwight Whitney, an American geologist whose extensive experience made him the foremost authority of his day in economic geology. On its summit is the Smithsonian Institution Shelter, a stone hut built in 1909 after a hiker was struck by lightning while having lunch. This shelter is a stark reminder of how wild and unpredictable this mountain can be, especially considering the tragic event that led to its construction.

The John Muir Trail merges with the PCT for a good stretch of 169mi (272km), and the beauty doesn't stop. There's no shortage of challenging terrain, either. The trail crosses at least eight passes that rise above 11,000 feet (3,352m), and I'm especially mindful of Forester Pass, the highest point on the PCT at 13,153ft (4,009m). The pass sits on the boundaries of Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. The higher I climb, the more the landscape opens up—clear creeks, crystal lakes formed by glaciers, and alpine vistas stretching forever.

I've been hiking through Sequoia National Park, where no roads interrupt the wilderness. It's just me, my boots, and the trail. There's something humbling about this place, where bobcats and foxes roam freely, and the towering pines stand like silent sentinels. The biggest highlight here, of course, is General Sherman, a sequoia tree so vast it seems to touch the sky. 

Continuing on, I enter Kings Canyon National Park, where the rugged beauty persists. The General Grant tree, named after President Ulysses S. Grant, stands just as impressively as its counterparts and, in 1926, was designated the "Nation’s Christmas Tree”.

As I push forward, the Sierra National Forest and Yosemite National Park lie ahead. With its famous granite cliffs, waterfalls, and rich biodiversity, Yosemite is a place I’ve long dreamed of visiting. The trek finishes at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite, alongside the Tuolumne River and the junction of Tioga Pass Road, the highest paved through road in California's State Route System. Once a pack trail for prospectors during the Gold Rush, this road became a wagon road by the mid-1800s, extending all the way to Yosemite Valley. I find a sheltered spot in the meadows, pitch my tent, and finally catch my breath. Reflecting on the journey, I realise the high point of the trek is behind me—but the adventure is far from over.