Day 20 - Sallie Keyes Lakes to Muir Trail Ranch...

This morning, the ladies left the beautiful Sallie Keyes Lakes area and headed towards the remote Muir Trail Ranch. Famous for their hot springs, the Muir Trail Ranch is a family-owned guest ranch. For over 50 years they have provided a haven for individuals, families, and groups to enjoy. The Muir Trail Ranch is also one of the most popular re-supply points along the JMT. It is the last logical place to get supplies for southbound hikers on the JMT before the end at Whitney.

Getting to the ranch takes a bit of work. You can drive to within 11 miles of it from the Fresno side but then you have to take a ferry and a mule to cover that last stretch. Of course, you can hike there as well or take the easy way out and fly in by helicopter to the ranch's landing pad. (I thought about flying in and surprising the ladies once again- until I figured out how much it would cost...)


Headed for Muir Trail Ranch...

Along the way, they crossed wet meadows, went down steep switchbacks and finally arrived to find their re-supply buckets that had been mailed ahead of time.


The "Bucket Barn" at Muir Trail...

Once the ladies had collected their re-supply buckets, they made camp nearby along the South Fork of the San Joaquin River and emptied out their buckets and started sorting.


Sorting supplies...

Now they had to figure out what went and what stayed. They had to fit 14 days worth of food into bear vaults designed to hold maybe 9 days. Some critical decisions were made as to what they took. The rest was given to the ranch as surplus for some other unlucky soul who's re-supply bucket didn't make it there...

That evening, they celebrated the up-coming Birthdays of Janet and Vicki which would happen on the trail. Nana made a birthday-cheesecake that she had shipped in her re-supply bucket. They also enjoyed a couple of bottles of red wine and other assorted libations that had been stashed in their supplies. A good time was had by all!