Day 7 on the JMT
Day 7 on the JMT.
Today was the day I would reach Reds Meadow, my first resupply point.
The mileage was short, but it marked an important milestone, a day filled with resupply, reorganization, and many realizations.
I headed toward Reds Meadow, my first resupply stop.
Even with a detour to Devils Postpile National Monument along the way,
it was a distance that would still get me there by around 2 p.m.
I didn’t feel any urge to rush, so I decided to take my time and stay the night at Reds.
Devils Postpile lies just north of Reds Meadow and was well worth the side trip.
Because it is designated as a national monument and accessible by car,
I also encountered a few tourists there.
The landscape is dominated by towering hexagonal basalt columns, rising nearly 18 meters high.
It felt almost impossible to believe that such a strange, geometric formation was created by nature alone.
Seeing it in person was far more impressive than any photo or video could convey.
Right on schedule, I arrived at Reds Meadow around 2 p.m.
After days on the trail, seeing cars, buildings, and signs of people again
gave me a distinct feeling of returning to civilization.
As expected, many JMT hikers had gathered around the area.
I checked right away and was relieved to see that my resupply bucket had arrived safely.
Before starting the resupply process, I decided to eat at the café first.
I remembered reading, during my JMT research, about a hiker who had eaten an entire large pizza by himself at this very place.
After days of continuous hiking, I now understood that kind of appetite all too well.
In the end, I only bought a canister of stove fuel and some jerky at the store.
I started repacking my resupply at one of the outdoor tables, but as expected, I had extra food.
I put several snack bars into the donation box.
I managed to cram five days’ worth of food into my bear canister,
but it still wouldn’t all fit, so some of it had to go into a bear bag.
As expected, my pack became bulky and heavy.
Looking around, it was easy to spot many ultralight JMT hikers just from their gear and overall vibe.
Compared to them, my setup inevitably looked large.
The HMG pack and the Lunar Solo tent themselves were ultralight,
but I was clearly carrying too much in terms of other gear and food.
I had brought extra supplies with a “just in case” mindset,
but it was obvious that I could cut things down more.
Including clothing, weight reduction isn’t something to do halfway.
I decided that from here on, I would carefully reassess every small item
and rebuild my core gear setup from the ground up.
After finishing my resupply, I hesitated once more about whether to move on or not,
but in the end, I decided to stay the night at Reds Meadow.
There was a hiker site inside a nearby car campground.
I assumed it would be empty, but two young female hikers struck up a conversation with me,
and we decided to split the cost and share the campsite.
They were from Toronto and had come to hike the JMT right after graduating from university.
At first glance, they looked like ordinary college students,
but seeing them out here on the JMT filled me with both admiration and respect.
They were hiking NOBO (northbound),
which gave us a great opportunity to exchange information.
They told me about the trail ahead,
and in return, I shared what I had learned from the section I had already walked.
Watching them repack their gear up close,
I was struck by how organized and efficient they were.
There was nothing unnecessary in their setup, and that left a strong impression on me.
It made me reflect once again that many people who take on a thru-hike like the JMT
tend to be smart, positive, and highly capable of managing themselves.
Regardless of age,
it reminded me that there is still so much I can learn from younger hikers.
It was a night that reaffirmed that realization.
With my first resupply complete, both my gear and my mindset were ready to move on to the next stage.
From tomorrow, I would leave Reds Meadow behind and return once again to the quiet of the trail.
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