Sallie Keyes 2020

Wilderness: John Muir Wilderness
Trail System: Maxon Trail
Latitude: 37.2713
Longitude: -118.8743
Elevation: 10,197 feet

Trip Info

Unfortunately, I was unable to make the trip this year due to spinal fusion surgery. I will however do my best to add the info gathered from the group.

The Sallie Keyes Lakes are located in the John Muir Wilderness and is located off of the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. To get there, we took the Florence Lake ferry across the lake to the Florence Lake Trail. The Florence Lake Trail goes through Double Meadow and Blayney Meadow and follows the South fork of the San Joaquin River. The Muir Trail Ranch is also located along the way. The Florence Lake Trail connect with the Sallie Keyes Cutoff Trail and then the JMT/PCT. The Florence Lake trail section is 4.7 miles long. The Sallie Keyes Cutoff Trail is .9 miles. The section of JMT/PCT to Sallie Keyes Lakes is approximately 4 miles.

While the guys were hiking in the back-country, I was at home recovering from surgery watching the Creek Fire unfold. Fortunately, the Creek Fire was about 20 miles west of them but grew into such a large mass that there route home was cut off. They eventually sheltered at the Muir Trail Ranch until they could be evacuated by helicopter to the Fresno Airport.

News Article: California National Guard rescues its own from Creek Fire