In September, the John Muir Trail sees a variety of weather conditions. Northern California starts off with predominantly sunny days, interspersed with occasional rain showers. Temperatures can reach up to 30°C and dip to 6°C, depending on the locale. As hikers transition into the Eastern Sierra, the pattern remains similar with mostly sunny weather, although rain becomes more frequent towards the latter part of the trail. Here, temperatures vary from 14°C to 32°C. Rain showers can be significant, particularly near mountain passes, but sunny spells dominate, ensuring overall favorable hiking conditions.
The trail begins at Happy Isles, where sunny days are prevalent, occasionally interrupted by patchy rain. Highs reach around 30°C, cooling down to lows of 6°C. As hikers move past Sunrise Creek and Lower Cathedral Lake, the weather remains largely sunny with infrequent moderate rain. Occasional cloudy spells provide a respite from the sun. Temperatures here are slightly cooler, with highs in the mid-20s and lows between 1°C and 17°C.
At Tuolumne Meadow, the weather showcases a mix of sunny and partly cloudy skies, with occasional rain. Temperatures vary, with maximums typically around the mid-20s and lows dipping slightly as the elevation changes. Donahue Pass and Garnet Lake present a transition where rain becomes slightly more prevalent, with showers leading to highs in the low 20s°C and cooler nights, making for a brisk hiking experience.
Continuing past Red's Meadow and towards Lake Virginia, the persistent sunshine makes the occasional moderate rain more welcome. Here, highs stay in the low 20s°C with nighttime temperatures dropping to single digits, maintaining consistently favorable hiking weather.
Marie Lake starts the Eastern Sierra section with predominantly sunny weather, sporadically marked by rain. Highs are noted to reach up to 30°C while lows can be as warm as 17°C, maintaining comfort for hikers. As you approach Muir Trail Ranch, heavy rain at times punctuates the otherwise sunny conditions, with temperatures ranging broadly from mid-20s to low 30s. Passing through McClure Meadow and Medium Lake, the weather remains varied, with sunny spells still prevailing and instances of heavy rain showering the trail.
Deer Meadow through to Taboose Pass Junction sees continued sunny weather with occasional rain. Night-time lows fall to around 0°C at times, especially near higher elevations. Middle Rae Lake and Center Basin Creek present sunny skies frequently, although rain showers occasionally break through. The passage through Wright Creek sees continued sunshine, with mild temperatures giving the promise of pleasant trekking conditions.
Concluding the trail in the Whitney Zone, hikers enjoy predominantly sunny days with rare rain encounters. Temperatures rest comfortably in the low 20s°C during the day and dip down as low as 1°C at night, making the finale at Whitney Portal a scenic and rewarding end to the journey.
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