SAMAYA x PATRICK MORILLON
JOHN MUIR TRAIL: IN THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN WILDERNESS
©Photograph by Jacques André
Patrick Morillon, Jacques André, Joël Poncet, and Bruno Jacoberger flew off to the wild parks of the United States to complete the John Muir Trail, a legendary 420-kilometer route crossing the Californian Sierra from north to south, in total autonomy. For Samaya, Patrick and Jacques reflect on this adventure, rich in emotions and shared experiences.
What was the essence of your project, and how did you approach it?
Jacques André: We wanted to walk in the footsteps of the famous John Muir, an ardent promoter of national parks and a fierce defender of the Native American cause. This trail, which can only be undertaken after being selected by a lottery, is recognized for its wild and preserved environment, following the "leave no trace" principle. We also wanted to have an experience with long-time friends, and for Patrick, who had already covered this route in 2019, to help us discover and share the American wilderness. Once selected, we had to present all the planned stages, prove our trekking skills, our physical and technical condition, our safety management expertise, and our theoretical and practical knowledge of the US-style wilderness.
©Photograph by Jacques André
Patrick Morillon: The four of us are mountain professionals and had all had previous experience on long-distance routes. Although a share of uncertainty is always possible, we had prepared ourselves seriously to limit any potential setbacks. This route requires being self-sufficient for 22 days and 18 consecutive nights in tents, with 3 resupply points allowing us to keep our 70 to 80-liter backpacks at a respectable weight, around 20 to 22 kilograms. We imagined and quantified our meals and just had to buy them before setting off on foot from Yosemite Valley. All odorous equipment that could attract bears was stored in our "bear canisters." We had also anticipated the isolation, as we had no mobile network on the route, only sporadically on the summit of Mount Whitney. In addition to our 3 solar panels and 4 external batteries, we had brought two types of beacons in case of a serious accident: a Spot Gen III beacon and a Garmin beacon.
©Photograph by Jacques André
Jacques André: We knew we were going to encounter terrain conditions that could be technical: steep snowfields, fresh snow, and stream crossings. We opted for high-cut trekking boots, mini crampons, two carabiners and a sling per person, a light ice axe for the group, as well as a 40-meter, 4-millimeter rope.
Patrick Morillon: For our sleeping arrangements, it was imperative to have quality equipment. We used the Samaya2.5 tents with vestibules, which optimize comfort, low weight, resistance to climatic elements, and compactness. We were all used to sleeping in tents and to the close quarters, and we knew each other's characters. The only drawback, mentioned with a wink, was being far from our partners, which won't stop us from heading out again in the future, however.
Did you find what you had imagined?
Jacques André: The terrain conditions were incredible with excellent weather, despite a snowy episode that allowed us to discover black bear tracks. The further we went, the more we wondered if we would eventually run into them! We were satisfied, because the reality was beyond what we had imagined. We found ourselves in a "no man's land" universe where the only human presence was a trail and a few small wooden cabins. A great diversity of landscapes opened up to us at each mountain pass. We saw lakes of all sizes and changing colors, a concentration of varied rocks where the geology enthusiast becomes truly excited, primeval forests of deciduous trees and conifers, worked by time, a vast refuge for ever-present wildlife.
©Photograph by Jacques André
Patrick Morillon: Many stages of this trail left a mark on us. For Jojo, our 68-year-old senior, it was the arrival at Mount Whitney at 4,417 meters, the highest point in the USA outside of Alaska, where we celebrated with a good bottle, true to our French traditions. For Jacques, it was the encounters with wildlife that does not fear humans: his face-to-face meeting with a black bear, the wink of a gray fox, or even deer joining us around our campfire. For me, it was seeing my friends happy, their eyes sparkling or misty with emotion at every step, and their desire to always go further.
Besides marking and touching you, has this adventure given rise to other emotions or future projects in you?
Jacques André: Absolutely. I am filled with the desire to extend this experience and to set off for even longer. Jojo, although he has traveled quite a bit in his life, explicitly told us that this experience was enough to change a man, like a renewal, a beautiful surge of emotion. Patrick returned to daily life by letting what he had experienced "simmer" without talking too much about it, or even thinking about it. However, very quickly, once the reflection phase was over, the call of long, wild trails returned.
