SAMAYA x PATRICK MORILLON
JOHN MUIR TRAIL: IN THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN WILDERNESS
©Photography by Jacques André
Patrick Morillon, Jacques André, Joël Poncet and Bruno Jacoberger set off for the wilderness parks of the USA to complete the John Muir Trail, a legendary 420-kilometer race crossing the Californian Sierra from north to south, in total autonomy. For Samaya, Patrick and Jacques look back on an adventure rich in emotion and sharing.
What was the essence of your project and how did you approach it?
Jacques André: We wanted to follow in the footsteps of the famous John Muir, ardent promoter of national parks and virulent defender of the Amerindian cause. This route, which can only be undertaken after being selected by lottery, is renowned for its wild and unspoilt setting, following the leave no trace principle. We also wanted to share an experience with long-time friends, and for Patrick, who has already completed this route in 2019, to help people discover and share the American wilderness. Once selected, we had to present all the planned stages, prove our trekking skills, our physical and technical conditions, our knowledge of safety management and our theoretical and practical knowledge of the US wilderness.
©Photography by Jacques André
Patrick Morillon : All four of us are mountain professionals, and all had previous experience of long-distance routes. Although a certain amount of uncertainty is possible, we had prepared seriously to limit any possible setbacks. This route required us to be self-sufficient for 22 days and 18 consecutive nights in tents, including 3 refreshments, so that our 70-80 liter packs would weigh a respectable 20-22 kilograms. We imagined and quantified our meals and just had to buy them before setting off on foot from Yosemite Valley. All the scented equipment that might attract bears was stored in our "bear boxes". We had also anticipated the isolation, as we had no mobile network on the route, only punctually on the summit of Mount Whitney. In addition to our 3 solar panels and 4 external batteries, we carried two types of beacon in case of a serious accident: a Spot Gen III beacon and a Garmin beacon.
©Photography by Jacques André
Jacques André: We knew we'd be encountering potentially technical terrain: steep névés, fresh snow, fords. We opted for high-top trekking boots, mini-crampons, two carabiners and a sling per person, a light ice axe for the group and a 40-meter 4-mm rope.
Patrick Morillon: For our sleeping arrangements, it was imperative to have quality materials. We used the Samaya2.5 with vestibules, which optimize comfort, low weight, resistance to the elements and compactness. We were all used to sleeping in tents, we were all used to promiscuity, and we knew each other's characters. The only downside was being far from our companions, but that won't stop us from setting off again in the future.
Did you find what you'd imagined?
Jacques André: Field conditions were incredible, with excellent weather conditions, despite a snowy spell that allowed us to discover black bear tracks. The further we went, the more we wondered if we'd run into them! But the reality was beyond what we had imagined. We found ourselves in a world of no-man's-land, with the only human presence a path and a few small wooden sheds. A wide variety of landscapes opened up to us at every pass. We saw lakes of all sizes and changing colors, a concentration of varied rocks where the geology enthusiast becomes enthusiastic, original forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, worked by time, immense refuge for omnipresent fauna.
©Photography by Jacques André
Patrick Morillon: Many of the stages of this trail have left their mark on us. For Jojo, our 68-year old dean, it was the arrival at Mount Whitney at 4417 meters, the highest point in the USA outside Alaska, where we celebrated with a good bottle of wine, true to our French traditions. For Jacques, it was encounters with wildlife that knows no fear of man, his face-to-face encounter with a black bear, the wink of a gray fox, or deer inviting themselves 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 go further and further.
Has this adventure not only left its mark on you, but also given rise to other emotions and future projects?
Jacques André: Completely. I'm driven by the desire to prolong this experience and go back for even longer. Jojo, although he'd already done a lot of wandering in his life, explicitly told us that this experience had the power to change a man, like a resourcing, a beautiful burst of emotion. Patrick returned to everyday reality, letting what he had experienced "simmer" without talking about it too much, or even thinking about it. Soon, however, the call of the long, wild trail returned.
