Comments on: Thru-Hiking the JMT: The Golden Staircase and Mather Pass to Kings River

By: Jeff Hester

Jeff Hester — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 11:52:12 +0000

@Steve – Despite similar sounding names, Reinhold Messner (the famous mountaineer) and Reinhold Metzger (the JMT record-holder) are in fact, two different people. Metzger isn’t a mountaineer (that I’m aware of). His claim to fame is holding the FKT for the JMT for a while.

By: Steve Busch

Steve Busch — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 05:40:44 +0000

I believe it’s spelled “Messner”. And yes, he may be the strongest hiker/climber who ever lived. He used to hike/train in the Wind River range back in the early 1980’s. As a young man, I worked as a backcountry ranger in the north section of the Winds and I remember Messner day hiked from the Elkhart Park trailhead to the top of Gannett Peak and back out, which is a 40 mile roundtrip plus a lot of elevation gain. It was no big deal for him.

By: Amigo

Amigo — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 01:02:07 +0000

Hahaha..ol’ metzger just had to let you know didn’t he…”I think I should let you know who I am”… did he have a chance to tell you all about the good old days of hiking whitney in combat boots carrying him and his wife’s pack? What an odd fella for sure…but way to pound out those miles!

By: Jeff Hester

Jeff Hester — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 20:16:57 +0000

Leigh, I’m glad you’re inspired by our JMT series. One of the wonderful things about this trail is that — while rigorous and demanding — everyday people hike it every year. You don’t need to be an extreme athlete, just someone who prepares and is up for the adventure.

By: Leigh McAdam (@hikebiketravel)

Leigh McAdam (@hikebiketravel) — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 00:40:30 +0000

I’ve been going through a number of your posts and now want to hike the JMT. When is the big question but that landscape sure speaks to me,.

By: Oscar

Oscar — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 16:36:48 +0000

What an adventure, man! I’m catching up with your posts and this is pretty impressive. Sounds a bit scary at times but very cool. It has to be visceral experience.

By: Joan

Joan — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 00:52:16 +0000

That was a loooong day!