Reaching the top of Muir Pass at 11,955 feet you'll see Muir Hut. Built by the Sierra Club in the 1930's to provide protection, it came in handy for me when I hiked through here on the John Muir Trail. On the second day of rain I decided to make a go at crossing the pass. About 15 minutes from the top a big cloud appeared over the nearby peaks. I started to hike as fast as I could, getting a headache in the process, as it started to rain and hail. As I reached the hut the door opened for me. Five other people were already there. After the clouds (and lightning) passed I started down the other side. On this hike the weather was great, at least for hiking. Bad weather makes for great pictures. Visit www.virtualparks.org for 360 degree panoramas of this area.

The park service does not want people camping here. Its for emergency sheltering only. They do keep it stocked with wood. If people were to camp here the area would quickly deteriorate. There is also no toilet and its quite hard to dig a hole in solid granite to go to the bathroom. Think what it would smell like if 5 people camped here every night.