Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
walk through shaded stands of cool pine trees with a few gentle rises thrown in to
break up the monotony of the descent.
At the juncture in Quail Meadows, a trail to the left heads across a bridge to
continue on the JMT toward Selden Pass. Instead, leave the JMT briefly and head
straight toward Edison Lake. Relatively flat and shady, the trail uses wooden plank-
ways to protect the more fragile grasslands. Continue 1.4 miles to reach another
juncture. The trail straight ahead travels the 4.8 miles to Vermilion Valley Resort,
skirting the northwestern shore of Lake Edison. Most hikers, however, choose to turn
left and walk another quarter mile to reach the ferry landing (7,720 feet). En route,
pass camp spots and lots of good slabs for sunning or lunching, with water cascading
over the rocks.
Ferries depart from this landing from June 1 to October 1 (seasonally dependent
on snowpack) at 9:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. for the 20-minute journey. Regular rates are
$10 one-way, $15 round-trip, although private ferry trips can be arranged in advance
through Vermilion Valley Resort. There is decent swimming near the northern outlet
that feeds into Edison Lake if you have to wait a while. Sometimes this area is
choked with fishermen, but it's invariably a friendly crowd, and a great place to
wash off the trail dust before reaching the relative oasis of great food, cold beer, hot
showers, laundry facilities, and general merriment of Vermilion Valley Resort.
Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) was established in 1994 by Butch and Peggy
Wiggs. It quickly became known as a home away from home for JMT and PCT thru-
hikers. While, sadly, Butch passed away in 2001, the resort has retained its open-
armed welcome to the weary and dirty that find their way to its rustic charm. Indeed,
they still offer a free bed and a beverage to all thru-hikers, along with one of the low-
est rates for their food-cache storage and delivery (see more
information on sending
food)
.
The general method is to start a tab at the front desk of the sundries store. Put all
your meals, showers, laundry, phone usage, ferry tickets, and beverages on a tab and
then pay with plastic or cash before you leave. Be forewarned, however, that your
tab can add up quickly! The general store has a small selection of vital items (food,
sunscreen, bug spray, bandages, ponchos, fishing gear, iodine tablets for water puri-
fication), but it's no full-blown equipment store. There is a scale outside the store to
weigh your pack—and many load theirs up for bragging rights here.
Loud and friendly, VVR is not necessarily a place of restful solitude, but for
many it's the perfect antidote to many miles spent hiking the quiet backcountry.
Campfires, drunken sing-alongs, and newfound friends are de rigueur. There is also a
frequently picked-through hiker's barrel with up-for-grabs food and clothing that
other hikers have unloaded or donated. If there are no tent cabins available, simply
