John Muir Memorial Shelter
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hyperheidi
N 37° 06.594 W 118° 40.330
11S E 351426 N 4108371
One of the most well known huts along the John Muir Trail. It is now only intended as an emergency survival shelter as general overnight traffic is prohibited.
Waymark Code: WMCPD5
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 09/28/2011
Views: 8
The hut sits at 12,059 ft at the John Muir pass along the John Muir trail. To the North is Evolution Valley, aptly named as the landscape is primordial.
In 1930 this site was chosen for the John Muir Memorial Rest Hut, and the stones were collected and piled for the proposed construction. As quoted from the Sierra Club Bulletin Feb 1931: "Through the generosity of the late George Frederick Schwarz, the Sierra Club was enabled during the season of 1930 to construct a shelter hut on the summit of Muir Pass. This unique structure is built entirely of stone, including the conical roof. The design, by Henry H. Gutterson, San Francisco architect, follows a type of construction much used in the province of Apulia in the heel of Italy. It was first introduced into the United States through the Agnes Vaille Memorial, on Longs Peak, Colorado by Arthur A. Fisher, architect, of Denver. Mr. Fisher contributed the results of his experience through correspondence with Walter L. Huber, who acted for the Sierra Club in connection with the design of the shelter and organized the construction program."
"It is hard to picture fully the hardships experienced by the workmen. The shelter stands squarely on the summit of Muir Pass, between the watersheds of the Kings and the San Joaquin Rivers, at an elevation of 12,059 feet. Since it is several miles above all timber, fuel as well as building materials had to packed to the site on mules. All sand for mortar was packed nine miles, and during the last of the season even water had to be packed two and one-half miles. The trip from the end of the last road took four days, and much of the time an alternate trip had to be made between each regular trip of the pack train to bring fuel up from the nearest timber supply. It is then not surprising that the packing cost exceeded all other costs. The costs of this construction, which is quite without precedent, are of interest and are therefore quoted:"
Labor and Stone masons= $1353.00
Pack animals= $990.00
Packers= $2009.00
Materials=$784.07
Commissary/Food=$543.30
Other/Medical/insurance=$131.11
Total cost for Muir Shelter= $5810.48 in 1930
The Shelter was paid for by the generous donation by Sierra Club Member, George Fredrick Schwarz, who died on January 1, 1931.
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