JMT - Soda Springs

I can't believe that in all the time I've spent in various JMT news groups and forums, I've never heard of the Soda Springs Cabin in Toulumne.

For those who hike the JMT thru Toulumne (rather than staying on the other trail that does NOT cross 120), the trail passes within 100 yards of this cabin.
For those that don't know about Soda Springs, it's a natural spring that bubbles up carbonated water.

At least on my JMT thru, I recall walking right by a similar spring right by the trail between Cathedral Lakes and Toulumne, even took a short video of it because it looked so odd with the bubbles. But I didn't know at the time the water was basically carbonated water (the source of the bubbles).

I only recently learned about it from watching a PCT Thru hikers vlog.

HooKooDooKu,

Here is my video of Soda Spring...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2HUDaiRXP4

and I think I may have seen the other spring you were talking about...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNLcIazLxtM

How cool is all of this! I'll be hiking by there in September, and I'll certainly check it out, thanks!

Not quite big enough to get into, but a scoop of the water might provide a nice needed rinse off...

I’ve been to the soda spring and cabin on multiple occasions during Yosemite trips, but haven’t crossed the 120 to go there while on the JMT.

The official JMT goes right past Soda Springs. If you follow the trail signs labeled JMT, they will take you across Hwy 120 and not to the campground. Too many people use the bypass to get to the campground and store quicker which is a non interesting stretch of trail. There is a plaque by Soda Springs and the nearby cabin that explain what it is you are seeing. Here is a photo of the Soda Spring plaque. Yes that is snow on it as it was taken late September after 2 days of snow when I hiked the JMT SOBO in fall of 2017 (rest of the photos are here). The hike from where the PCT/JMT cross the highway again further east isn't that far from the store. It's always been a quick hike to and from the store from there every time I've done it.

I'll second Miners remarks. Some interesting interpretive signs to read as you walk along the edges of the beautiful meadow. People who skip the section on the other side of the road are missing out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Miner

... I hiked the JMT SOBO in fall of 2017 (rest of the photos are here). ...

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THANKS for sharing those photos! You hiked about a month later in the year than I will be, starting in a couple of weeks. Getting excited.

good share

Take a flask of scotch with you.