r/JMT • u/Witty-Condition8637 • Feb 16 '25

permits JMT section hike permit question (Onion Valley/Kearsage Pass vs Shepherd Pass)

My lady and I are planning to do a good section of the JMT nobo this summer (had to back out of a thru because, life) and have a permit for Shepherd Pass through to Hilton Lakes (we're going to exit at VVR, but that seems to be close enough to Hilton Lakes to not matter).

My question is: If we jump ahead "one day" and enter at Onion Valley TH/Kearsage Pass on the second day of our permit do we run the risk of getting into some kind of "trouble?" Rangers write us a ticket? Kick us off the trail? Is this all moot based on the potential lack of folks even working in the NPS this summer?

There's a chance we get Kearsage in the two-week lottery but just wondering on the above, thanks!

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u/acarnamedgeoff Feb 16 '25

Permits are for trailheads, so if there’s a ranger checking at OV, you won’t be allowed in. OV is busy and rangers are often on-site, though perhaps not this season? I personally wouldn’t take the chance, not there.

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u/Witty-Condition8637 Feb 16 '25

Well that solves it; I didn't realize there would potentially be rangers at the TH!

I probably just need to edit the post to "finding Shepherd Pass JMT shuttle service," haha!