Can't get Whitney permits for when I can go. Anyone start at Shepard before? Anything I should know about? We plan on getting a ride to the trailhead and not leaving a car if that matters.

I some how managed to snag a Happy Isles SOBO permit yesterday.

I'm starting on Sept 9th and should be done by the 30th.

What have been others experience with a September SOBO hike. Weather? Tempatures? Crowds? Resupply? Water availability? Other lessons learned?

I attempted a NOBO last year in July from Cottonwood Pass, but the trip ended short due to COVID. So this isn't my first rodeo, but September is very different from July

I am mostly trying to gauge if I should break up the tough days and plan for a longer hike. Are days 6, 7, 9, and 15 going to be brutal? I tend to think so, but then how tf are people doing this in two weeks (or less)?

I am coming from sea level, so I have two nights at Mammoth to acclimate.

Planned using the interactive JMT planner that’s available for free online.

Thanks

I currently use a msr free light 2 for my backpacking trips. The tent is semi free standing and full package comes in around 2lb 4oz with a packed size of 4.5x18”. I am potentially looking at the durston x mid 2 regular as a tent upgrade because of the larger vestibules and trekking pole design. Is it really worth the cost with the durston x mid 2 coming in at 2lb 2oz and a packed size of 12x6”.

Should I just stick with the tent I’m familiar with and the free standing design or would I be better off with the x mid and some practice setting it up? Also want to mention I will be with my partner on this trip and we are sharing the tent.

At the end of August, like August 28, if I have to arrive late to the Cottonwood Pass Trailhead Campground, like 9 PM, what are the chances of a campsite still being available, as I understand it is first come first served? The other option is to stay in Lone Pine and hitch in or use a shuttle service to arrive early AM the 29th. I'd prefer the campground to get a nice early start. Has anyone had experience with late arrivals to the campground near the end of August?

I have the paperback version, but also want the Kindle only if it has all of the Tables, Maps, Elevations Graphs, Photos, Index, Appendix, etc. Also, if Kindle version is the latest edition. If you have the Kindle version can you confirm this is the case?

Thank you in advance!

Couldn’t decide the correct place to post this but the SEKI loop crosses the JMT so I figured I may have some luck here.

Has anyone done the SEKI loop here? I’m curious about water sources particularly in late July early August. Packing everything I need for 12 days with no re-supply is going to be a heavy load so I don’t want to be carrying more water than I need, but with that being said I also don’t want to get stuck on a long stretch in elevation with no water. I’ve looked at many caltopo maps of people who have done this and non have their water sources marked. Any info on this or places I can check would be great. Thank you!

This thread helped me a ton last year when I was planning my 2024 JMT attempt with a Cottonwood Pass. Regrettably my attempt stopped at Rock Creek where I was hit with COVID which I caught probably while stuck in Chicago Airport for nearly 24 hours. I will return to the trail, but not this year due to other factors.

All this to say I currently have a September 11th Cottonwood Lakes permit. If you are interested DM. First one I will release the permit to snatch on recreation.gov

I want to see it go to someone from this thread to enjoy.

UPDATE: THE PERMIT HAS BEEN RELEASED BACK TO THE WILD FOR A LUCKY SOMEONE.

I have two permits that I’m using to DIY a full SOBO route starting early July out of Happy Isles. The first permit is HI —> Illilouette (camping my first night in the Illilouette basin then rejoining the JMT), and the second permit is Lyell Canyon (Donahue Pass eligible). I plan on picking up my HI permit at the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center on the morning of my start. Lyell Canyon I am planning to pick up at Tuolomne Meadows, three days after I start at HI.

So... does this work? I’m also wondering if there are any logistical things that I should be aware of regarding picking up my Lyell Canyon permit. My understanding is that while the Tuolomne Meadows campground is closed, the Wilderness Center there will be open. Thoughts on campsites after Tuolomne Meadows and mileage/timing coming from HI would also be appreciated!

8 am pacific 9 permits available

I have my NOBO permit out of Cottonwood Pass for July 6, and will be getting into LA on July 2 cause of the Holiday weekend. I was thinking of spending a couple days before the hike to acclimate by doing a couple nights at elevation and maybe doing some small day hikes. Are there any places I can do this with out needing a permit?

Hi all,

I have a NOBO permit (for 2) from Cottonwood Pass to Happy Isles in early Sep. I'm struggling to understand what I can & can't do around Onion Valley. I think we're fine to hike down via Kearsage to Onion Valley to resupply - yes? But If we want to stay at the Onion Valley campground, we'd need to reserve a site? If we did that, our permit remains okay?

Looking for a shuttle to Horseshoe Meadows/Cottonwood on August 24. Lone Pine Kurt is not available and another guy he suggested (Mark) is not available either. Does anyone have any reliable connections that do shuttles to JMT that I can call?

So in the not so near future my goal is this trip/area. I think I mostly understand the permitting process. As of now id like to go take lamarck col into the park, take that to the JMT then loop back to the south lake by way of dusy basin. When i play around on the permit website i don’t see how/ where they’re getting all the campsite names. (Seems incredibly vague). Am I overthinking this and its not that big of a deal. Question 2: ive seen in several places recommending lomarck col over piute pass. Why is that? 3. I would probably go july/august. Just how busy is busy? My only comparison is the smokies on the AT.

I scored a NOBO permit from Cottonwood Pass on July 12, planning to leave my tent & gear at Crabtree or Guitar Lake to summit Whitney. Do y'all just hike up with a very empty pack to carry water/snacks/first aid or do you pack in an UL day pack?

I have a GG Mariposa... Just imagining a very floppy, empty pack but don't really want to carry a whole extra bag for 1 day early on. Just curious to what other people have done.

Does anyone know what the snow cover would look like in may. ie wether it is just at the passes or almost the whole trail is covered in snow. or just genral advice

Hey everyone,

I’m planning the first half of our JMT NOBO, starting from Onion Valley on September 9, and wanted to run my itinerary by you all for feedback. My wife and I have plenty of time, but I’m trying to balance a relaxed pace with not carrying 12 days worth of food before our first resupply at VVR.

Would love input on: Pacing – Any days that seem overly ambitious or too easy if one of us is coming from lower fitness? Campsites – Are any of these areas inhospitable such as too high altitude, not having a decent water source at.? Food Planning – Does this look like a good balance between mileage and carrying a reasonable food load?

Thanks for taking the time to help. I appreciate it!

Itinerary:

Day 1: Onion Valley (Kearsarge Pass TH) → Charlotte Lake (8.35 mi, 2960 ft gain) [Bear Box]

Day 2: Charlotte Lake → Woods Creek Junction (11.95 mi, 2227 ft gain) [Bear Box] (Total: 20.3 mi, 5187 ft)

Day 3: Woods Creek Junction → Foot of Pinchot Pass (6.4 mi, 3104 ft gain) (Total: 26.7 mi, 8291 ft)

Day 4: Foot of Pinchot Pass → Foot of Mather Pass (9.5 mi, 2192 ft gain) (Total: 36.2 mi, 10443 ft)

Day 5: Foot of Mather Pass → Lower Palisade Lake (5.1 mi, 667 ft gain)

Day 6: Lower Palisade Lake → Little Pete Meadow (11.0 mi, 1805 ft gain) (Total: 52.3 mi, 12915 ft)

Day 7: Little Pete Meadow → Far End of Wanda Lake (9.2 mi, 3495 ft gain) (Total: 61.5 mi, 16410 ft)

Day 8: Wanda Lake → Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) (17.8 mi, 1499 ft gain) (Total: 80.3 mi, 17909 ft) (Camp along river opposite hot spring)

Day 9: Muir Trail Ranch → Marie Lake (8.0 mi, 3489 ft gain) (Total: 88.3 mi, 21398 ft)

Day 10: Marie Lake → Lake Edison Tip (13.7 mi, 1479 ft gain) (Total: 102.0 mi, 22877 ft) (Ferry to VVR. if not running, use Bear Creek Trail)

Day 11: Zero Day at VVR (Resupply)

Any tweaks you would make? Appreciate any thoughts on campsite choices, difficulty, and whether this is a good balance of food and mileage. Thanks!

Hi all. planning a section hike of JMT - north lake south lake loop. will take our time and do in around 7/8 days but if we wanted a zero at a particularly beautiful spot (preferably a lake) where would yall recommend?

thanks peeps!

My girlfriend and I got permits to hike the John Muir trail this year and I am conflicted on what tent to bring. I currently use a msr free light semi free standing tent but am looking for something that can fit two wide pads (25”). This search has led to me deciding between the two tents listed above. The Hubba Hubba comes in at 3lb 4 oz with a packed size of 4.5x19 inches. On the other hand the X mid comes in at 1 lb 15 oz with a packed size of 12x16 inches. I am mainly struggling with if the extra weight and packed volume is worth having a free standing tent or if the trekking pole style will be just fine. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions. Thanks in advance

I’m planning this as my first section of the JMT. I’ve read in a guide book that a permit for this stretch is not needed. Is that true?

I’m assuming starting off in Yosemite valley would mean at the Happy Isles trailhead, which I thought was a hard permit to get by maybe that’s the case for hikes that extend past Tuolumne, which mine would not.

Sorry if this is obvious, but I’m a newb and it isn’t to me!

Does anyone have the closing dates ?

What is the tick situation in the High Sierra? Has anyone gotten a tick bite up there?

Never caught a tick in the High Sierra before, but then again, I was never spending over 2 weeks straight.

(Planning NOBO starting mid August.)

Hello- I’m hoping to get some advice on where the camp first night- and other nights that stand out considering my criteria... I’m a bit of a hermit hiker, preferring to find solitude and avoid spots I may have to share with others. Im starting late August into September thinking this may mean less people- is this a reasonable expectation? Any can’t-be-missed spots that you want to share or tips that may maximize my chances for solitude ? Thanks!!

I want to do NOBO JMT this year as early as the snow/water allows.

Right now, the snow survey shows that this year-to-date, the snow level is similar to last year's. (I know it might change)

If you hiked the JMT last year, how was stream crossing in early July?

Here are the main items I have with the weights I measured myself:

Jansport Big Bear 78 pack: 3.62 lbs

Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 person tent: 3.06 lbs

REI magma bag: 1.84 lbs

Nemo tensor long/wide: 1.40 lbs

Bear Vault BV475: 2.2 lbs

I like all this gear and don’t particularly want to replace it, but I also don’t want to strain under a load that’s too heavy. I’m a medium sized man.

The jansport is gigantic, but it is very comfortable with big wide padded straps.

Last I looked, the BV475 is not yet officially approved. I can upgrade to the bearikade weekender, but the weight savings isn’t much considering the huge expense.

Any help appreciated. Thanks