General questions

imported
#1

As I begin to gather gear, here are the questions racing around my mind:

  1. Is the bear vault (clear, looks like a nalgene on steroids) approved for use on the JMT?

  2. Are there weather trends in the Sierras during July (daily ‘monsoons’ or anything of that sort)?

  3. Are ticks likely to be a problem along the JMT in July?

  4. How necessary are headnets? I’ve seen them mentioned, am wondering how bad the bugs get.

  5. Where are the best resupply points? (Best being defined as ease of use and reliability)

That’s all for now!

Tumblina

#2

1: My understanding is that it is approved. Most failures are user error - make sure the lid screws on until it clicks.

2: Some thunderstorms, but things dry quickly in the dry air of the west.

3: I don’t remember ever seeing any ticks in the high sierra.

4: Mosquitos will be a problem about 2 weeks after snow melts in any area. This year in July snow will be more of a problem than mosquitos in July (IMHO), but if it gets warm you may find the mosquitos. Given the weight of a headnet I would carry it this year.

5: Red’s Meadow and Tuolumne Meadows store are the only on-trail re-supply points. Both of them should be open by July, but you should check. We like Tuolumne store for re-supply. Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR) is probably the most reliable re-supply. Some consider it pricey, but it is so remote the prices reflect their costs. You can take their ferry across Lake Edison. They are very hiker friendly! Muir Ranch is another option, but it tends to be pricey and less hiker friendly.

Enjoy the JMT. It remains our favorite hike for scenic value per mile.

Ken
…GottaWalk

Ken

#3

  1. i used a bearvault last year. the only place along the JMT they are not allowed is the rae lakes area, and that is for the older ones. check the approved containers here. there was a problem with a bear opening some bearvaults last year, but as ken said is was operator error. the lid was screwed on wrong. here are two signs we saw last year: at onion valley and tyndall creek. after reading these, we assumed the bear in question was between kearsarge pass and forester pass. but i guess the popularity of the rae lakes loop is more of a problem area.

  2. i’ve never been to the sierra’s in july. last year we started the JMT on august 15th, this year i will be there on july 15th, but spending two weeks in yosemite. you could have snow anytime of year along the jmt. we had rain all the way from happy isles to sunrise, that was snow on muir pass and mt. whitney the same day. there is always that chance for afternoon thunderstorms, but i would be more concerned with the lightning.

  3. i did not see any ticks. a lot of time is spent above treeline.

  4. i’ve never seen so many misquotes in my life. i am so glad that i brought my headnet. they drove my friend grizzly adam into his bivy while we were cooking dinner. he got a headnet the next day at reds meadow as a belated birthday gift. this year is turning out to be a lot like last year. a lot of snow still in the sierra’s. i am not sure when the misquotes become a problem, but they are more of a problem in the wet meadows where they lay eggs. the higher you sleep the better. also, they go away as the temperature drops.

  5. our first resupply was tuolumne meadows(23.9). we did one so soon so we would not have to carry such a heavy load out of the valley while getting use to the altitude. they have a store and a PO. we stopped at reds meadow(57.3), they have a store that is expensive, but you can catch the hiker bus into mammoth lakes or mail yourself a package to reds meadow. next we had a box mailed to VVR(86.3). the ferry landing is about 1.5 miles of the JMT. while VVR does have a store. July will also be prime time for PCT hikers coming thru there. with the snow like it is, they might have stretched their food to the limit so the slim pickings at VVR could be non existent. right down from VVR is muir trail ranch(106.4). you can mail a drop there. the next to options are side trails. you can hike out over bishop pass(135.0) or kearsarge pass(177.9). we went out over kearsarge pass to go into independence. from there we hit up lone pine for pizza. took a zero the next and went to bishop to see galen rowells mountain light gallery. next stop mt. whitney and whitney portal.

this site has a lot of info, also, don’t hesitate to send me an email.

jerm

#4
  1. Contact Bear Vault. They have started a program to swap out the Bear Vaults and replace them with their new improved version that has been conditionally approved for use in the Rae Lakes area. In theory, you need to do the swap at a ranger station in the Rae Lakes area. But if you explain that you will be doing the JMT, they will probably allow you to make the swap in advance by mail.

sssssue