JMT 2004 - John Muir Trail

imported
#1

Just wanted to know who is thinking about hiking this year. I was thinking about going south, what about everyone else?

Leif

#2

Welcome to the west coast!

Ken and I have hiked both directions and think going south is a bette way to go. You start lower and passes get progressively higher so you have time to acclimatize on the trail. We have a profile map that will give you a better idea. If you want, we can e-mail it to you.

We live near San Franciso and have talked to two groups that are in the planing stages for July hikes. I just read that Mountain Travel Sobek is guiding a trip with mules so hikers will only carry day packs. It sounds like a busy place this summer.

If you hike south in mid to late June you will see all the NoBo PCTers and have fantastic water crossings. Today’s local paper said that Sierra snow is above average right now.

Wow, go for it and have a fantastic time!!

Marcia

#3

My partner and I live in the East Bay,and he wants me to do the JMT with him.He has hiked it once a couple years ago with his wife.I’ve only hiked portions of the JMT coming out of Yosemite Valley.He mentioned hiking it going south, because you finish up with Mt Whitney.The JMT profile is kinda scarey in that it looks like the heart beats of someone on a monitor.Leif,Are you going to have your hike posted in the journal?If so,I’ll keep track of your progress.
Have a great hike and good luck. :cheers

Bill Harrisvac

#4

I started planning my trip SOBO to begin on 8/21. This will avoid the worst part of the mossys and fast fords. I may skip the start at Happy Isle (I’ve done the long parade up the Mist Trail before!) and begin in Tuolumne. I’m not much of a purist. Now I just have to spend the next several months getting in condition. When are you planning to go?

Just Sit

#5

Thinking about the JMT this summer. Did the Thaoe Rim last summer. I live is the Sacramento area and it is just a hop to get down there. Might start sometime in the later part of July. Drop me a note about going or groups that are planning a trip this summer.

TUT

#6

There are still a lot of decisions to be made, and things to work out, but I would really like to get a hike in this year. If I do hike I will post a journal… I am thinking about starting in late August or early September. We will see what happens, but I did order some planning books.

Leif

#7

My wife & I will be hiking it southbound this year, leaving Happy Isles on July 10. Already got the permits reserved. I figure somewhere around Selden pass will be a great place for my 40th birthday party!!

Viabledaddy

#8

Leif, first off, nice job with the websites. When I had lost all faith in the internet…I found Trailjournals!!

I hiked it south in 2002. Started in Happy Isles on Sept 5th or something. Alot of the hikers we had met started at Tuolomne Meadows (cuts out that grueling 6000ft from the Valley floor to the Cathedral Peak valley). What a trail!! Best I’ve seen yet.

Ross

Ross

#9

The only thing I know is Liteshoe’s group is talking about a 9/1 start. I’m pretty sure we’re looking at SOBO. Blaze did a nice journal on it this past year. Like you said there’s a lot to work out…I haven’t even sent for the book(s) yet. Everyone says the scenary is incredible.

Skeemer

#10

Christopher Robin and I hiked southbound in 2002. I’ll get my journal up soon so you can take a look if you want. And feel free to e-mail with any questions. Heading south gives you a chance to get acclimated since the passes get progressively higher as you go, and the trail gets more rugged and beautiful as well. (When you are at Garnet Lake watching the sun rise with Ritter and Banner reflected in the lake, you may find that hard to believe, but it really is true!) We’re hoping to do the trail again this year (with our baby, Roo), and will be heading south again.

Kanga

#11

Hey Lief, good work on the site. It’s a great resource.

I’m planning a SOBO starting in early Sept. SOBO seems the logical way to go for the reasons already mentioned. I’m tentatively planning to start the day after Labor Day to avoid the crowds as much as possible. Also horsepackers - their season will be over, so fewer fresh horse douvers to kick around and excite the olfactory system. My only concern is the deterioration of the weather as Sept progresses. I’m thinking of tarping, but the above combined with the high and exposed nature of the southern section is a concern. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Jim McEver

#12

Just checking in on this forum. Leif I’m delighted to learn you’re checking the JMT out too. Everyone who has hiked it sighs and gets all misty-eyed.

I could leave as early as mid-August, or the last week, but that’s a decision for my buds, esp. the esteemed Skeemer who has promised to hike slower for once so we can trade daily insults and bon mots. (That’s bon mots, Skeemie, not bon-bons).

And if Ken and Marcia say to hike south, I’m listening! You should hear them go on about how to pack a bear canister (a repeat might be in order). How far in advance do we need to get permits for a mid-August start? How is water that time of year? Are the sources lakes and streams, or springs or both?

Jan LiteShoe

#13

I would like to section hike the entire PCT over the next two or three years. If it turns out that I can only do one section, then I want it to be the JMT section. It’s possible that I will be there the same time most of you folks will be. Hope to see you out there! Got my fingers crossed!

Take five

#14

JMT timing. Watch the weather if you are southbound beginning late August/early September. Thunder & lightening storms, snow and freezing conditions are not unusual particularly at altitude. I was a day late getting over Whitney in late August when a thunder/snow storm developed while I was at Crabtree. I felt sorry for those hikers using tarps rather than tents. Typically you would want to be over each pass before 3pm or so as most of the weather develops in the mid afternoon then clears as night approaches.

Lo&Slo

Lo&Slo

#15

I’ll Probably be hitting the trail around the 10th-20th of July depending on snowfall. I’ll get my permit a bit late, but I’m going solo, and can leave on any day of the week. I’ll be south bound and will depart from Glacier Point hiking the panorama trail to meet up with the JMT above Nevada Falls. I’ve hiked happy isles to Nevada Falls about a dozen times, but never hiked out of Glacier Point.

It should take me about 16-17 days with a stop at Vermillion and some fishing along the way. I plan to take the advice from thru-hiker.com about “thru-fishing” the JMT. My Pack’s base weight should be around 18lbs now that I finished making my sil-nylon tarp. I plan to cook the fish in foil over an open flame to avoid taking a pan :slight_smile:

Should be a good run! I’m very very excited!!!:cheers

Thinair

#16

What’s the deal with permits? How far in advance should they be gotten. Any info out there?

Jan LiteShoe

#17

The sooner the better! I heard it is much easier to get them for south bound vs north bound because you have to compete with Whitney only hikers who clog the trailhead out of Whitney Portal. I think there is another place to join the trail south of Whitney but I don’t know the name of that trailhead.

Be flexable if you can’t get the permit for a particular day than try the next.

Thinair

#18

JMT.My vacation time would be late july/early august.I havent really backpacked for 10 years so would probably do a slow 10/12 miles and enjoy time in the Mts.I wouldnt mind bumping into some others for a few days hiking.Anyone have advice on getting to yosemite from LA or SF airports?I have taken Amtrak to yosemite before and they have shuttle connections to the park.

Newb

#19

If you can fly into Fresno there is a bus (VIA Bus Service) that will take you into the park. Three hour ride for $20 (might be more now). We flew into Fresno, spent the night in the hotel across the street from the airport and caught the bus the next morning. The hotel let us leave a duffle bag there while we were hiking. Caught a local shuttle in Lone Pine that took us back to Yosmite after the hike. I don’t think that shuttle runs anymore, Kountry Korner shuttle or something like that. I think there might be a Grayhound stop in Lone Pine.

Bohemian

#20

And if you get a flight into Fresno, I live in Fresno and plan to start my hike between July 11-17 I could get you to the park if your interested in those start dates. Let me know :cheers

Thinair