Late JMT-planning

imported
#1

Hi there,

I just booked my flight to San Francisco and would like to spend three weeks in Yosemite National Park from 5-29th of July.

I intended to go for the JMT but (not really surprising) no more reservations for the common trailheads (Happy Isles->Little Yosemite Valley, Happy Isles->Sunrise/Merced Lake Pass Through, Lyell Canyon) are available. How high are chances to obtain one of these “first-come, first-served permit”?
I was thinking of sending supply packages to the common resupply points along JMT without knowing whether I get a “first-come, first-served permit”.

If it’s unlikely to get one, does any one know an appropriate (trekking for approx. 20 days with tent and resupply points) alternative?

Cheers,
John

John

#2

In which shops in the US can I buy backpacking food (the kind of freeze-dried food)? May be anyone has a suggestion especially for San Francisco.

John

#3

If you show up early enough in the morning it’s usually not too much of a problem to get a “first come first served” permit. You’d probably need to get there an hour or so before the office opens, maybe more if it’s on a weekend. You might also be able to get a permit to enter via the Mono Pass trailhead, which is less crowded and will connect to the JMT. It’s also easy to connect to the JMT through the Ansel Adams Wilderness, via Rush Creek trail, Agnew Meadows, or Reds Meadow. You’d just need to get to Lee Vining or Mammoth to get a permit at the ranger stations there.

Also you’ll find plenty of freeze dried backpacking food at REI. In the Bay Area they have locations in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose and Concord.

Have a great hike!

Garrett

#4

@Garrett: Many thanks for this motivating answer. Just to get your suggested directions right, could you please check the following link. I searched all the locations, which you mentioned in your post, via google-maps.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Mono+Pass,+Twain+Harte,+CA,+United+States&daddr=Ansel+Adams+Wilderness,+Madera,+CA,+United+States+to:Yosemite+Valley,+CA,+United+States+to:Rush+Creek+Trailhead+Parking+Lot,+Mono,+CA,+United+States+to:Agnew+Meadows,+Madera,+CA,+United+States+to:Reds+Meadow,+Madera,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=37.83148,-119.654846&spn=1.232153,2.458191&sll=37.844495,-119.665833&sspn=0.615971,1.229095&geocode=FZh1RAIdvF7V-CmdCxOB8cuQgDHV_FTJU0QU5A%3BFWMbPwIdDC7l-CltQminOm-WgDGRzqdZNISv7w%3BFeXqPwId52rf-CmvY_I4_vGWgDFu4slULj8hGQ%3BFX2GQAIdSETm-CFGwYDnjeYIlg%3BFTsIPwIdWrPm-ClHc0aGq22WgDFgil8k9A4FkQ%3B&oq=Reds+Meadow&mra=ls&t=m&z=9

John

#5

I flew to CA in 2005 with three others and didn’t have a permit.

They reserve a certain percentage for walk-up. When I was there in 2005, you could get your permit the day before. So I made sure I was the 1st one in line and was easily able to secure a permit for Happy Isles->Sunrise/Merced Lake Pass Through. I showed up about an hour before they opened.

Jerm