Recommended JMT guidebook

imported
#1

I am planning to hike the trail,which is the recommended guidebook.I see there are a few.

English stu

#2

You could probably do almost as well with the Harrison maps, some online research, and no guidebook at all. Certainly don’t carry one the whole trip. But the Winnett one was accurate, if you want something to prep with.

markv

#3

I liked the Cicercone guide by Alan Castle better than the Winnett. I ripped out the trail description part and carried it so i could read ahead to what was coming up. I didn’t mind the extra 2 ounces.

weez

#4

I used the Cicerone guide and the Harrison maps. Worked well, except the guide led me to believe that there was a backpacker’s camping area at the Devil’s Postpile campground, and there isn’t. And take care around the maze of trails near Red’s Meadow.

Len

#5

The Wilderness Press book, just was updated this summer with a brand new edition. It is now being written by Elizabeth Wenk and Kathy Morey (Winnett no longer does it). There are far more pages then necessary because it is 2 guides in one. It gives you the same information twice, once written as a North to South hike and then it repeats as a South to North hike. There are some poor quality map pages included, but I would recommend the Harrison Maps instead.

I have the guide by Castle as well but it is a bit out of date. The one by Castle is written from the perspective of coming from overseas to hike the trail (which is interesting), but some of the helpful information given is no longer valid. The information on the hike itself is valid and the guidebook is much smaller (if you don’t want to copy/tear out pages) for those preferring to carry the whole book.

Miner

#6

Thanks for the information.I am going to get the Harrison Maps and check if they are enough for me.I can source more information if needed in Libraries and on the web.Knowing enough about resupply is going the be the main issue for me.From abroad it means you have a busy first day not least sourcing food ,fuel,onward travel to trailhead.

english stu

#7

Thanks for the information.I am going to get the Harrison Maps and check if they are enough for me.I can source more information if needed in Libraries and on the web.Knowing enough about resupply is going the be the main issue for me.From abroad it means you have a busy first day not least sourcing food ,fuel,onward travel to trailhead.

english stu

#8

I hiked a few days with a hiker from New Zealand and actually met him on the train in San Francisco. He did have to jump through some hoops on the first day but it all worked out easy enough. When you fly in, take the BART (subway or tube) into the city and head to the downtown REI store. You can get all of your food, fuel and such there. Then either stay at a hostel or hotel to pack up your mail drops, head to the post office, catch the train to Merced; bus to Yosemite.
Have fun!

weez

#9

What kind of food would you get at REI??? There kind of a rip off for that sort of thing. Just buy your food at a Grocery store. Mac n’Cheese and Instant Potatoes, Cereal, Low cost energy bars and Lipton Instant Meals are really the way to go. The dehydrated name brand stuff that REI sells is kind of a Joke meant for weekend backpackers and such. Also it costs so so so much when you could eat for less then a dollar a meal from a store and not be hungry afterwords. Though the Mountain House Lasagna is a treat for sure, just needs a pack of Idahoan Potatoes and some curry for some filler. If your starting in Yosemite you just need food for a couple of days, then do all the rest of your shopping at the grocery store in Mammoth Lakes. We have everything here, also like three outfitters. Even a health food store with some bulk food stuff. It will save you from carrying alot of extra food those first few days when the altitude is weighing on you. Cheers

Guino

#10

For a hiker coming to San Fran from over seas, REI would be an easy first stop for fuel, food, etc. But I agree with Guino that town food is best. Variety is great after a few days of Mountainhouse meals. Get some Big Sur bars–they’re the best! And if you go late in the season (reccomended) Muir Trail Ranch will have a lot of leftovers from hikers who didn’t make it there. I got to MTR on Sept. 11 and they had 3-4 full 5 gallon buckets of food for free.

And Mammoth Lakes does have some cool outfitters if you’re there.

weez

#11

The Cicerone has an “escape route” for each map. You could find these by just looking at the map, but the guide describes the trails.

rambler

#12

While I agree that most store bought dehydrated food is way too expensive and often tastes like crap, Enertia Foods is tha bomb!

When I hiked the Muir Trail in '06 I got to Muir Ranch for my resupply and saw all the xtra food lying around in those buckets I loaded up on a bunch of Enertia Foods meals including Switchback Spaghetti (with sun dried tomatoes). There was better in the leftover buckets than what I had sent myself! And I sent myself some nice stuff!

When I hike the Muir Trail again this summer - this time with my daughter - I’ll be carrying some Enertia meals. They are light and tasty.

Tinman at AntiGravityGear sells 'em for $3.99. Plus, he gives you a free cozy especially designed for the shape of the meal.

Happy Trails!

PS: Got the new Wilderness Press book. I like it. Big improvement over the guide from the English cap - whatever his name is. Not something I’ll carry with me though.

Jeffrey Hunter