Start Date - John Muir Trail

imported
#1

Hello to all, Heading out to hike the JMT this summer and hoping that you all can give me your ideas on a GOOD start time. THANKS Buzz ( Home is where you hang your food bag )

Brother Buzz

#2

Let me add to my last post. I can start whenever but looking more to the end of Aug. so I can hike it with some freinds. Will it be to LATE to start ?? What do you all think ?? THANKS again Buzz

Brother Buzz

#3

hey Buzz, I’m also hiking the JMT this summer in late July, but I think late August is ideal as there are probably less bugs and less water flow for crossings. good luck!

zacariah

#4

We started last July 25 and took 22 days. We had virtually no bugs and the water supplies were adequate. We had two stream to wade, both of which were fairly easy to do. Last year was also a dry year from what we heard. You can get more info from our 2007 JMT journal.

rocky & swamp fox

#5

The past 3 years I’ve spent a lot of the period late Jul - early Sep in the Upper Kern area. Certainly agree with the bugs and stream crossing stuff. However, one aspect not mentioned is the huge number of people doing the JMT in mid August in particular. Last year, camped above Tyndall Creek for a couple days after nearly 2 weeks of isolation, I was amazed at the number of JMT hikers who passed by. Multiple groups every hour. Don’t seem to have nearly that much traffic in July.

booger

#6

End of August start date is perfect if that’s what your calendar says. If you feel there are too many people, consider taking the alternate routes through Yosemite, and into and out of Red’s Meadow, and also get in the habit of hiking into the wilderness 15 minutes or so to camp on your own. If you do those 2 things, and are hiking SOBO, you’ll only see a few groups per day on the trail. They’ll be more out there, but you’ll be moving “parallel” and won’t come in much contact.

markv

#7

In '06 we hiked from August 11-25. This year I’m planning a 18-20 day hike with my daughter starting July 21. The bugs in '06 were not as bad as I expected. They were worst just south of Donahue Pass and around Tully Hole. Should be interesting this year with the snow pack.

JH

#8

I hiked starting on Labor day and finished 20 days later. Yosemite was packed, of course, but afte that it was nice. The temps were perfect, stream crossings were easy and no bugs around. It was around 25 most nights above 10,000 feet and snowed some only at the end of my trip. I would go in Sept. again if I could. Have a great trip.

weez

#9

I started my north bound JMT hike in mid-August and finished the day before Labor Day. I saw very few people between Mt Whitney and Reds Meadow. From there on, the number of people increased, with too many between the spur trail to Half Dome and the valley. So if you want to by-pass the valley and crowds, start at Tuolumne Meadows at hike south. The number of people around Reds Meadow in mid-August would not be too bad.

Trihiker