JMT 2015.

[skunkboy]

Just got my permit for the John Muir Trail for August 1st, 2015. I put in at Tenaya Lake and am supposed to exit Whitney Portal on August 26th. I'm going lightweight, but bringing my rod and reel and a boat-load of flies. My question to you folks who have done this or something similar... any words of wisdom? Any divine nuggets of insight from walking the JMT or thru hiking? All replies and comments are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely and with best regards,

Patrick

[Hikin_Jim]

Ms. Ellen has done this a time or two as has Sally I believe. Perhaps they will weigh in. Of course Ellen's techniques usually draw blood, so...

HJ

[Sally]

Patrick, good to hear from you, seems like a while since you've posted! I did the JMT in the year 2000. I started at Happy Isles in Yosemite on September 1 and came out at Whitney on September 26, the same exact number of days that you have planned for. I often joke that I set a time record...for the longest time to complete the trail. We had a few layover days and did not have to push ourselves too hard to make it to our next destination.
The main thing that we screwed up on was too many food drops and too much food, which I sent back home. Suggested food drops (if still available) Reds Meadow, Muir Trail Ranch, and Vermillion. We had someone pack a food drop for us at Charlotte Lake. When they got there the ranger wasn't present so they just left the package in the ranger station with a note. When we went to pick it up he was REALLY pissed off at us because they have a policy of not holding food drops. I'm not sure where an appropriate place would be or if it was even necessary.
Have fun, you are wise to have an itinerary where you are not racing to get it over with! Take lots of pics. I kept a daily journal on the back side of the pages on my Tom Harrison JMT Map Pack (I highly recommend this map) and am SO glad I did. Sometimes I read it, and it always puts a smile on my face.

[zippetydude]

Arranging this sort of adventure is monumental...well done! You've picked a great year and the perfect day to start as well. Although it's unfortunate that it's a low snow pack year, that makes for a good JMT experience because you can actually find the trail (ask Ellen about that!). Also, by August on a dry year the mosquito population drops off precipitously in many places, so hopefully they will be low in numbers as well. Almost every year for the past 15 years I've gone up to Tuolumne Meadows for 10-14 days in early August, and I've explored most of the JMT from Tuolumne down to Red's Meadow. Stunning, absolutely beautiful terrain.

You asked for comments or advice, so here's a little tidbit I would offer. The first time I did Whitney I loved the trip, all the views on the way up were beautiful and it was an amazing route. On the way back down, I was taken aback - it was perhaps even more beautiful in that direction, and I hadn't thought to stop and turn around very often since I was moving in one direction. Since then, whenever I'm doing a loop, I make sure to stop every few minutes and look back and take in the view from both directions. It's quite natural to drop into the easy, rocking rhythm of the trail and go for miles without stopping and taking it all in. I now try to remember to do so, and it has helped me discover springs, canyons, meadows, and views that I would never have noticed. So remember to stop frequently and look around and take it all in in both directions along the way. You've allowed plenty of time, so I imagine you're already planning on doing just that. Anyway, just my 2 cents. Have fun, good luck fishing, and post pics!

z

[skunkboy]

Thanks folks for your encouragement and words of wisdom. They are greatly appreciated. Been planning this out for some time, and feel blessed since so many people can't get permits due to the popularity of movies like "Wild" and "Mile, mile and a half". Seems thru hiking is all the rage this summer. The Yahoo JMT website has been a Godsend. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/joh ... ons/topics I was originally going to Banzai it, and finish as fast as I could, but I now think I may just cruise it and toss my flys out in every lake and stream that strikes my fancy, and maybe bag a peak or two. Seems to be quite a few up there. Anyway... thanks again San Jac hommies.

Sincerely and with best regards,

Patrick

PS. Zipp... hope to meet you on the trail up there in early August.

[Sally]

I'm glad you were able to get a permit, Patrick. I didn't realize that permits were hard to come by this year. I work at a store that specializes in schnazzy backpacking equipment, and we are being inundated by people who have never even HIKED, let alone backpacked that think they are going to thru-hike the PCT! Trying to maintain patience while providing good customer service to these people is, well, trying!

[Ellen]

Howdy Patrick

GREAT to see you posting again You're going to have the adventure of a lifetime hiking the JMT

My words of wisdom -- although you'll have a schedule be prepared to modify it based on conditions and how you feel. Hike at your own pace.

My 2011 JMT trip report: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3120&p=27295&hilit=Ellen+JMT#p27295

My 2013 JMT trip report: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4271&p=36621&hilit=Ellen+JMT#p36621

Your conditions will likely be more similar to my 2013 JMT, but even 2013 had challenges (thunderstorms for 1/3 of the trip and smoke from fires).

Perhaps we can get in another moonlight Skyline this spring.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Florian]

Pat, are you going with Tom Blotter?

-Florian

[Hikin_Jim]

we are being inundated by people who have never even HIKED, let alone backpacked that think they are going to thru-hike the PCT!

Naturally, if one has never hiked before, one should choose a 2600+ mile hike for their first effort. Naturally.

HJ

[skunkboy]

Sally and Jim, one could only hope that those folks that Sally sold gear to at least break in their boots. It's only a month till the PCT'ers take off from Campo.

Florian, Tom's knee is all jacked up, so he's not up for this kind of epic. He is picking me up at Whitney Portal when I drop my car off, and taking me up to Tenaya Lake. He and another buddy may join me for a night or two either at Tuolumne or Reds Meadow. They won't be going over Donahue pass though. Yosemite is only allowing 45 people a day to go over the pass. This is what is causing such a demand since they are getting over 200 permit requests a day. Getting mine made me feel like I won the lotto.

Ellen, your trip reports are always epic. I hope the weather cooperates, and the mosquitoes, black flies, and bloodletting are kept to a minimum.

Thanks again folks for the encouragement and advice.

Sincerely and with best regards,

Patrick