ScenicScape

John Muir Trail Hike
Off The Grid | Nature | Thru Hike | 210 miles | Sep-Oct
Yosemite NP - Ansel Adams Wilderness - John Muir Wilderness - Kings Canyon NP - Sequoia NP - Mt Whitney (14505ft)

 

 

Trail Map

source: mercurynews


source: johnmuirfoundation.org

 

JMT 2019 Permit

JMT Permit Lottery Application: https://yosemite.org/yosemite-wilderness-permit-request-form/

  • Selected Lyell Canyon Trail Head to maximize chances of getting a permit for 2 hikers.
  • Got September-21 Start Date which turned to be absolutely perfect! No bugs. Low streams. Fall colors.
  • Got 22-days permit but finished in 16days with one Zero Day.
  • Looking back we should have slowed down for a 18 or 20day hike with more ZeroDays to enjoy nature!

 




 

Itinerary

 

Hike Gear

 

Food

 

 Breakfast
  • Oats + Raisins + milkpowder - one serving in a ziploc
  • Nestle Hot Chocolate packets
 Snacks
  • Cliff Bars (2)
  • Pop Tarts (2)
  • Trail mix nuts in ziplock
  • Energy chews
 Dinner
  • One serving of Idahoan mash potato powder + dried beans + Fritos Corn Chips + chili hot sauce packet in a ziploc
  • Lipton Cup-a-Soup packets (2) + chili sauce packet in one ziplock
  • Mountain House Freeze dried dinner carried in a ziploc. Worth the cost to reduce critical pack weight.
  • Sprinkle Fritos in to each of the food Ziplocks. You will relish the crunch!
 Emergency
  1. Datrex Emergency food bars (2 pieces are enough)
 Notes
  • Minimum 4days supply beteen refill spots until MTR
  • Minimum 8days supply (ideally 10days) for final MTR to Mt Whitney section.
  • Use only freeze dried food to reduce very critical pack weight! Well worth the cost.

 

 

Resupply

 

Scenic Gems

 

Find ways to adjust schedules to camp at these sites to catch sunrise/sunsets.

 

  1. Sunset/Sunrise at Marie Lake (10600ft)
  2. Sunset/Sunrise at Lake Virginia (10344ft)
  3. Sunset/Sunrise at Rae Lake (10500ft)
  4. Sunset/Sunrise at Palisades Lake (10500ft)
  5. Sunset/Sunrise at Garnet Lake (9680ft)
  6. Sunset/Sunrise at Thousand Island Lake (9850ft)
  1. Tuolumne Meadows through Lyell Canyon to Donahue Pass
  2. Marie Lake to Seldon Pass to Heart Lake to Sallie Keys Lake to Muir Trail Ranch
  3. Aspen Meadow to Evolution/Colby/McClure Meadows to Evolution Lake to Muir Pass
  4. Big Horn Plateau to Wallace Creek
  5. Trail to Mt Whitney
  1. View from Silver Pass
  2. View from Seldon Pass
  3. View from Mt Whitney

 

 

Trail Friends

 

  1. RED Pablo and Andrea at Rainbow Falls Trail Head. Thanks for the ride!
  2. RED Gretchen and Chris at Reds Meadow campground. Thanks for the fresh grapes!
  3. VVR Rose (front desk). Thanks for all the help!
  4. VVR Peter (ferry boat captain). Enjoyed discourse on world geopolitics!
  5. PCT Lucky and Nails at VVR and Bear Creek Trail
  6. PCT Chetan (Chef) at VVR and Guitar Lake
  7. PCT Tibet and Soups at VVR, Glenn Pass, Forrester Pass and Guitar Lake
  8. PCT ScotchTape at Donahue Pass
  9. PCT Goldilocks on trail past Reds Meadow
  10. PCT Hazmat and friend from Vancouver, Canada at MTR.
  11. PCT hiker from Pennsylvania at MTR. Veteran of the Appalachian Trail!
  12. PCT BarbecueSauce and Leftovers at Muir Pass Muir Hut
  13. PCT Smokes from UCLA/SanJose at Mather Pass
  14. JMT Todd from Los Angeles at Reds Meadow and Lake Virginia
  15. JMT Hiker from Germany at Reds Meadow (calls to Germany from public landline phone!)
  16. JMT Archie from Los Angeles/Japan at Lake Virginia, MTR, Silver Pass
  17. JMT Chris from Alaska at Virginia Lake
  18. JMT Paul from UK at Kings River Bridge campsite. Thanks for the message relay!
  19. JMT Boogie from Bay Area at Mather Pass
  20. JMT Matt and wife at Guitar Lake and Mt Whitney. Thanks for fuel can!
  21. WHP Oscar/Mike (San Diego/LA) at Whitney Portal Restaurant. Thanks for the ride to town!

 

 

JMT Hike Gallery

 

JMT Instagram Gallery

 

 

JMT Lottery

 

  • Lottery Application: https://yosemite.org/jmt-rolling-lottery-application/
  • Lottery Dates: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermitdates.htm
  • Mid August to Mid September start dates are ideal.
  • September as a month is ideal for the hike. No bugs. Low streams. Fall foliage. Low crowds.
  • Finish by 10th October at the latest to enjoy hike and still make the MTR refill window.
  • Select Lyell Canyon Trail Head to maximize chances of getting permit for group of 2 hikers.
  • Sign up for 22days hike even if you end up finishing earlier. Gives time for zero days at some mustsee locattions.

 

 

Comments, queries, suggestions, experiences!