r/JMT

Hi! Long time lurker, first time poster. I am getting really stressed with the prep for my NOBO section hike from Shadow Creek to HI starting August 27.

I live out of my van and I think for logistical purposes it will best for me to park in Mammoth Lakes as opposed to parking at Yosemite trailhead where I end. However, I am very concerned about leaving my van in Mammoth due to the bear activity. I am wondering what everyone's thoughts are on my plan.

My thoughts: I will acclimatize (somewhat) by sleeping in my van in Mammoth and leaving it there. I will catch the shuttle to Red's (yes, I know about the dreaded expected wait times) and start my hike northbound. One week later I arrive in Yosemite and will take the YARTS back to my van in Mammoth. (This kind of sucks because this will be my first time in Yosemite and I won't have my van and fresh clothes for hanging out and enjoying the area.)

But as a van lifer, I don't know how to remove all items that smell from my van. Obviously I will throw out any open packages of food and empty my fridge. But I have some expensive bags of food/drink powders (KetoChow, PaleoValley bone broth, AG1) that will have been opened but sealed in their sealable bags, plus glass containers of coconut oil & olive oil, as well as things like plastic containers of sunscreen, dishsoap, etc.

If I make sure these things are all sealed, and clean the outside of containers of residue, then pack them in a box and wrap my blankets around them, would that be good enough? I will also have my HeatShield sunshades up on all of my windows, with windows fully closed, so a bear will only see it's reflection in my windows instead of something curious in my van.

I thought about parking at Yosemite TH and putting everything into a bear box, but between the food(in the bearbox) and the electronics I have in my van, I don't like the idea of these things baking in the sun for a week.

Please tell if you think my plan is a good one or not, and please add any thoughts and considerations I haven't mentioned here. Thank you!

Pray for me y’all

Seems like the Ultralite community mostly agrees that a footprint isn't necessary but wanted to ask the JMT community

Wife and I will be using our BA Tiger Wall 3

We usually bring a footprint on all our other trips but this is going to be our longest backpacking trip ever so we're trying to cut as much weight as we can

I'm currently 50/50 on being the FP. Only thing is I think the fast fly setup could be nice in the rain but I've never had to use that setup before and seems unlikely that I will on the JMT

What worked out for you or what are your plans?

Hello all! JMT ‘18er here :) My partner and I are doing the High Sierra Trail and planning to summit Whitney and exit on Thursday 8/27. We were planning to hitch to Lone Pine and begin the long journey to Reno/Truckee via bus on Friday 8/29 to meet my parents. But, if anyone happens to be exiting Whitney portal on Thursday 8/27 and heading to Reno/Truckee area that evening, we would love a ride!! We can provide good conversation (or silence!) and would be happy to chip in for gas, snacks, etc. Thank you in advance for any help!

Hi all,

I will be starting my JMT Trek in September from the horseshoe Meadows trailhead via lone pine. I was wondering if anyone knew what the best option would be for me to; 1. Get to the horseshoe Meadows trailhead and 2. Have a resupply dropped off at the onion Valley trailhead.

I would really like to avoid having to go right into the town of Independence for my resupply. I have heard that it can be risky to leave food in the bear boxes due to people tossing it sometimes. Do I have options when it comes to something like this?

I'm doing Kearsarge to Whitney later this month. Any suggestions on where to camp on the way up Forester? I know there's a sizeable lake just below the crest -- I don't love the idea of sleeping that high up, but I'd be curious to hear from people who have done it.

Hi all,

I'm looking to attempt a thru hike of the the JMT on Sept 20th (looking to move date up due to risk of weather at this time and resupply options). I have a base weight for my pack of over 24lbs! I have seen some people here have much lower pack weight and i was wondering if there are any items i am missing or if there is any way i can optimize to help save wt. Here is a list of my gear. Feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Gear List	Weight (g)
Backpack (with rain cover)	2420
tent (with footprint)	1625
BV500 Bear Canister Empty	1160
sleeping bag	925
electronics bag (incl Inreach, 20k mah Power bank)	700
sleeping pad	580
Fleece Sweater	450
Patagonia Down hooded Jacket	420
Rain jacket	380
Camp Shoes	328
Toiletry bag	315
Track pants	285
Cook set	270
Fleece long johns	185
Fleece base layer	180
Thin Compression fleece	155
first aid kit (includes meds and lace)	155
20L Stuff red stuff sac for resupply	130
Wipes, bidet,  and trowel	125
Trail Map and permit	100
Wallet id, key, and passport	100
hiking socks (extra)	90
Swiss army knife	77
gloves	75
water filter	75
toque	65
buff	65
spare Underwear	55
water bottle (smart bottle)	35
	11,525 g

I am headed out to do a SOBO trip starting on Monday. Over two weeks ago I mailed out my MTR resupply bucket. In checking the tracking, it seems like USPS lost the bucket. I filed a claim, hoping to get movement on it.

Neil, the postmaster in Lakeshore, CA where the bucket was destined, has simply gone above and beyond this week after seeing my claim. Had I been flying into Fresno, he was willing to pick me up at the airport, get the supplies purchased, and get the bucket ready for MTR to pick it up.

Since I am flying into Bishop (starting at Tuolumne Meadows), he is instead going to purchase supplies and put them into a bucket for MTR to pick up.

He has stayed in close contact this week with progress (and there lack thereof with my original bucket).

I admit this missing bucket situation has been stressing me out, and keeping me up at night. Neil has swooped in to save the day.

I would not rely on this if someone else's MTR bucket goes missing, but wanted to send a shoutout to Neil, and to let people know that if a resupply bucket goes missing you should file a claim early.

I sent a resupply at MTR and a resupply that is getting dropped at onion valley trailhead, but I had to get off trail. Would someone else like these resupplies or should I have MTR and Mt. Williamson put them all in the hiker boxes?

I am looking to purchase a tent (1p) for my upcoming JMT trip and am looking for insight. I am open to both freestanding and non-freestanding tents. I saw the Halfway Anywhere survey on what people used, which really only consisted of 4-5 tents (between 1-3p versions of that tent.) I'm curious to hear people's experience with their shelters on the JMT.

Also, do you all use footprints with your tents?

Back in March i ended up getting permits for the JMT via cottonwood pass trail starting Sept 20th. The plan was for 19 days at ~13 miles per day.; utilizing Red meadows Resort, Muir Ranch, and Independence as re supplies.

I've since come to realize the season for RMR and MR pretty much ends in September, i would be arriving at the MR pretty much on their last day ( too close for comfort ) and definitely wont get to the RMR before October. The independence re supply would be the better part of two days ( exit day and re entry day.

How do people typically handle resupplies in the late season, are there any alternatives to this? i also don't think i want to carry two food canisters with me the entire way either. I have a decent amount of backpacking experience including at elevation however this would be my first time visiting the Sierra Nevadas. Your feedback and advice would be much appreciated.

Hey all, so I’m trying to figure out a resupply for NOBO. I’m leaving out of cottonwood pass 8/26. I planned on resupply and paying the $115 fee for MTR but when I tried to pay it wouldn’t complete the transaction? Idk. But then I was planning on going to VVR anyway, their fee is only $40. Should I try again for MTR or just carry a days extra food and resupply VVR?

5+ years ago i made a resolution to keep my DuoLingo streak for a year, that became 2, then 3, then 4... you get the picture. I'm currently over 2000 days, and if I can make the JMT happen next year i'll be over 2200 or more...

I have the ability to freeze my streak for 3 days at a time which can be extended with minimal signal i think, but I don't know if that would be enough between places with internet. I could possibly ask a family member to do the lessons while i'm on trail.

Do any of the small devices provide any sort of data that could be used to make sure I don't lose what i've built over 5 1/2 years?

Any thoughts? Suggestions? hardware recommendations?

Hey fellow hikers. I am a long-time lurker, but this is my first post. Trying to think this through out loud because I've been going in circles for DAYS and could use some outside eyes.

I always wanted to hike the PCT (and maybeeee I will be able to do so in the upcoming years I HOPE SO), but because some health scares in my family reminded me of the fact that life is short, I pulled the trigger and I took two weeks of unpaid leave (all I got unfortunately) and just said "go for it NOW". I am a German, working in Tennessee right now, propably heading back to Germany next year. This trip was my finding closure of my US-chapter kind of thing. So it holds emotional value to me too.

The original master plan (12 weeks of planning, fully mapped out): NOBO, Cascade Locks → White Pass, Section H, ~148 miles, maybe further depending om my pace. Starting Aug 22. Full itinerary built around a conservative pace, bed stops included if needed (Carson, Trout Lake, Packwood), rest day built in, bear can bought, gear tested on loaded trial hikes. The best thing: My mom (said health scare candidate) is flying in from Germany to meet me and pick me up at White Pass when I finish, and we've got a whole second half of the trip planned together — a couple days in Rainier or Olympic NP, then wine country in Oregon, then the coast. It's honestly beautifully mapped out and I feel good about it. Comfortable, even.

The problem: WILDFIRES ... and an injury in my foot that I got from a fall two months ago weeks before trail that is now healed up and I am cleared, but hence the possible exits and town stops make me feel safe.

The backup: I panic-researched basically every alternative on the West Coast (and BC, and Colorado, and and and) over the last couple days, and landed on a real backup: a JMT permit, northbound from Cottonwood Lakes, booked and paid ($11 so that’s nothing). Fire conditions in the Sierra are genuinely calmer right now. But:

• It's my first solo long-distance backpacking trip. My real experience: Camino Portugués solo (~400km), Moselsteig, 5 days in Albania, but those were all hut/hostel-to-hostel, not true backcountry camping. My actual wilderness experience is a Zion overnight and 3 days on the AT, and I wasn't alone for those.
• JMT northbound means immediate high altitude (Forester Pass, 13,153 ft, by day 3), mandatory bear canister (different system than what I trained on), and a realistic window of only 10-12 hiking days given my travel constraints
• As I said, I also had a foot injury a month ago (still recovering, been resting/focussed weight-training instead of loaded hikes for the last 4 weeks) which has already cut into my training window. The JMT feels more remote, less exit if shit hits the fan, longer food carries (more weight on my foot...)
• And logistically, it disconnects from my mom's whole visit...different airport, different region, more moving pieces. Not unsolvable, but annoying so shortly out from my trip.

Where I'm at: Section H feels safe and ready. I trust the plan, I trust my prep. The PCT was always a dream of mine and this feels like a teaser, a sneak peak. The JMT is genuinely a dream trail and gorgeous and smoke-free right now, but it feels like I'd be attempting a harder, higher-stakes trip with a fraction of the preparation, purely because of circumstances outside my control.

I've got a decision point this Sunday where I'll check conditions one more time and make the call.

Also wondering: Should I give up on the hiking portion entirely (worst case, would hate that), I'm on unpaid personal leave for this. . . wondering if it's worth trying to cancel that leave if I'm not hiking, vs. just still taking the time to travel with my mom instead.

Has anyone been in a similar spot... bailing on a planned WA/OR section for fire reasons and pivoting somewhere else last minute? Did you regret the pivot, or regret not doing it? Any red flags in my thinking here I'm not seeing? What does your gut tell you, because mine is GANZ DURCHEINANDER (very confused).

Thanks for reading this novel. And Thanks for your advise. I am in a decision paralysis. 😅

How hard is it to camp below tree line every night?

Every photo I see is of campsites on exposed slabs near lakes and peaks

But im mostly interested in staying under trees on soft ground

Thanks!