Hi folks. There's a high likelihood I'll be hiking the JMT this July, heading southbound from Happy Isles to Mt. Whitney. I figured I see if anyone here has any suggestions to make this trip the best it can be.
I don't have a permit reservation. How hard will it be to get a walk up permit for Sunrise/Merced Lk pass thru? It looks like there are only 4 available FCFS. How early should I show up at the wilderness office to maximize my chances of getting a permit?
I'm planning on resupplying at Red's Meadow and Muir Trail Ranch. From MTR, I'm considering try to hoof it all the way to Whitney. Alternatively, I would hike out over Kearsarge Pass and then hitch into Independence for a resupply. I'm also trying to convince two friends to meet me along the trail or atop Kearsarge with a resupply. That's what friends are for after all, right?
For people who have done this before, is it worth adding the time off trail for a resupply to be able to take a slower pace through the MTR->Whitney stretch? Are there any particular areas that you enjoyed and recommend I spend more time in? I'm planning on taking 21-25 days in total.