John Muir Trail

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Jaimie

John Muir Trail
March 13, 2005 12:20PM

Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 0

<HTML>I am planning on hiking the JMT this summer, with what seems like more snow than normal, when might be the earliest start date (hiking north to south)?</HTML>

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nzigler

Re: John Muir Trail
April 12, 2005 03:31PM

Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 0

<HTML>Jaimie,
I hiked the JMT last year, and left around about May 20th, which was fine. I hit a little snow over Donahue Pass, and quite a bit over Muir Pass. It is much snowier this year, so I wouldn't start before mid-June, unless you don't mind walking through lots of snow, especially at Muir pass.
Also, bring rain gear cause there's thunderstorms almost daily, and send yourself a package of food to Vermillion Valley Resort.
-Nick</HTML>

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william

Re: John Muir Trail
April 14, 2005 06:29PM

Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 3

<HTML>Hi Nick,

How long did it take you to do the entire JMT and would you say that was an average pace, quicker, or slower than a person should expect?

Did you take any off-days to rest some blisters or anything like that?

Thanks.</HTML>

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nzigler

Re: John Muir Trail
April 16, 2005 12:13AM

Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 0

<HTML>Hey William, I remembered after my post that I got my dates wrong. I left JUNE 20th, which changes my recommendation for this year to the beginning of July as being an early starting date.
I did have some blister problems starting about day 3 up until the end. Bring moleskin, duct tape, and some neosporin. I finished in 19 days, which is slow for PCT'ers and fast for JMT'ers. The second half is particularly rough, so don't expect to do much more than 12 miles a day. The PCT'ers will fly past you as they do about 20 miles a day heading toward Canada. Reaching those passes halfway through the day is about the best feeling you can get, and I advise everyone to do something like this at least once.
-Nick</HTML>

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william

Re: John Muir Trail
April 16, 2005 05:46PM

Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 3

<HTML>Hey Nick, thanks for the info. I was thinking maybe 24-28 days. From your post it sounds like you went South to North. Is that correct? I thought the hardest days were towards the Whitney end, but you seem to indicate the Yosemite end as being harder. Or did I get tha wrong?

Also, did you have any days where you just stayed in camp as a rest day? Or did you just plug along everyday with no breaks.

At least once....yes, I agree with that sentiment and hope to do so.

Thanks.</HTML>

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nzigler

Re: John Muir Trail
April 18, 2005 02:14PM

Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 0

<HTML>Hey William, I went North to South, which I recommend doing because the Whitney end is much harder, and it's nice to end up on top. I didn't rest any days, but I was also in a hurry. I wish I had more time to rest in some of the places and read a book and relax (wash). I had to hurry from VVR to Whitney since I wasn't going to fill up on food again. It's not easy to get food between these two spots, but leaving food at Roads End in Kings Canyon is a possibility. Some more advice: bring lots of mosquito repellant and pack light (one change of clothes, two sweatshirts...). It's also very hard to get a ride from whitney to yosemite. CREST to YART buses does it, but I got a ride from a couple of guys from whitney to lee vining, then took a YART bus to yosemite valley, but all these buses only run like twice a day.
cheers,
Nick</HTML>