How I planned my John Muir Trail thru-hike

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Planning my John Muir Trail Thru-Hike started back in March of this year. Even outside of the process of obtaining a permit or "Golden Ticket", there are a lot of things to consider while you are planning your trip. Here is a look into my planning and arrangements I made for my JMT thru-hike.
Great Resource for JMT Planning:
www.pcta.org/d...
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Link to my Finalized Appalachian Trail Gear List:
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Link to my $1500 Complete Ultralight Gear List:
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Link to my A.T. Affordable Gear List:
www.geargrams....
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Опубликовано:

8 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 128

@gabriele1975 Год назад

How exciting!

@MrJoebmxer 7 лет назад

I am extremely excited to watch this trip! The JMT looks absolutely amazing, it's number 1 on my bucketlist! I'm excited for you as well that you have the opportunity and the permits to do this thru hike! Can not wait to get the notifications from this hike and see your experience and the in depth details you will provide for all of us watching! Thank you so much for what you do! Good luck and have fun! JoeBmxer

@jimb6683 7 лет назад

Can't wait to see you vids... leaving tomorrow for Reno to hike

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Hank Hill Have an awesome hike Hank!!! I can't wait to film them!

@mbikesrulee 7 лет назад

good luck! have fun!

@TheLegendofTearDrop 7 лет назад

Glad to see that you're still living the dream bro...

@williamshaw4791 7 лет назад

Sounds like an incredible trip. Be sure you check all the rules and refs on VVR's site for a mail drop (name on all 4 sides, etc). If you don't follow all of them, the VVR is notorious for nickel and diming you. Enjoy the trip!

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+William Shaw I saw that. Thanks. I will be sending out my package here in 10 days

@fbnc11 7 лет назад

I'm excited for you! Can't wait to see the videos!

@hallman321 7 лет назад

Looking forward to your JMT vids. Stay safe!

@kellirustin7944 7 лет назад

So excited for you! Yes, the permitting process is not easy but, we're talking about the Sierras here. We have to keep the Sierras pristine. I think you picked the perfect time of year, mosquitoes should be gone. Can't wait to see the videos.

@mtthielsen8342 7 лет назад

BTW, on Mitch Lenington's you-tube thru-hike vlog he showed the Little Yosemite Valley camp and climb of Half Dome.

@robertcallahan1046 7 лет назад

Unless things have changed since our JMT hike last year, the Verizon cell service once you get out of Yosemite is almost non-existent. I wouldn't rely on having any. Also, I don't think you're required to stay at LYV campground the first night. My son and I left Happy Isles that am and hiked all the way to Cathedral Lake and camped there the first night. It was over a 20 mile day when you add in the trail from the campground, but it set us up great for the next couple of days. I think you'll love VVR. That was our favorite night on the trail. It's expensive, but they sure treat you well there. Sounds like you're going to have a great time. I envy you. There's nothing else quite like hiking in the Sierras! Good luck and God bless!!!

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Robert Callahan Thanks Robert. After doing some research it appears I won't have the greatest reception which is fine. I will be doing daily vlogs but probably won't start uploading them till the end if that's the case. When I was doing my research on permits, I remember hearing that I had to stay at LYV if I get a permit out of Happy Isles. I'll ask to make sure when I get out there, but I would rather go a little further north. Thanks

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Robert Callahan Just checked, the permit I was awarded required me to stay at LYV. So I will have to stay there for night 1

@guns4funcajanajustin 7 лет назад

i cant wait to see you vids

@MrBillbo911 7 лет назад

I'll be doing the section from Mammoth Pass to Bishop Pass Sept. 8-16. You will likely be catching us between VVR and Muir Pass. Hope to see you on the trail!! If we have extra supplies, you are welcome to have them to help carry you through.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+MrBillbo911 Thank you for the offer. Hope to see you on the trail!

@kellirustin7944 7 лет назад

And we're going to be hiking out of Onion valley up Kearsarge pass on the sept 18th for 5 days. We had to postpone our 4th of July plans due to the snowpocalypse I'll keep an eye out for Bigfoot!! 👀

@oldunion 7 лет назад

had a friend helivaced out this summer on the JMT because of altitude sickness. It's no joke particularly when you get to the 10k level. Takes me about 3-4 days to acclimate when I visit my brother who lives at 9500 and works at 10500.

@treytamari 7 лет назад

I'm the friend! Since Bigfoot's starting in Yosemite, the conventional way, he'll get to gradually increase his elevation towards the southern terminus, so should be OK.

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

Given Bigfoot's speed, not really. He will be at Donohue Pass by day 3 at the latest, which is 11,050 feet, it will be day two if he does 2 15 mile days. A lot of people take 4 or 5 days going 4 miles, then 8 mile days, so they do Donohue Pass at the start of day five. Bigfoot can do 20+ mile days, meaning he does it on day 2 and altitude sickness may be an issue.

@muddeer5383 7 лет назад

Half Dome is nice, but don't skip Clouds Rest. It's the best view in Yosemite.

@diegotobar6839 7 лет назад

Half Dome is also saturated with tourists unless you get up there early before they set up the cables.

@MrBillbo911 7 лет назад

If, for whatever reason, you can't make it EARLY in the day, consider heading up the Dome near sunset. I have been on top with myself and 3 friends and NO ONE ELSE doing it this way! Consider coming back down prior to sunset to help with descending the stone steps with good light still remaining.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+MrBillbo911 Great tip. I want to avoid tourists if possible. Thank you!

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

So, if you need to stay at LYV and want to do Clouds Rest and half dome, do Clouds Rest first. Clouds Rest is about 4 miles from half dome, which means your first day will be rather full, with the elevation change, but you are a bad ass and much will be a slack pack. You got your first 4 miles of pure up with pack, then drop your pack (if pass makes you), then up to Clouds Rest which is about 5 miles, then 5 mile down and up to half dome and 2 miles down to camp. I would be a ~15 mile day with a LOT of elevation, but most with a slack pack and would make a EPIC first day. The timing would also work for avoid crowds.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

Loathomar Loat, after looking into it I think I'm going to do exactly what you suggest my friend. Thank you for the advice!

@josephtoth5500 7 лет назад

Hi Bigfoot. I am interested to hear what the whole trip costs by the end, excluding gear cost. Looking forward to hearing it so I can save up for my own JMT experience. Thanks.

@briansimpkins985 5 лет назад

depending on how many resupply points and food those 2 alone can be around 500 and if u drive to one point and bus when ur done that can be like 50 so 500-600 with just resupply points, food and transportation one way

@emmanuelvincent6107 7 лет назад

I'm doing the JMT this September. Flying in from FL to Fresno. There is a YARTS bus that has 5 different runs straight from the Fresno airport to Yosemite Valley. They run 7 days a week all the way into mid September. 4 hour bus ride and the cost is $15.50. Good luck with your trip Bigfoot!

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Emmanuel Vincent Sounds like Fresno is a better choice. Wish I would have gone that route if that's the case. Thanks for the info, I'll do a little more research on other options and definitely add this into the list

@emmanuelvincent6107 7 лет назад

Follow Bigfoot no problem! I leave out of happy isles on September 7th. Your pace may exceed mine so maybe we'll bump into each other. We definitely lucked out doing it late season with this year's snow issues. Maybe I'll see ya out there.

@diegotobar6839 7 лет назад

I was planning a trip out to Yosemite for the 17th of September but might pull it back a week if it means I'll catch a bigfoot sighting!

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Diego Tobar I'll be in Yosemite sometime Saturday late afternoon. Let me know if you're around

@alexwbanks70 7 лет назад

Good luck on the hike. I'm very jealous...

@bebopthewanderer3507 6 лет назад

You can take a greyhound bus to Merced, CA and take the Yarts bus to Yosemite.

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

I don't know if the permit really requires you to stay at LYV, or if that is just where most people stay on day 1. I would check with a ranger on that because LYV is a massively over crowded campsite. If you are not forced to say at LYV, follow the trail to the half dome summit junction then you can either drop your pack and do Half Dome or continue the trail for a 1/2 mile where there is a creek at the Clouds rest junction, setup camp and then go back for Half Dome. The Clouds rest junction camp is far nicer, but check with the rangers about water from there as you are late in the year. I would suggest doing half dome later in the after noon, as you will have far less hikers as the day hikers (all ~225 of them), most want to be back to the valley by dark, meaning they need to be coming down by about 2pm or so, get to half dome after 3pm and it will be less crowded.

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

Also, if you want to make your first days SUPPER light and easy, drop you food for the trip between Tuolumne Meadows and VVR in a Bear Box (the big metal ones) in Tuolumne Meadows and then you only need 2 days (not even full days) of food and you can have a SUPER light pack to enjoy Yosemite. Red's Meadows should also be open until Sept 30th. Even if you don't do a full resupply (it is only ~18 miles from VVR) nice for 2 hot meals.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Loathomar According to the rules of my permit, i am required to stay at LYV on day 1 for the permit I was awarded for. I will ask to make sure as it would be better for me if I could like around Clouds rest. Thanks for the tips on Half Dome, I definitely would rather go when it's less crowded

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

I could be totally wrong, but I believe that LYV is just giving your trail head direction. Leaving happy isle to LYV or beyond, but definitely check with the rangers. Even when I tried to do Mt Whiteny over the 4th, failed do to bronchitis, they put my first top at 4 miles (Chicken springs lake) even though I said I was going on another 8 past that. It was about starting where I said I was start in the direction I said I was going and not about where I sleep each night. JMT passes could be different, but it is worth checking in with the rangers about it to be sure.

@patrickhikes5730 7 лет назад

nice! I'm planning on doing the JMT next year. having never gone to Yosemite myself I can't say for sure the kind of cell service you'll get, but it'll probably be near non-existent after you get through Donohue pass. i frequent the Seirra's and there are many towns that turn off their cell towers after hours/weekends as well. good luck out there this year!

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

You will get some in Yosemite, then lose it in Donohue, get some more at Red's Meadow because it is next to Mammoth Ski resort. A PCTer said there was no cell phone service at VVR but they normally have an internet connect. Then you are without until the top of Mt Whitney.

@NevadaHiker 7 лет назад

RENO!!!!! my home town! the backpackers camp is a decent place to stay. the backpackers camp in tulaomne meadows is also decent if its in the cards for you to stay there.

@brandoncrews9242 7 лет назад

Uber is really sparse in Lone Pine. If you can change the flight to Friday night or Saturday it might be worth it to get the Shuttle Friday and hang out in Reno. Did the HST a couple weeks back, Lone Pine is real tiny (but worth a day stay if you get a chance).

@hazelmeldrum5860 7 лет назад

If you have not ,check out Mitch Lenington PCT hike Yosemite Shenanigans he did Half Dome

@JoeDoeOutdoors 6 лет назад

Hii awesome page ☺ Keep it up!

@scoopdedoop2673 7 лет назад

go real light on your dream hike.... wouldn't want to quit!!

@scottsandine5729 7 лет назад

Last year I had the same permit for the JMT as you, I stayed at the junction to clouds rest. No one ever checked my permit.

@bethoverby1 5 лет назад

I do not think you are required to stay at LYV, they just want to ensure you are at a true back country site. You could go past up to the Clouds Rest Junction which is closer to Half Dome.

@FollowBigfoot 5 лет назад

If you get a permit to start at Yosemite Valley, you are required to stay at LYV, unless it changed in 2018z

@leviplath5362 5 лет назад

Last I looked at the permit application there is a permit requiring you to stay at LYV and a separate permit that requires you to camp basically anywhere beyond the clouds rest trail (not restricted to LYV) so perhaps it depends on how flexible you are with your permit app and what’s available.

@FollowBigfoot 5 лет назад

Levi Plath I believe if your permit is for Happy Isles, you have to stay at LYV. If it’s for sunrise or glacier(not sure if this is the right name off hand) then you can stay anywhere after clouds rest junction, but nowhere before

@leviplath5362 5 лет назад

Follow Bigfoot actually on the permit app for this year you can choose your entry trailhead as either 1. happy isles - sunrise/Merced lake (pass through LYV) or 2. Happy isles - LYV so it seems to me that if you were awarded permit 2 you would be required to stay at LYV but not if you were awarded the pass through permit.

@The_Altered 6 лет назад

Fresno would have been easier for you, fly into Fresno, stay at the hotel across the street, catch Yarts in the morning straight to Yosemite Valley, they run 4x a day between May 14th to September 14th, fist leaves at 5:37 am last leaves at 12:40 pm... I haven’t taken Yarts from Fresno but a car drive takes about 2 to 2.5 hours....

@brandonlenenski 4 года назад

How did you get from the Mount Whitney to Lone Pine?

@FollowBigfoot 4 года назад

I had a person pick me up at the Whitney portal

@SylvainLaméricain 6 лет назад

OK thanks for the answer but I understand it’s only for those who are backpacking or Half dome. I just made my application for the lottery for the half dome.

@FollowBigfoot 6 лет назад

If you’re speaking to Yosemite, that is correct. If you are just day hiking and will not be staying overnight on the trail, no permit is required

@papabearandmamakat453 7 лет назад

Overall sounds like a good plan, however did you consider flying into Fresno, CA and taking a shuttle to Yosemite from there? It would be closer, no doubt.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Papa Bear and Mama Kat I went with the recommendation that the JMT/PCT website said about flying into Reno as one of the easiest airports to access the JMT. Looks like Fresno would be way easier as the shuttle runs 7 days a week, until Sept 15, which would be much easier to get to Yosemite from. Wish I would have went that route. Darn it. Thanks!

@tiennguyen-bu2vd 6 лет назад

Cool

@johnacord5664 7 лет назад

I take it that getting a permit to hike these trails is more difficult that getting a deer tag.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+John Acord if you want to start in Yosemite it is. There are many other options that are much easier if you avoid starting at the northern terminus. There are also walk up permits you can score too

@GECX-mj4vc 6 лет назад

I just wanted to let freedom rain. They said I needed tags and everything

@RebeccaHarkness 6 лет назад

Just trying to understand this. Are you saying that even though I’m only allowed to request my days 168 days in advance, when I submit my application for that first choice I can also put in two future dates more than 168 as long as they are no more than 3 weeks out?? I did not find the information anywhere in the pages and pages I read about the application process.

@nomsolo9935 5 лет назад

How safe did you feel leaving behind your shelter (and food?) at Little Yosemite Valley before heading up Half Dome? My permitting is identical to yours: Happy Isles --> Little Yosemite Valley with Half Dome on day 1 and I'm worried about leaving my shelter (tarp, bivy, trekking poles) and food unattended during the Half Dome portion. Would you do it the same way again? Any tips for avoiding theft?

@FollowBigfoot 5 лет назад

Felt really safe. I would do the same thing again. Someone would have to be really ballsee to grab a tent in the middle of LYV and haul it out. As long as you set it up, you’ll be good. Just make sure you put your food in the bear box.

@amandar4980 7 лет назад

So the john Muir permit also included with the half dome permit??

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+A Roger It is part of the application process and I was awarded a permit to hike half dome along with my permit to start out of Happy Isles.

@amandar4980 7 лет назад

Follow Bigfoot gotcha thanks. Be safe have fun.

@jmbae3840 5 лет назад

hi thanks for the info. i am study here about jmt. i am planning this summer. aug 21-sep 10. my question is do i need 45 liter or 60liter pack? i am regular hiker. i used osprey 70 for iceland backpack trips. but it was heavy ^^ now i have a exped 45 but it looks small so...

@Mapleaple 3 года назад

Just want to hike....So step 20 of step 12 you need to cut off your right foot for applying. If you don't want to hike the Southside theres the Northside we need the left foot. WAIT WHAT HOLD ON. I'm like 27 now and hiked all over trails without any permits and didn't even realized you needed permits ever. This was never my realm or heard of these.

@mtthielsen8342 7 лет назад

Is little yosemite valley on the JMT? I thought the JMT was farther east, my map shows it crossing hwy 120 farther east. I've seen other vlogs of people starting or ending at that hwy 120 crossing.

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

There is no Hwy 120 crossing on the JMT, but it does come to Hwy 120 at Tuolumne Meadows. Because of the lottery system, many people who do the JMT are unable to do the standard route and start from a different point, one of those points would be Tuolumne Meadows, but miss the first ~30 miles of the trail, but it is likely much easier to score a permit.

@mtthielsen8342 7 лет назад

That makes sense, it must be the PCT that continues on across 120, and I'm guessing then that the JMT heads down to Yosemite valley.

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

Ya, if someone is on the PCT they will leave the JMT at 120, though a lot of PCTer like to finish the JMT because Yosemite is worth seeing and PCTer can go from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite valley in one day, easy.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Loathomar Thanks for answering many of these questions Loathomar!!!!!

@brholder1 7 лет назад

Cool trip planed. How many members can you get on a permit?

@emmanuelvincent6107 7 лет назад

8-15 depending on the trailhead

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

You can get a reasonable large group but you need to do in when you apply for the permit and the more you have, the lower your odds. If you apply for a permit for 8 people and you get drawn and there are only 7 spots left, you don't get the spot. I would guess that going solo doubles you odds in comparison to a large group.

@BlueHighwaysTraveler 7 лет назад

Is there a reason you chose to fly to Reno instead of Mammoth? Then take yarts to Yosemite.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+machineryrepairman Back when I got my permit I was researching where to fly in and the PCT website said that Reno was one of the easiest destinations to fly into to get to Reno. Knowing what I know now I would have done it a little different.

@kate481 7 лет назад

Are you concerned about wild fires in any section of your hike? Also how much do permits cost?

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+Kate Facci I haven't looked into it much with my hike still a month away and a lot that can happen between now and then. I have the flexibility with my time that if something happens I have time to figure something out. I have not heard of any wild fires in the JMT section though. Cost of permit was $5

@kate481 7 лет назад

Follow Bigfoot sweet I'm glad you'll be able to work something out!

@SylvainLaméricain 6 лет назад

A permit for JMT ?

@FollowBigfoot 6 лет назад

Yes, you have to have one if you intend on backpacking any part of the trail. Some sections are easy to get, and others are difficult depending on where you want to start

@fanofrunbot9771 7 лет назад

Did you see the SNOW Dixie has encountered on the PCT & Mt Whitney? You'd better add yaktrax & a ice ax. Fees/permits? The government doesn't make it easy. Good reason to avoid California.

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

Dixie's videos have a very large delay between shooting and posting, it is part of why they look SO good. Her Mt Whitney hike was shot in June, I know this because I was on that part of the trail on the July 4th weekend and there was WAY less snow. By now you likely to not need any snow gear, the only snow you will see in Sept is if it snows while you are on trail.

@brandoncrews9242 7 лет назад

I was on HST and the snow was gone except small sections near Whitney, snow gear shouldn't be needed but rivers may still be high flow.

@fanofrunbot9771 7 лет назад

I can't imagine tackling those "streams" without rope support, or unless I was with a group.

@redfernsofthenorth 7 лет назад

fanof runbot What does avoiding California have to do with this topic? The permit system is federal not state.

@fanofrunbot9771 7 лет назад

You've educated me. I can't believe California doesn't carve out a chip for themselves.

@dirtyteeth0 7 лет назад

Land of the free... Hold on, let me get a permit to walk around outside.

@FollowBigfoot 7 лет назад

+m l The demand is so high in this area that if they didn't have this process it would be a free for all. They have to do something like this to limit the impact to keep the trail looking as it is.

@fanofrunbot9771 7 лет назад

With RARE exceptions, the only time I see Rangers is when they charge me to get in. I'd say 10-20% are worth every penny they get, the rest - glorified toll collectors. And wait till they start playing games when the politicians do another manufactured government "shut down". I'm not forgetting when they barred WWII vets from their own memorials last time.

@jlastre 7 лет назад

fanof runbot Damn I wasn't aware that a low level ranger set policy. My mother worked for the Feds, for the VA in fact, for 47 years. Don't recall her ever setting policy working WITHOUT pay during the shutdowns she went through, but hey she was probably the exception and not the rule. This is the alternate view, the one that Congress set the policy. www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/seven-reasons-why-the-national-parks-service-closed-the-world-war-ii-memorial/2013/10/15/a3df8584-35d5-11e3-be86-6aeaa439845b_story.html?.dc09d6273adf

@fanofrunbot9771 7 лет назад

Some things you don't do - like telling a 90 year old vet he can't get into see his memorial for what may be his last time. They opened the barricades pretty quick when Senators Cruz & Paul went down there.

@jlastre 7 лет назад

fanof runbot Aaaand then your beef is with Congress. It's not to difficult to learn how government works.

@williamjackson1124 7 лет назад

Sounds easier to win the lottery than get a slip of paper to walk through the woods. All the BS seems it would take away from the enjoyment of the wilderness 😐

@muddeer5383 7 лет назад

Without the permit system, it won't be a wilderness.

@Loathomar 7 лет назад

The VAST majority of walk through the woods are extremely easy to get, but this hike from this location is extremely popular. If you want to add just ~12 miles to the hike and go from the other direction, you can start out of Horseshoe meadows, then it is a $5 permit. I can get a pass to do From Horseshoe meadows to do Mt Whitney and use it all the way to Yosemite starting this Saturday, one pass is still available.

@jimb6683 7 лет назад

. I think Bigfoot was lucky because he is doing it late in the season after some of the resupply points are closed. I tried in Aug for 21 days and go a denial everyday. Found an alternative route and leave tomorrow

@briansimpkins985 5 лет назад

thats the point of the permit system is so there wont be a million people on the trail neglecting u of that experience of hiking one of the most beautiful trails in the world in peace

@briansimpkins985 5 лет назад

@@jimb6683 im going at the end of july beginnig of august and glad im doing it then because mid sept or later out chance of snow and really cold temps....i dont mind it cold but dont want to wake up trying to find the trail in the middle of the thru hike as well as wakig up to 20 degrees lol