Planning a thru-hike may be simply as daunting as truly mountain climbing a protracted distance path. Thankfully, each duties are greatest tackled the identical approach: one step at a time. That will help you make your John Muir Path desires come true, we’ve put collectively a step-by-step information to take you from daydreaming about mountain climbing the JMT to really doing it.
John Muir Path Fundamentals
The John Muir Path is a 211-mile footpath that begins in Yosemite Valley and runs south alongside the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Vary to the highest of Mount Whitney, the very best level within the decrease 48 states. Apparently, the path’s namesake, John Muir, by no means truly hiked the JMT; the path’s development started in 1915, the 12 months after his loss of life. It was constructed atop a community of historic footpaths laid down by the Paiute and different Indigenous folks for 1000’s of years referred to as Nüümü Poyo, or the Folks’s Paths.
California’s Sierra Nevada mountains are one of many world’s most lovely and rugged mountain ranges, made up of glittering granite that has been uplifted by plate tectonics and sculpted by glaciers. The JMT crosses a few of the Sierra’s highest and most distant terrain. For almost all of your journey, you’ll haven’t any cell service and also you’ll cross no roads. The path crosses a number of wilderness areas and three nationwide parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia.
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- Whole distance: 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to the highest of Mount Whitney, plus 11 miles all the way down to the Whitney Portal trailhead
- Days wanted: 18-22
- Trailhead begin: Joyful Isles in Yosemite Nationwide Park (Southbound), Horseshoe Meadow or Cottonwood Lakes/Cross (Northbound)
- Greatest time to hike: July – September, relying on snowpack
- Whole elevation acquire/loss: 47,000 ft acquire/38,000 ft loss (Southbound)
- Permits: Required and really aggressive
- Issue: Strenuous and logistically difficult
- Canine allowed: No
- Cell service: Uncommon
Greatest Time Of Yr To Hike the JMT
The JMT is a excessive summer time path, and the very best time to hike it’s sometimes mid-July by means of early September to keep away from prodigious snowfall and avalanches within the winter and harmful creek crossings within the spring. Nonetheless, the JMT mountain climbing season is closely influenced by the winter snowfall within the Japanese Sierra.
In low snow years, it could be potential to hike the JMT beginning in June and into mid-October. However early and late season hikers ought to have important snow journey expertise and be ready for sudden adjustments in climate.
In June, hikers might encounter snow on the excessive mountain passes, necessitating snow security gear like microspikes and an ice ax, in addition to robust navigational expertise when the path disappears beneath snow.
Throughout the fleeting summer time months (July and August), mosquitoes and biting flies may be legion, because of the ample water discovered alongside the path. Undoubtedly convey a head internet, bug spray, and a tent with mosquito netting.
On excessive snow years, creek crossings might stay harmful all through the summer time. Trekking poles, sturdy mountain climbing boots, and a companion may also help make crossings safer. In September and October, hikers might encounter snowstorms and frigid in a single day temperatures however will encounter fewer bugs.
How Lengthy Does It Take To Hike The JMT?
With nonstop Ansel Adams-worthy views, plentiful swimming holes, and once-in-a-lifetime facet journeys round each nook, the JMT is an expertise greatest savored. Beneath the load of a ~35-pound pack, with appreciable elevation acquire and loss, you’d be hard-pressed to hurry by means of this path anyway.
Generally, backpackers can count on to cowl round 10 miles a day so most individuals will hike the JMT’s 211 miles in 18 to 22 days. In fact, it’s potential to cowl the gap a lot quicker, however the higher query to ask is: how lengthy can I afford to spend on the JMT? For those who’re going to undergo the difficulty of mountain climbing one of many world’s best mountain climbing trails, why not commit as a lot time as potential to exploring the route?
Once I hiked the JMT NOBO in 2020, I took 27 days to hike over 300 miles. The additional miles got here from the quite a few facet journeys I took off the JMT hall to discover the numerous lake basins and summits that may solely be accessed from the JMT. When BFT Founder Kristen hiked the JMT again in 2014, she took 22 days and hiked roughly 240 miles.
JMT Path Issue
Mile for mile, the John Muir Path is likely one of the most epic mountain climbing trails on Earth. However you’ll be incomes all these views with loads of sweat and possibly a couple of tears (hopefully no blood!). The path follows the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountains, hardly ever dipping beneath 10,000 ft of elevation.
To cross this hovering mountain vary you’ll have to climb. Over the course of 211 miles, you’ll acquire over 47,000 ft of elevation, together with climbs over eight main mountain passes: Donohue, Silver, Selden, Muir, Mather, Pinchot, Glen, and Forester, the very best go, at 13,153 ft. In between the passes you’ll be traversing throughout spectacular lake basins the place you’re by no means removed from water and the place the very best campsites are often discovered.
Altitude illness is an actual chance on the path, however you possibly can assist mitigate its results by coaching to your hike, staying well-hydrated and nourished, and giving your physique time to regulate. By beginning in Yosemite and mountain climbing the path south you’ll have a number of weeks to work your approach as much as the path’s excessive level on prime of Mount Whitney at 14,505 ft. That is the official finish of the path, however you’ll then have to descend 11 miles, down 6,600 ft to Whitney Portal to finish your hike (making the grand whole 222 miles, not counting facet journeys).
The numbers may be intimidating however the actuality is the JMT is so spectacularly lovely, so properly trodden, marked, and maintained, with plentiful water and campsites that really mountain climbing the path is a backpacker’s dream. With ample planning, coaching, and preparation, you’ll be setting off for the best hike of your life.
Which Route Ought to You Hike the JMT?
Historically, the JMT begins in Yosemite Valley, on the Joyful Isles trailhead, and runs for 211 miles south to the grand finale on the summit of Mount Whitney.
The principle benefit of going Southbound, or SOBO, is that you simply begin at a decrease elevation, which provides your legs and lungs time to regulate to mountain climbing at altitude earlier than you deal with the very best passes en path to Mount Whitney. Resupply logistics are additionally slightly simpler mountain climbing SOBO, as you’ll have the ability to mail resupply packing containers to Purple’s Meadow and Muir Path Ranch and cope with the trickier logistics of the extra distant southern portion of the path later in your journey. Nonetheless, getting permits to go SOBO may be troublesome. In actual fact, Yosemite wilderness permits are a few of the most sought-after permits within the Nationwide Park system.
Round 20% of JMT thru-hikers elect to hike Northbound, or NOBO. Nonetheless, getting a allow to begin from Whitney Portal can also be troublesome, as you’re competing towards individuals who need to hike Mount Whitney, the very best mountain within the decrease 48. And also you’ll need to deal with an enormous 6,600 foot climb up Whitney initially of your hike, in addition to a few of the highest passes within the first week.
Resupply choices are additionally few and much between within the southern third of the path, often requiring important facet journeys. You’ll have to determine your resupply plan between Muir Path Ranch and Mount Whitney whether or not you’re mountain climbing NOBO or SOBO however it may well really feel simpler to deal with this in direction of the tip of your hike reasonably than in the beginning.
How To Get John Muir Path Permits
Earlier than you do the rest, you’ll have to surmount the only hardest impediment in planning a JMT thru-hike: getting a allow. I received’t sugarcoat it: JMT permits are akin to Golden Tickets. In keeping with the Nationwide Park Service, 97% of JMT allow purposes are denied, however there are a couple of ideas and methods that may assist enhance your possibilities of getting a allow.
On a thru-hike of the JMT, you’ll go by means of three Nationwide Parks and a number of other completely different wilderness areas and Nationwide Forests. Thankfully, you solely want one allow, which is able to cowl your total hike. It’s not truly a JMT allow; reasonably it’s primarily based in your beginning trailhead. So if you happen to begin your hike in Yosemite, you want a allow from Yosemite Nationwide Park. For those who begin in Inyo Nationwide Forest, you want a allow from Inyo Nationwide Forest.
When making use of for a SOBO allow from Yosemite Nationwide Park, there are two essential trailheads: Joyful Isles and Lyell Canyon. Whenever you apply for both of those permits, you’ll additionally want to pick “Donohue Cross Eligible” to be able to exit Yosemite Nationwide Park over Donohue Cross to proceed south on the JMT. Yosemite Nationwide Park solely points 45 wilderness permits for Donohue Cross per day. Of those, 20 can be found for the Joyful Isles to Previous LYV (Donohue Cross eligible) trailhead and 25 can be found for permits utilizing the Lyell Canyon (Donohue Cross eligible) trailhead.
By far essentially the most coveted permits are these issued by Yosemite Nationwide Park to begin on the Joyful Isles trailhead, in addition to these issued by Inyo Nationwide Forest to begin on the Whitney Portal trailhead. However whereas these are the normal beginning factors for SOBO and NOBO hikes, respectively, they aren’t the one choices.
On my 2020 NOBO trek, I began from the Horseshoe Meadow trailhead, 28 path miles south of Mount Whitney, to keep away from the competitors at Whitney Portal.
For allow deadlines and extra info on apply, try our publish on How To Apply for a Southbound JMT allow.
As annoying and discouraging as permits and trailhead quotas may be, they’re crucial to guard the path and the standard of the wilderness expertise. If all people who needed to hike the JMT in July and August have been allowed to go, the mountains could be overrun with folks, and the paths, campsites, and water sources could be rapidly degraded.
Do NOT be tempted to hike and not using a allow! The JMT crosses a whole lot of miles of distant wilderness, but it surely’s actively patrolled by backcountry park rangers. I had my Inyo Nationwide Forest allow checked 3 times, as soon as in Kings Canyon Nationwide Park and twice in Yosemite. I additionally met a bunch of 4 younger hikers from Seattle who have been ending their JMT hike early as a result of they didn’t have a allow and obtained caught by a ranger and have been dealing with steep fines in the event that they continued. Flaunting allow guidelines may get you banned from future allow lotteries.
How To Get To the JMT
Whether or not you hike the JMT SOBO or NOBO, you’ll be ending your hike a whole lot of miles out of your start line. There are a couple of methods to get to and from the beginning and ending trailheads of your hike, relying on whether or not you will have your individual automotive or will likely be counting on rides or on public transportation.
When you have your individual automotive, it’s greatest to park it at your ending trailhead and get a trip or take public transportation to the beginning of the hike. That approach you possibly can finish triumphantly at your automotive and drive your self to a victory meal and a scorching bathe. Many of the trailheads within the Sierra permit for long-term parking however verify with the native ranger station and allow them to know your dates of journey.
For those who plan on taking public transportation initially or end of your hike, understand that the choices are typically simpler in Yosemite, which is serviced by YARTS: Yosemite Space Regional Transportation System. Scenic Freeway 395, which runs alongside the jap facet of the Sierra, is serviced by Japanese Sierra Transit buses and the small cities alongside 395 are typically very adept at catering to hikers, with a number of non-public shuttle corporations choices primarily based in Mammoth, Bishop, Independence, and Lone Pine.
Hitchhiking from the varied trailheads into city can also be frequent observe and you’ll often get a trip with a fellow hiker or day tripper in trade for tales of your epic journey (and possibly a couple of dollars for gasoline). Not all people is comfy with this selection, however if you happen to belief your intestine, hitchhiking is usually a enjoyable a part of your mountain climbing journey.
For more information on which cities to fly into, a breakdown of the varied public transportation choices, in addition to route and speak to information for bus and shuttle corporations, try our publish on John Muir Path Transportation Information and Planning Ideas.
Planning Your JMT Itinerary
Whenever you apply to your JMT allow, you will have to know your beginning date, ending date, and the place you intend to spend your first night time on the JMT. Upon getting your allow, it’s tempting to need to plan out the place you’ll spend each night time in between, but it surely’s additionally essential to remain versatile. When you’re on path, a large number of things (climate, altitude acquire, accessible campsites, fellow hikers) will have an effect on what number of miles you cowl every day.
On common, most individuals will hike round 10 to fifteen miles a day. The JMT is blessed with plentiful campsites and ample water sources, so don’t stress an excessive amount of about discovering a campsite every night time. Even when the tent websites nearby of the path are all taken, you’re prone to discover many extra inside a half mile of the path.
All the time comply with Depart No Hint rules and choose established campsites on sturdy surfaces. By no means set your tent up on prime of fragile vegetation – particularly within the alpine zone – and don’t camp inside 200 ft of water sources.
Climbing the JMT includes gaining and dropping appreciable elevation up and over quite a few high-altitude passes. The very best technique for tackling these passes is to camp close to the bottom the night time earlier than so you possibly can hike the go very first thing within the morning when your legs are recent and the climate is essentially the most steady. Tenting at or close to the highest of passes isn’t often a terrific concept resulting from excessive winds, unpredictable climate, and frigid nighttime temperatures at altitude.
You’ll additionally have to plan out the place you’ll decide up your resupply packing containers alongside the way in which, which we’ll cowl beneath.
For those who’re interested in what a pattern JMT itinerary seems like, try Kristen’s 3 Week John Muir Path Itinerary, the place she highlights the very best viewpoints, campsites, swimming holes, and extra throughout her 22-day hike.
What To Eat on the John Muir Path
On the JMT, you’ll spend round three weeks on path, removed from eating places and grocery shops so you will have to pack or mail your self all of your meals for 20-plus days of strenuous mountain climbing. You’ll seemingly be ravenously hungry in your hike, however in fact, you possibly can’t convey infinite meals, as you will have to hold it in your again and match it into an permitted bear canister every night time to maintain critters out of your treasured meals stash.
For every day on the JMT, you’ll need to convey breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a lot of snacks! There’s loads of info on-line concerning the staggering quantity of energy burned whereas backpacking (over 500 energy an hour!), however until you’re actually into calorie counting in your day by day life, it’s not essential to get too slowed down by numbers when planning a backpacking journey. As a simple rule of thumb, goal to convey round 2 to 2.5 kilos of meals per particular person per day which must be round 3,000 to 4,000 energy per day.
When looking for the JMT, search out calorically dense meals that may be repackaged neatly into ziplock luggage. You need the very best amount of energy and vitamins within the smallest and lightest bundle to maximise the worth of every meals merchandise. Don’t purchase something low calorie or low fats.
Additionally bear in mind, you’ll have to carry your trash for no less than every week so that you don’t need meals which might be messy or smelly.
Retailer-bought dehydrated meals have gotten more and more higher when it comes to each style and high quality substances with a number of corporations making natural meals that cater to an array of dietary restrictions. Within the curiosity of saving area in your bear canister and slicing down on trash, you’ll have to repackage these meals into ziplocks. It’s cleaner and extra environment friendly to reheat dehydrated meals in an insulated pot with an insulating cozy than within the foil luggage.
Professional Tip: divide store-bought meals into a number of servings and add additional dehydrated veggies (these may be purchased in bulk), a protein akin to a tuna packet or salami, and an prompt grain like couscous or rice to make an ample portion. One of many best methods so as to add additional energy is to convey a plastic container of olive oil and add a tablespoon or two to every meal.
For extra ideas and recipes go to our John Muir Path Meals Procuring Checklist and Greatest Light-weight Vegan Backpacking Meals.
How To Resupply on the John Muir Path
One of many largest logistical challenges of the JMT is determining resupply your meals alongside the way in which. You’ll spend a lot of the path’s 200-plus miles immersed in wilderness, removed from grocery shops and eating places so that you’ll have to mail your self a number of resupply packages alongside the way in which. The commonest resupply spots on the JMT (listed SOBO) are:
- Purple’s Meadow (mile 60.8)
- Vermillion Valley Report (mile 88.1 plus 12 mile facet journey off JMT or ferry boat trip)
- Muir Path Ranch (mile 106.1)
- Bishop Cross trailhead/ Bishop (mile 136.2 plus 23.6 mile spherical journey facet journey off JMT)
- Onion Valley trailhead/ Independence (mile 180.3 plus 15 mile facet journey off JMT)
Most JMT hikers will reap the benefits of the Purple’s Meadow and Muir Path Ranch reservices, as they’re each situated a brief distance from the JMT. Each of those require mailing a few week’s value of meals in a field or 5-gallon bucket, no less than two weeks earlier than you start your hike. Each Purple’s Meadow and Muir Path Ranch have very particular directions for pack and mail your resupply on their respective web sites and extra information may be present in our weblog publish How To Resupply on the John Muir Path.
You’ll seemingly additionally want to rearrange a 3rd resupply within the southern portion of the path, as there are 117 miles of path to hike between MTR and Whitney Portal. At a mean backpacking tempo of 10 miles a day, this part will take no less than 11 days. Some folks can hike quick sufficient and stretch their meals provide to keep away from this third resupply however this isn’t advisable as you undoubtedly don’t need to really feel rushed or low on energy in direction of the tip of your hike.
The higher plan is to rearrange for a meals drop at Onion Valley trailhead or one of many different facet trails that department off the JMT. The draw back is that these will all require important facet journeys. For instance, Onion Valley is a 15-mile spherical journey detour, but it surely’s additionally spectacularly lovely with many glorious tenting choices alongside the way in which. There are additionally a couple of backcountry outfitters who will meet you on the JMT together with your resupply, carried in model by pack mule. These choices are typically costly however may be made extra cheap by splitting the service with a number of different hikers.
For heaps extra ideas, methods, and information about strategizing, packing, and mailing your resupplies to the varied resupply factors on the JMT, learn How To Resupply on the John Muir Path and John Muir Path Meals Procuring Checklist.
Bears & Meals Storage
For a lot of hikers, the opportunity of encountering bears is likely one of the scariest elements of planning a JMT hike. However the actuality is that with so many different folks on path, you’ll be fortunate to identify a bear in its pure habitat. Generally, bears and different wildlife desire to keep away from shut contact with people and the JMT is a veritable superhighway by means of the wilderness.
Nonetheless, every year a couple of intelligent Sierra bears be taught to affiliate folks and campsites with meals, often when persons are careless about leaving meals unattended or unsecured in camps or vehicles. This may be very harmful, particularly for the bears. A fed bear is commonly tragically a lifeless bear.
To maintain bears away from human meals, all hikers on the John Muir Path are required to hold an permitted bear canister. These sturdy plastic or steel containers are the one confirmed approach to hold bears from accessing meals within the Excessive Sierra, the place bears are adept climbers and tall bushes are uncommon.
You should buy your bear canister or hire one from ranger stations for a small payment. Ursacks and Opsacks aren’t acceptable alternate options on the JMT. Backcountry rangers will verify that you’ve a canister after they verify your allow.
Whereas mountain climbing, you possibly can hold snacks accessible in pockets of your backpack however in camp, all meals, trash, and scented gadgets want to suit inside your canister, together with toiletries like toothpaste and lotions. Preserve a clear camp! Don’t depart meals or scented gadgets out if you happen to’re not within the act of consuming them. At night time, the locked canister must be positioned no less than 50 ft out of your tent, in a location the place it’s not simply kicked off a cliff or right into a creek. Bear canisters are designed to be too cumbersome for bears to choose up or carry away however they may typically roll the canister round a bit.
For those who do see a bear on path, hold calm, converse to the bear to allow them to establish you as human and provides them as a lot area as potential. By no means method or comply with a bear or make it really feel cornered. If a bear comes into your camp, chase it away by yelling and banging your pot! Get mad. Scold it prefer it’s a foul canine. Don’t let it assume it’s welcome to discover your camp. If the bear doesn’t depart, or even when it does, think about shifting to a different location or teaming up with fellow campers. Black bears aren’t usually a menace to folks, and are often dissuaded by a number of folks all yelling on the bear to go away.
What To Pack on the John Muir Path
In relation to packing for backpacking, much less is extra: the much less weight you convey, the extra you’ll get pleasure from your journey. There’s nothing worse than struggling beneath the load of a too heavy backpack, particularly on a multi week hike just like the JMT.
Earlier than my JMT thru-hike, my mountain climbing companion and I sat down with all of our gear and a kitchen scale, weighed out all the things, and entered all of it right into a spreadsheet. Seeing the numbers damaged down by merchandise actually helped shave off a couple of kilos. I traded out my trusty (however heavy) Osprey pack for a a lot lighter Granite Gear Blaze 60 pack, lightening my load by almost 2 kilos.
That may not sound like a lot, however while you’re carrying weight for over 300 miles, each ounce counts! By the point I hit the path, I had whittled my base weight all the way down to 22 kilos, not together with meals and water. So even totally stocked with 8 days of meals, my longest meals carry between resupplies, my pack nonetheless weighed beneath 40 kilos.
For those who can afford to put money into some new gear, do your analysis and be very selective about what you purchase. Gear expertise and improvements have actually accelerated in the previous couple of years and there are many light-weight choices for backpacking tents, sleeping luggage, stoves, and clothes.
Everyone has their private preferences in relation to sleep techniques, cooking techniques and clothes techniques. Sadly, the lightest gear is commonly costly and never as sturdy as you may hope. For intensive use, akin to on the JMT, it typically is sensible to choose a barely extra rugged choice so it’ll survive your journey and hopefully a couple of extra!
The very best recommendation is to check your gear and actually get to understand it earlier than you set off in your JMT journey. Plan to take no less than one in a single day shakedown hike forward of your journey. If potential, take a number of shakedown journeys! Ideally, over a number of nights! Preserve notes about what you employ and what you don’t use. You could possibly drop a couple of pointless gadgets forward of your JMT journey. Bear in mind much less is extra and each ounce counts!
For Kristen’s detailed packing and kit listing, go to our Full John Muir Path Gear Checklist and browse Ultralight Backpacking Ideas for recommendation on shed weight.
The place to Camp on the John Muir Path
Climbing all 211 miles of John Muir Path takes round 20 days, which suggests you’ll additionally get to spend round 20 nights sleeping beneath the celebs. Campsites alongside the JMT are typically glorious and plentiful so don’t stress an excessive amount of about discovering a spot to sleep every night time. In fact, some choices are extra spectacular than others so we’ve collected our favourite campsites into one publish: 15 Greatest John Muir Path Campsites.
So what makes a terrific campsite?
First, it must be a beforehand established tent website that’s greater than 100ft away from any water supply. We’ll talk about extra about Depart No Hint on the JMT within the following part.
Second, it must be flat. There’s nothing extra annoying than rolling downhill all night time.
Third, it must be quiet. With so many campsites in a lot wilderness, you shouldn’t need to take heed to someone loud night breathing of their tent a couple of yards away.
Fourth, it must be close to water. On the JMT, this requirement is often straightforward. The path crosses numerous lake basins and also you’ll hardly ever be removed from water for greater than a mile or two. Even when there’s not a lake or creek proper by your campsite, you’ll seemingly have the ability to refill within the late afternoon earlier than you strike camp. Simply you’ll want to comply with LNT rules and set your tent up no less than 100ft away from water sources.
Past the essential necessities, the very best campsites are those that afford spectacular views of sunsets, moonrises, the Milky Method, sunrises, or the entire above. However whereas all of us love a wide-open vista, understand that if it’s stormy, you’ll need some safety from the wind and lightning. The one factor worse than a tilted tent is having to take heed to your tent flapping round you all night time. Exponentially worse is worrying about your tent being struck by lightning! If storms are threatening, search a low spot to your tent, maybe within the bushes, however all the time verify for lifeless branches and particles which may fall onto your tent in a storm.
When searching for a campsite, understand that whilst you can typically spot tent websites alongside the path, you won’t have a lot privateness right here as different hikers will likely be strolling proper by your tent. However if you happen to discover slightly off the path, you’ll you’ll want to discover many extra website choices a brief distance away that will likely be a lot quieter. When exploring away from the path, you’ll want to hold your bearings so you will discover your approach again!
With so many website choices on the JMT, there’s no have to create new tent websites. See our subsequent part on Depart No Hint for pointers on benefit from the wilderness with out marring the expertise for others.
How To Depart No Hint on the John Muir Path
You recognize that previous saying, “take solely pictures, depart solely footprints”? Effectively if in any respect potential, keep away from even leaving footprints! Ideally, after you’ve hiked the John Muir Path, there must be no signal that you simply have been ever there. That’s the ethos inspired by the seven core rules of Depart No Hint out of doors ethics:
- Plan forward and put together
- Camp on onerous and sturdy surfaces
- Eliminate waste correctly
- Depart what you discover
- Decrease campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be thoughtful of different guests
With so many individuals having fun with the Sierra’s pristine wilderness and untouched landscapes on the John Muir Path, it’s essential that everyone do their half to protect this wilderness for future guests. The JMT passes by means of excessive alpine environments, that are extremely rugged but additionally extremely delicate. A couple of LNT methods to remember when mountain climbing the JMT:
- All the time set your tent up on an present tent website. There are lots of established campsites on the JMT – you shouldn’t create new websites or set your tent up on vegetation.
- All the time camp no less than 200 ft from water. Creeksides and lakeshores are simply eroded and sometimes vegetated and you might be blocking wildlife’s entry to water sources.
- Scatter dishwater. Additionally, don’t dump meals waste or meals particles in creeks or lakes.
- By no means use cleaning soap in creeks. You shouldn’t want cleaning soap in your hike, save the load and depart it at house. A fingernail brush can do wonders for soiled fingers, ft and decrease legs, no cleaning soap wanted.
- If you wish to swim within the many alpine lakes on the JMT, keep away from slathering on sunscreen or lotion earlier than you leap in.
- Pack out all rubbish, together with bathroom paper. Don’t burn or bury something. Used bathroom paper may be bagged in canine waste luggage (convey a roll, they’re gentle and sturdy) after which double bagged in a ziplock bag. On Mount Whitney hikers are required to make use of wag luggage for strong waste. You may decide up a wag bag on the Crabtree Meadows Ranger Station earlier than you start your climb up Whitney.
- On the remainder of the JMT, pee no less than 100 ft away from water sources, and step properly away from the path and campsites. To poop, stroll no less than 100 ft away from water sources, the path and campsites, dig a gap 6 to eight inches deep (carry a light-weight trowel for digging, sticks aren’t enough instruments), and bury your waste, taking care to go away the floor unmarked as a lot as potential. Pack out all bathroom paper.
- Don’t construct rock cairns or depart path markers.
- Don’t cache meals wherever on path (this isn’t an applicable approach to resupply).
- All JMT hikers are required to hold and use an permitted bear canister.
- Preserve a clear camp. Retailer all meals and scented gadgets in your bear canister until actively consuming. Mice, skunks, and bears are all drawn to human meals smells.
- Fires are solely allowed in a couple of areas on the JMT however think about going fire-free in your trek to preserve restricted wooden assets and cut back the potential for forest fires. California is a tinder field!
Do not forget that Depart No Hint will not be black and white however about making the absolute best resolution to attenuate our impression within the particular setting and circumstances that we’re in. Not a set of do’s and don’ts, however a set of pointers to assist us depart the locations we go to pretty much as good and even higher than we discovered them.
Extra JMT Assets, Maps, & Guidebooks
The John Muir Path is a legendary route that has ferried folks by means of the rugged coronary heart of the Sierra for 1000’s of years (initially because the Nüümü Poyo). A lot has been written concerning the JMT and the Sierra by many poets and adventurers from Muir himself into the trendy day.
For a complete studying listing of all issues JMT, try our publish on the Greatest John Muir Path Maps, Books, Apps and Assets, from Muir’s traditional Wilderness Essays to Elizabeth Wenk’s John Muir Path Guidebook to the very best paper maps and apps to assist plot and monitor your route.
What else do you need to find out about mountain climbing the John Muir Path? Do you will have any extra John Muir Path planning ideas or recommendation? Tell us in the feedback beneath!
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