Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board JMT 2007

Hi all, happy new year, I need some beta. If one wanted to plan a northern trip up the JMT this year, when might one guess the window would be best opened to a semi snow free hike. My plan is to take like three weeks and hike it slow, starting by going over the Mountaineering Route and heading north. I know winter might return, but if it dosent. When would one think the passes would be clear of major snow? Thanks John

Mid-July thru August would probably be your best window, but with the lower snowfall this year, you probably could start at the beginning of July.

I'm curious. I've done a couple trans-Sierra backpack trips, and my packs were HEAVY, as in real heavy. (The first trip was 70 pounds.) No way would I lug a heavy pack like that up the Mountaineer's Route all the way to the summit, or even up to the Notch. Can it be done? Of course, but I think that really brutalizes your bod. It's relatively safe and "easy" up the main trail, but not up the MR. Are you planning an ultralite pack trip?

Thanks for the reply, I hope someone will tell me that because of the weak winter that I could start around mid June. But, if I have to wait longer its no big deal. I think my pack weight should be around 40lbs at the trail head. Not super light but close. My tent is 3lbs. pack 3lbs. bag 2lbs ext. Bear can, I dont wanta know. I plan to fish for most of my food, and restock only in like 2 or 3 places.
More input and questions are very welcomed, thanks and have a great weekend, John

I did the JMT with my son last summer in late July. The passes were certainly clear of major snow at that point. We went north to south and encountered the most snow on the descent from Muir Pass and the ascent of Forrester Pass. But I found nothing to complain about, even wearing trail shoes with no gaiters. The creek crossings were more of a challenge than the snow (although the two are obviously related), but they were straightforward as well in late July.

I'm with Wayne -- at the moment, it looks like everything will work much earlier this year. As others have said elsewhere, the Whitney area is probably not the biggest concern.

BTW, we started out with about 30 pounds and ended up with less than 20. I'd be willing to lug that little load just about anywhere. :-)

If you are planning to fish, you may want to take a layover day at Rae Lakes or nearby Arrowhead Lake or Dollar Lake where the fishing is excellent. I'm a novice fisherman (translation: not particularly good at it yet) and I was getting hits every 2-3 casts in these lakes last summer. Evolution Lake also is good for fishing. I don't think snow will be an issue for you, although stream crossings may be. The earlier you go, the more difficult the stream crossings. In my experience, the two most difficult stream crossings on the JMT have been Bear Creek below Rosemarie Meadow and Evolution Creek. Make sure to cross Evolution Creek in open Evolution Meadow after taking the use trail off the JMT instead of the crossing right on the JMT -- it is much nicer and easier. Good luck and have fun.

I went up the MR with a pack at the end of the JMT, August 2006. At that point pack weight was somewhere around 30 pounds. There were a few mild Alfred Hitchcock cliff scene moments, but it can be done.

Another less masochistic idea would be to camp at the base of the MR chute, summit and return without the pack, then proceed over the saddle to Guitar Lake.

Starting the JMT at the Whitney end has got to be rough due to the alitude change and pack weight. I met a guy who was camping at the portal the first night of the JMT just to acclimate. Seemed like a good idea. Plus you can carb load at the store (and when I say carb load, I am talking about a pancake about the size and weight of a Manhattan manhole cover). Uh, maybe do it the night before...

I'll be taking a stab at the HST and then the JMT starting mid June. Perhaps I'll run into you. It looks like the snow will be a non-issue. The water crossings may be high, but I don't think they'll be too bad if all the snow is already melted off.

I may even leave the ice ax at home.

If you are goint to rely on fishing for food, when you get to Bear Creek, although the fishing there is pretty good, there is a better spot close by. If you have time, look at your map for Bear Twin Lakes, a few hundred feet up the west side of the canyon. The fishing there is absolutely outstanding. The trout strike at anything and are fat-bodied (mix of rainbow and brook). At one of the Bear Twin Lakes, one of the guys in our group would dangle his lure above the water and the fish would jump out of the water to take it.

Thanks everyone, I cant wait, It looks like June is out, more like mid July, I hope the bugs dont eat me. When is the bug season this year? Will it come early? I think its going to take me like 18 Trail days to finish. (13.5 per day, I need time to fish) I have a MSR Internationl, if I wanted to make it from Iceberg Lake all the way to Reds Meadows,(12 days) what size bottle? Who knows? Two cups in the morning, a hot water face scrub, and a mountian house dinner for 2 everyother night. Thats my typical deal. Also how many rolls of TP would you guess I need? Does anyone know if I can pick up some TP in Reds Meadow. Will I have to steel some? Again thanks everyone, and have a great and safe weekend.

Jeff, I'll be leading a trail crew on the JMT/PCT along Bear Creek (actually, the section between Selden Pass and the top of Bear Ridge), from June 17-23. We'll be based at the intersection of the JMT and the Bear Creek trail (site of old Kip Camp). Stop by if you're in the neighborhood!

Ken -- The only ranger we saw on the JMT last summer checked our permit at the top of Bear Ridge. Now I find you heading there. Did you put him up to it?

Alan, that was the only one you SAW. We actually had you under visual all the time you were in "my" forest. Glad you followed the rules.....

Hmmm...

I didn't see any bears or mountain lions either. I'm glad we followed their rules too!

I'd love to do a HSVTC trip, but it doesn't look like any of the events fit my schedule. If I can work out the transportation issues, I may try and do one of the PCT trips before my hike. Where are you guys meeting up? Where are you entering from?