Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board JMT 211 Miles in 13 Days

Just checking to see if anyone is planning on doing the JMT trail this year northbound starting on Saturday, August 15th.

I know there's quite a few doing it southbound during that time. Beth and Jeff are doing it southbound from www.hikeformike.com. They're hiking the trail this year for her brother Mike who took his life from Depression.

This year myself, thehiker, and 3 others are gong to attempt the JMT in 13 days. Hopefully we won't have any problems. Our website is www.thehiker.com

Any suggestions from anyone who's attempted it that quick would be greatly appreciated.

Our packs are just under 25 lbs so when it comes to weight it shouldn't be an issue.

where are you all resupplying at? 25 lbs. is an awesome weight but how do you go so light with all the food requirements and other long haul requirements?

Buffy,

Happy 4th! Email my buddy, Bob Atwood (bobatwood@yahoo.com ). He and I did Whitney on June 24, and he is doing the JMT starting July 15. He got some great tips from Doug at the Portal Store, and can share them with you.

Good luck and be safe.

Tom

I have to congratulate you on your endeavor but I have to ask why? A few years age, I had an uncle. He decided to drive across country in 6 days--non-stop. He attached a video camera to the wind wing and had it running when the car was moving. He explained that in this way he could go back and look at the tape and see what he missed. Now without doing the math, it appears that you are doing about 15 miles a day--every day--no rests--no layovers. having done the JMT twice, I realize that there is a lot of hellish trail--places where you concentrate on your feet-don't look up--can't look around---miss it all. Factor in the days of re-stocking and backtracking to get back on trail and I figure you will see about 10% of the beauty. I think you are missing the point of the trail. I think you might be better served by adding a week--figure in a few rest days-and enjoy it. Or you can take a video camera---tie it to your pack-- and record what you missed-cause you are missing a lot. The first time we did it in 22 days--and that was rushed. food for thought.

I agree with markskor. I did it Northbound in 15 days a few years ago and it turned pretty much into quest. If I were to do it again I would either break it up into 3 seperate trips or just allow for a lot more layover days. At that pace it became a grind. Well however you decide to do it, have fun because you could be working instead. By the way Vermillion Valley Resort (Lake Edison) was very hiker friendly when I was there a few years ago. They accept parcels that you can ship over for resupply.

Hey Buffy

Go for it and enjoy. There are many ways to experience the JMT, fast or slow is all relative to each person. I had a fabulous time 2 years ago when I fastpacked it in 7.5 days. On the trail I met a man from Sacramento celebrating his 80th birthday who was hiking the trail in 45 days. I have friends that have run the whole trail in 4.5 days. Everybody's challenge is different so whatever works for you is great. If you want to read my report on my adventure, please email me & I'll forward it to you.

Enjoy
Deborah

Hi Buffy,

I'm not sure why, everytime someone describes a long dayhike or fast paced backpack, people feel the need to say "that's not how I would do it", "slow down", "take your time & enjoy...".

Everyone has different schedules, responsibilites, priorities, capabilites, enjoyments,... whatever. Good for you for planning your trip for your desires.

I'm planning a 10 day N>S JMT trip this Sept. And if I could do it faster I would.

Cheers, FRank

Buffy, my son and I will be just finishing our hike when we pass each other...we'll be southbound leaving from Yosemite on July 27th, but we'll be taking about 23 days so we'll get in to the Portal on August 18th.

I have to admit, I'm glad I've got the 23 days to do the hike - I am really looking forward to NOT rushing and having a couple lay-over days to relax and explore... but I also really admire the people that can do it in such a short time. Daskew and other trail runners are truly amazing!

Hope we see you on the trail...good luck!!

How the heck do you get that much time off work? I can't

Buffy,
I think your itinerary is great, don't let other people mess with your mind or your pace. Another poster wrote, "I think you are missing the point of the trail." Well, to be blunt, I think someone who does it in 20 or 30 days might also be missing the point from a faster person's perspective. Heck, to each his own. Live and let live.

I think it's nonsense to say that someone who hikes really fast somehow "misses out" or doesn't see all the beauty. Do you see or remember more when you drive a car through a National Park at 30 MPH as opposed to 60 MPH? Nope. In a week, you forget most of it anyway. You don't retain any more with a slower pace, this is a myth.

Anyway, I've done the JMT in 15 days once and I saw plenty and enjoyed it all. My brother did it all in 10 days and loved it. For people with a faster pace, going slower would be terrible and a total drag. We don't bag on the "slowpokes" but so often they say, "you went too fast and missed the point." Let us all hike in our own way at our own pace, whatever that may be: slow, medium, or supersonic. Go get the trail, Buffy and 13 days is plenty to enjoy it all.

Buffy,

I hiked the John Muir Trail north to south in 10 days last summer and this summer I plan to do it in 9 days. I did not rush and took as many photos as I wanted. Your schedule is very doable, and your pack load sounds sensible. I found the following tips to be helpful:

1. Start each day at first light, and try to camp overnight before a significant climb in the trail is coming up. It is much easier to hike uphill first thing in the morning when it is cool and your legs are fresh compared to late in the day.

2. Take breaks whenever you want to. It is good to take a long break at the middle of the day to soak your feet in cold water, pump water, wash your socks (which you can then secure to the outside of your pack for drying that afternoon) and attend to other maintenance.

3. Take plenty of bandaids and moleskin in case you develop blisters. I put super feet in my hiking boots and switched them with the original insoles that came with the boots whenever I felt a major blister coming on. The system worked for me.

4. Stop at the restaurant at Red's Meadow and the grill at Tuolemne Meadows and eat to your heart's content. You probably will lose weight during the trek and filling up at these locations is key.

Enjoy.

I'm one of the people going with Buffy on that trip and there are several reasons we are doing it in 13 days. We are also taking one day off at VVR and half a day at tuolummne for resupply and enjoyment.

1) We can only take 2 weeks off of work. (although I wish I could take off longer)
2) We have done most of the trail in sections and wanted to experience the entire thing.
3) With the light load, it's really not that strenuous for us to hike 20 miles per day. Last year we hiked about that fast for 4 days and had plenty of time to rest frequently, take 150+ pictures, go for swim, etc...

Vynse, we keep the pack small by getting a lot of ultralight equip and using no tent, just bug bivy.
At most we have 6 days of food and it's mostly mac-n-cheese, balance bars, m&ms, etc... pretty light stuff.

Rosabella, we'll look for you on the trail. I think it's great part of the experience to meet cool people on the trail. If anyone else is going during those dates, please post so we can look out.

And thanks to everyone for their advice!

We are in the same boat. Only can take so much time off from our duties at home. We did the stretch from Yosemite to Tuolumne last summer. Next week we leave from Tuolumne to do the remaining JMT in 16 days with a day of rest/resupply at VVR. Anyone else out there doing the trip at this time (7/11 to 7/26)? If so, wave as you go by. Ron and Tina

we're starting southbound on August 15th, planning to average 10 miles per day. we'll be carrying our son for the first 9 days, but i'm leaning toward sending him home with my parents, who will be meeting us at Vermilion Valley on August 24th. after that, we'll be able to do much more than 10 miles a day! so if you see a couple of lunatics, one of whom will have a toddler on their back, be sure to say hello!

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Hi Buffy and thehiker,

I'll be going southbound, leaving on 8/26 -- maybe I'll see you near the end of your trip. Have a great time!

A number of years ago, my friend and I did it in 8 days, S to N. Started out with 24 lb packs, 12 of which was food. No sleeping bags, no tent, no stove. Used bivy sacks and put on all clothes at night. Camped in valleys, not passes. Had a pot and could make fires, so had a hot dinner on nights 2, 4 and 6 - but cold ones on nights 1, 3, 5 and 7.

It was wonderful. Here we were, sailing along at 25 - 30 miles per day, heads high and enjoying the fast-changing scenery. While passing people with packs double that weight and more, who seemed to be viewing only the three feet in front of them.

What remains? To do it in 30 days or so, with resupplies, luxuriating over each experience like a fine wine. And maybe again in 15 days, getting the benefits of each.

It's a marvelous country. There is no best answer.

Thanks to everyone who posted...I appreciate everyone's input even if I don't agree with some, because we can all look at the same thing differently. And the bottom line is that's its all good as long as we get out to the Mountains...

JGranite - thehiker and I will be looking out for you.

Tarbubble - we'll be looking out for the lunatics on the trail I think we should come across each other between Red's and VVR.

rosabella - we'll be looking out for you and your son.

Happy Hikers, mtn_climbr001, and Bob Atwood - Good luck on your experiences hiking the JMT this summer...

Tim - Thanks for the good advice. We'll implement all of your suggestions.

If anyone is curious on our trip's itinerary, here it is:

8/16 SAT Whitney Portal - Crabtree 19.5
8/17 SUN - Charlotte Lake 24
8/18 MON - South Fork Kings River 21
8/19 TUE - Big Pete Meadow 22
8/20 WED - Evolution Valley 18
8/21 THU - Bear Creek 19.5
8/22 FRI - VVR Ferry (by 9 am) 9.6
8/23 SAT - VVR (9 am) - Lake Virginia 12.8
8/24 SUN - Red's Meadow 16.8
8/25 MON - below Donohue Pass 19
8/26 TUE - Tuolumne Meadows 15
8/27 WED - Half Dome 14 (summit for sunset)
8/28 THU - Yosemite (by 4:15 for bus) 11

Amtrak (Yosemite to Los Angeles)
4:15 pm Amtrak Bus to Merced 6:25 pm
6:31 pm Amtrak Train from Merced to Bakersfield 9:43 pm
9:50 pm Amtrak Bus from Bakersfield to Los Angeles 12:35 am

Hike on you hikers and may the trail bring good tidings to all!!!

As far as I know the record is 3 days,done with esentially camelbacks and support.It was in Trail Runner Magazine a few months ago. Speed actually enhances the experience in many ways,pupils dialate senses are on edge. I just can't imagine hiking with 50-60 lbs on my back like the old days,how does that enhance the experience? when running you can sence the trail,looking at the hikers for instance in the grand canyon much of their focus is looking down to prevent tripping.Going light you can keep your focus on the scenery.
Has anyone done the Tahoe Rim Trail I would like to do it in about a week next summer.(162 miles)

Here is a link to a four day <a href="http://www.dimensional.com/~buzz/JMT/">JMT trip</a> done in 2000. Total time was 4 days, 14 hours, and 39 minutes from trailhead to trailhead or 4 days, 9 hours, 19 minutes for the actual trail (summit to trailhead).

Robert, A friend of mine is doing a run of Tahoe Rim in 4 days in August this year. I'll put you in touch with him if you are interested but I would like to get his permission to give you his email first in consideration of his privacy. You would need to be in A+ condition to play along. Pace as reference - Rae Lakes loop (42 miles) in <11 hours. Use my email to contact me off the board if intersted.