Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board JM Trail: Campsites north of Forrester pass

Laura's Xmas video inspired us flat landers to plan to come back to Whitney again! This time the plan is to start from Onion Valley and do the Kearsarge pass, Forester Pass, follow JMT to Whitney and then down to WP. Laura and team did it in one day. But we want to do the same in 5 days leisurely . From Tyndall ck Jn to south is beaten track for us. So the q. is how close to Forrester pass can we camp? I see one lake on the north side of the FP after the Bubbs ck crossing. So is this lake accessible to the JMT approaching FP from North and for camping? Thanks! Krishna

If you look on the topo map at the last green area just before the trail hangs a sharp left East, there are camping places. This is a little ways south of the upper Vidette Meadow area. Be forewarned there are bears in the general Vidette Meadow area so you will need Bear Canisters as there are no fixed bear lockers that far south of Vidette Meadows. This is a fairly short distance north of Foresters Pass. CMC

CMC: Thanks! Last two Whitney hikes we rented Bear Cannisters and felt very comfortable with them. So it should be OK. Planning for late July or early August.

Its been several years since I've been there but I can recall a couple nice places to camp. There were some good spots next to the creek that were still below the tree line. I found them because of the bear box but those may be gone now. However, once the trail comes out above the trees it goes up somewhat steeply and then makes that left turn to the east. I remember seeing some nice little ponds and meadowy areas off to the north side of the trail right there. That area is just a short distance from the pass (1-2 hour hike). The large lakes you see on the map just north of Forrester pass are not all that inviting. I don't remember seeing any good places to camp around them. Too many huge rocks. Hope this helps!

Aaron: Thanks! Are you talking about the creek side when JMT turns east sharply, goes along the creek, goes up, crosses the creek and gets into wide contours near the kidney shaped lake and next creek side spot seems to be when JMT straightens southwards, goes briefly along the creek now flowing north. After this the round lake is on the east side of the trail. Is the the boulder strewn one you are mentioning. Thanks!
Krishna

I camped at the lake north of Forrester Pass on my JMT trip a few years ago. A little difficult to find a flat spot among the boulders, but doable. I recall that we used the area above the lake on the east side of the trail/outlet creek

two established small campsites literally right next to the trail at last scraggly trees around 11,200 ft with water in small streams off to your right as you head southbound before Forester. Or want to get away from trail, just go on other side in gravely area.
Harvey

Harvey:
Thanks! The goal is to get up & start the hike early so that we can watch sun rise from the Forester Pass! Just dreaming on and planning every foot step as usual!
Krishna

h_lankford,

You are right, I also camped at that small campsites with a very tiny stream (in early August) at 11,360'. 500' toward south is another good spot but without water, they are still in the treeline.
It is about 2 miles south of Center Basin which has good campsites and bear box. It is about 2.5 miles north of Forester Pass.
The last water source is about 0.5 - 0.75 mile south of the campsite, in some seasonal creeks on the left side of the trail above the treeline.

Have fun on the trail

TBT