Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18
  1. #1
    Senior Member Free Home's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Free Home, GA
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.0DL,1.7, WBRR DL, BIAS Micro
    Tarp
    HG Hex, WL Tadpole
    Insulation
    40*HG PX, 20HG 10D
    Suspension
    WB straps, whoopie
    Posts
    246

    John Muir Trail: Late July

    I know people have hung on the PCT, but what about the JMT. I was looking to doing this Trail in late July and early into August.

    Thoughts about this would greatly be appreciated.

    Thanks
    "you will never reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks."
    Winston Churchill

  2. #2

    John Muir Trail: Late July

    Good day,

    Your biggest challenge will be to get the appropriate wilderness permit. If you are going solo it should be realatively easy to get one. Regardless, if you intend to go southboand (by far the better way to hike it), you'll need to get the permit at the Wilderness Center in Yosemite Valley.

    There was also a very substantial tree blow-down this last winter that has affected the trail, although much of that has been cleared (and even more will by the end of July).

    It is a GREAT hike and I highly recommend it. Because of the need for a permit, the fact that it rarely brushes up against civilization, and for some other reasons the most critical element to a successful hike is a good plan. For that, I recommend you begin at JMTBook.com.

    Good hiking, Ray

    Ray Rippel
    Author, Planning Your Thru-Hike of the John Muir Trail
    http://jmtbook.com/
    Follow me at: www.twitter.com/JMTBook

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    CA Central Valley
    Hammock
    Warbonnet BB!
    Tarp
    MacCat Deluxe
    Insulation
    JRB HR (2)
    Posts
    1,329
    You will need a bear canister, some resupply boxes sent ahead, and the ability to hike over the high passes and get below treeline in a day. There are segments of the trail you'll find yourself becoming nervous as you go through mile after mile of open talus, scree, granite, etc.

    You can hang all the way unless the unexpected happens and for some reason you have to stop above treeline. For that reason it would be good to have some sort of pad with you. A 1/2 or 3/4 length UQ and a torso length pad would be a good compromise.

    The permit will be easy to get if you walk in midweek and have the flexibility to hang out all morning in the permit office. Read the Yosemite web page - you have three opportunities per day to get a permit. If you go in when the office opens, they might have a walk in permit available for that day. Wait until 10 am and they might have some abandoned, formerly reserved permits come available. Then wait til 11 am if neither of those happen, and you'll probably get a walk in permit for the following day.

    Follow the food storage rules to the letter and don't try to start hiking a day early or a day later than the permit says, and you're golden.

    Read up on elevation sickness before you go, too. Good to know what to do about that.

  4. #4
    New Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    USA
    Hammock
    WBBB
    Posts
    15
    Great advise here from Ray and Lori, thanks for this.

  5. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Trout Run, pa
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.1 Double
    Tarp
    ZPacks Cuben Fiber
    Insulation
    Yeti 20* UQ
    Posts
    50
    Just got back from the JMT a week ago, and would have had no problem hanging the whole time...but since I was hiking with a ground person, I chose to go the traditional tent method. Kind regret that now!

  6. #6
    Member Wolf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Lake Dallas, TX
    Hammock
    DIY Timber Wolf or Grey Wolf
    Tarp
    DIY Wolf Den
    Insulation
    Hammock Gear, UGQ
    Suspension
    DIY Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    77

    Cool Thanks

    I'm new to the Forum and was wondering on similar things...
    not necessarily the JMT. How do you prepare for a trip when you know you can't hang all the nights? Do you lower the tarp to the ground and carry a very light pad to sleep on?

  7. #7
    Senior Member mountain_man_mike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Clovis, CA
    Hammock
    DIY
    Tarp
    DIY silnylon
    Insulation
    DIY CLIMASHIELD UQ
    Suspension
    DIY hugs & whoopie
    Posts
    1,632
    It's just one guy's way of going about it, but I always bring along a scaled down Z rest pad. I usually don't have to go to the ground so I use it as a "porch mat" but can use it as it was designed to be used when biting the bullet. Depending on the terrain I may or may not use the hammock as a sheet to sleep on, but I won't risk damage to it. The top quilt is next with as you described the tarp lowered. The tarp I made has beaks on it like Ray Jardine shows on his website and adapts easily. It's not often when I have to go to the ground and although I can adapt, it makes me grumpier than usual.
    Happy Trails to one and all.
    Enjoy the outdoors wisely and elevate your perspective.

    Modified Penny Wood Stove instructional Video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPlHqsYy38


    Hammock Wheel https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...09#post1035609


    Another Really cool JC Penny Puffer instructional- https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...141#post953141

  8. #8
    New Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Pensacola FL
    Posts
    8
    The bear canister is new to me. I read about it on one of the NPS sites but they did not give a weight or volume. Do you know?

  9. #9
    Senior Member mountain_man_mike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Clovis, CA
    Hammock
    DIY
    Tarp
    DIY silnylon
    Insulation
    DIY CLIMASHIELD UQ
    Suspension
    DIY hugs & whoopie
    Posts
    1,632
    Bear canisters (like a lot of gear) come in different sizes and weights. There are carbon fiber ones that are a lot lighter. As with all things that lighten your load, your wallet is the first thing that gets lightened. I use a Bear Vault BV500, which weighs in at 2 lbs, 9 oz. empty. It does multi task as a chair. I recommend using a sit pad because the Bear Vault is basically an oversized child proof capped container and it numbs the hiney. Depending on how you pack it the BV500 can hold up to 9 days on the trail. I have not tried packing for anything longer but nine days of dried at home food was a snug fit. Garcia has made quality cans for years and as mentioned before, carbon fiber ones more recently. Our troop got a discount price on them years ago, but expect to pay $70 - $90 for one. Other companies are similar but not exact and all offer smaller versions for the weekend treks.
    Happy Trails to one and all.
    Enjoy the outdoors wisely and elevate your perspective.

    Modified Penny Wood Stove instructional Video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPlHqsYy38


    Hammock Wheel https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...09#post1035609


    Another Really cool JC Penny Puffer instructional- https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...141#post953141

  10. #10
    Senior Member breyman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Hammock
    WBRR
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    Lynx/Quilts
    Suspension
    Straps
    Posts
    1,703
    Images
    2
    Quote Originally Posted by mountain_man_mike View Post
    Bear canisters (like a lot of gear) come in different sizes and weights. There are carbon fiber ones that are a lot lighter. As with all things that lighten your load, your wallet is the first thing that gets lightened. I use a Bear Vault BV500, which weighs in at 2 lbs, 9 oz. empty. It does multi task as a chair. I recommend using a sit pad because the Bear Vault is basically an oversized child proof capped container and it numbs the hiney. Depending on how you pack it the BV500 can hold up to 9 days on the trail. I have not tried packing for anything longer but nine days of dried at home food was a snug fit. Garcia has made quality cans for years and as mentioned before, carbon fiber ones more recently. Our troop got a discount price on them years ago, but expect to pay $70 - $90 for one. Other companies are similar but not exact and all offer smaller versions for the weekend treks.
    +1 on BearVault. I have a Bearikade (carbon fiber) and it's a good bit lighter, but also 2-3x more expensive. The BearVault is a great balance between weight and price, unless you plan on using it all the time. if so, get a Bearikade.
    Brian
    Denver, CO
    Father. Husband. Scoutmaster.

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. thru hiking the john muir trail
      By stonefree in forum Long distance travel with a hammock
      Replies: 40
      Last Post: 08-05-2015, 08:24
    2. Hammocking on the John Muir Trail
      By nu2hike in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 07-21-2012, 15:26
    3. John Muir Trail w/Hammock
      By Hangman in forum Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 02-16-2011, 13:24
    4. John Muir Trail
      By Mule in forum Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 03-30-2008, 02:10

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •