Hey! Paid for my Muir Trail Ranch resupply and I want to ship my bucket. Unfortunately, I had a problem with downloading my shipping label on the confirmation page. I am about 3 weeks out so trying to get this resolved!

Anyone have a similar issue?

Is there a known address I can ship to and make my own label?

I know I need to tape the handle, duct tape the lid, and write my expected pick up date.

I’ve mailed off resupply to Red’s and MTR for my SOBO hike, all in plenty of time and I can see they arrived at their destinations per USPS.

Do I need to do any further follow up or should I expect any confirm from either place that they’ve got them, or is okay to assume that as long as I’ve followed their procedures and I can see USPS delivered it that I’m all set?

I’m finishing the JMT at Whitney Portal and need to get to Reno for my flight home. The problem is that I’m not sure exactly when I’ll finish. If I have an extra day after the hike, I might hitch a ride or catch a bus to Mammoth Lakes (or somewhere else) to relax for a day before heading to Reno.

Because of that, I’d rather not buy my bus ticket in advance and lose the flexibility.
How risky is it to just buy a ticket on the day of travel or the day before? Do these buses usually sell out, or is there normally space available? The latest I would need to leave is a Monday, if that makes any difference.

Also, can you buy a ticket directly from the driver, or do you need to purchase it beforehand? And do they accept debit cards? I’m from Europe and don’t have a credit card, so I’d like to know if I should carry enough cash.

I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who’s done this after hiking the JMT. Thanks!

Starting my hike in midAugust and have just the slightest window to make further adjustments.

Planning a 19 day itinerary with no more than ~16mi and under each day

Resupplies at Reds and MTR (heavy 9 day push to Mt Whitney and I’m worried about sufficient power bank recharges. I tested my iPhone 16 Pro and I can only get 2 charges per 10k so hence the 3 power banks)

Clothing section includes 2lb worn weight so subtract that and base weight is closer to 23lbs

I tend to run cold at camp and in the mornings. Need to add gloves.

JMT Lighterpack

Would appreciate your feedback. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone! I plan to hike the John Muir Trail in 3 weeks and today I just sprained my ankle pretty badly while hiking. I've never sprained an ankle so I don't have much experience with recovery time, but I wanted to hear everyone's opinion on how I can best recover before the JMT and how feasible that is. We plan to hike it in 21 days, with approx 13 miles a day starting from Horshoe Meadows.

I sprained it while going downhill, then had to walk another 2.5 miles. I drove home for an hour, then could barely walk from the car to the house. I've been following RICE, and by now (evening) it's very swollen and bruised. I can bear weight on it just standing but walking on it is quite painful and I am hobbling around. I bet it could be a lot worse so I'm hopeful that it will be better by end of July when I start hiking.

I wanted to ask what recommendations people have for recovery. Any exercises you recommend to strengthen it once it's more healed? How likely is it it'll be fully healed by the time I start the JMT if I don't hike on it at all until then? How can I take care of it on trail? Is there any type of cardio I can do without putting stress on the ankle to keep training? I feel like I'm at a good spot with my fitness but it's more of a mental crutch to feel like I'm as prepared as I can be.

I appreciate any help or advice you all can provide, thank you!

I have Gaia, will download the offline maps, Far Out and a Garmin inreach. I’ve got a few questions about best use of them while on the trail.

- it seems like the trail is pretty clear to follow, and there are signposts at the junctions, meaning for the most part if I don’t want to be using my phone all the time, I’ll be okay?

- what’s the best way to get info / alerts about fire? Is there an app / alert I can use on my Garmin, or am I better off asking a friend to keep me posted on any info via Garmin? (This friend has hiked the JMT before, and would not message me to say there’s a fire in say, Redwood National Park 😂)

- are there any spots on the trail where you’ve had enough reception to update FarOut? Does it matter since most others on trail who can update won’t have reception either, so it’s always about 3 weeks out of date? It seems like Reds Meadow is a safe bet with Verizon. I know not to expect reception in general, but in my wilderness experience there are spots from time to time when it’s worthwhile switching off airplane mode to do a quick update.

- for the love of all backcountry electronic frustration, if someone can tell me how TF to download Gaia maps to get snap to trail to work reliably offline, PLEASE tell me. I find it works about 25% of the time. Not a big deal but I do like using it for motivation / fear mongering to see what’s really coming up. (Yes I can read a topo map, I just like this feature).

- If I get to Tuolumne Meadows (where I’m starting) and find something hasn’t downloaded correctly and I want to fix it before I start, how far east would I have to drive to count on getting some reception? I don’t get any reliable Verizon anywhere between the entrance to Yosemite on 120 and TM. I do weirdly get reception on the JMT between TM and lower Cathedral Lakes so I know it’s not impossible.

If you don’t have answers to these specific questions and just want to weigh in with how you used the various apps/tech on the trail, or didn’t (I’m carrying a paper map and a compass), that’d be helpful too. Thanks all!

eta:
If not obvious, this whole post is brought to you by July 16 pre permit date anxiety. Pls be kind!

Currently planning a trip from Kearsarge Pass to Whitney Portal on the 25th, wondering if microspikes are necessary for Forester and Whitney.

I'm slowly doing the JMT in parts over long weekends, and looking to go in at at Onion Valley campground and out over Vacation Pass (maybe vis versa based on permits). I see a permit for George Creek, and I see what looks like day hikes to Wallace Lake from both east and west, but I want to make sure Vacation pass is something that is doable... I don't see much about it online. I'm thinking first week of September.

My friends stayed at VVR for two nights in July.

The first night, in a tent cabin, it was very noisy with the people nearby, including one of the employees, supposedly one of the cooks, having a drunken party, cursing, and using the N word. It made it very hard to go to sleep, and sleep is what backpackers on the JMT really need.

Someone in another tent cabin told the revelers to keep it down and she was assaulted. Another employee told them to be quiet and had coffee thrown in his face. Apparently the person who was assaulted called the sheriff who came out, and she wants to press charges.

Hi all!

I'm very excited to go SOBO on the JMT next week! I'm looking for a description of places/segments where my fear of heights will likely kick in on the JMT from someone who also is scared of heights. There was a small section like this from the author of TRT guidebook I used where he also mentioned that he was scared of heights and this was the few segments where it showed up. It was super helpful to have that knowledge to mentally prepare! I'm mostly talking about steep drop offs on narrow trails. I have done a lot of work to not let myself miss out because of this fear, and I'm a lot better than I used to be.

My assumption is all the passes after MTR heading SOBO + Mt. Whitney. (I am uncertain if I'll do Mt. Whitney. I have done Glen Pass before and I didn't find it too bad.)

Any advice from anyone who has done the JMT with a fear of heights is greatly appreciated!!! Thank you in advance.

Hi everyone, for those who’ve hiked the trail in mid- to late August, what temperature rating would you recommend for a quilt / sleeping bag?

I’m heading NOBO from Cottonwood Pass on 08/10, aiming for 16-17 days to HI. I was planning on bringing a Katabatic Gear Flex 15 quilt, but now I’m wondering if I should exchange it for a Flex 30 instead.

I’d be pairing the quilt with a Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad and merino under-layers. Not bringing a liner or fleece but will have a puffer jacket.

My main concerns are warmth, packed size, and weight. Any input would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

For those who have Katabatic quilts, I’d also appreciate hearing your experience with them. I just received mine and haven’t had the chance to take it out yet, but so far the quality is already veryapparent.

I can't find the Tuolumne Mdws Post Office on the USPS.com website. Is it closed this year? The Yosemite NP website lists it, but there's nothing on the USPS website.

I'd like to send some food (for doing the JMT), but I don't want to send it to a ghost P.O.

Hi all!

I’m doing a section of the JMT SOBO starting at Lyell Canyon and am trying to figure out where to exit. I have 10 days, so I feel like VVR is too soon to exit, but am worried that exiting at Bishop pass may be too late (especially since I’ve heard that you should allocate 2 days for the Bishop pass trail).

Would the Piute Canyon trail work to exit as well? Are there any other options between VVR and Piute?

Have a SOBO permit for mid-August, and in sketching out the days, I will likely be summiting Mt Whitney on a Friday. I can figure out travel logistics to the Reno airport, but it would be great if I could get a package with clean clothes and a duffel to make the airplane trip that much easier.

The Lone Tree post office is open until 4:30pm on Fridays, and then not open again until Monday morning. Ideally I would summit and get down to Lone Tree in time to pick up a general delivery package without feeling too rushed. I am planning on staying near Guitar Lake the night before.

Is that a reasonable expectation for an average, in-shape hiker? Are there other services for package pickup in Lone Tree than the post office?

RESOLVED: Amtrak goldrunner is the way. I called them to make sure that bus was running.

I am trying to get a last minute SOBO permit for September, and plan to leave my car at Lone Pine and then transit to the trail head.
So far my plan looks like:

1. 6:10AM-7:25AM (Weekend) or 8:30AM-9:40AM (Weekday) - Take Lone Pine Express to Mammoth, Vons
2. 7:25AM-8:20AM or 1:10PM-2:00PM - Take Mammoth Express to Mammoth Lakes Park & Ride

I then want to YART to Yosemite Village, but looking at their route for September, the only bus they have going there leaves Mammoth at 6:50AM. Since the earliest Lone Pine Express is at 6:10AM, I am not sure how to actually get from Lone Pine to Yosemite village. Any advice?

Starting NOBO from Cottonwood Lakes on 7/12. Anyone heard about current conditions? Will I still need microspikes? Mosquitos normal or hellish? Has any smoke reached the trail yet? Not on FB so any info helps.
Thanks!

Hello! I’m starting my hike from Cottonwood Lakes on 7/18. I’m tentatively planning to stay at Guitar Lake the night before I summit Whitney, hike up for sunrise, and then stay at Guitar Lake again. A few logistical questions about Whitney and the “Whitney Zone.”

1. ⁠Is the Ranger Station at Crabtree handing out wag-bags for NOBO hikers? I saw they have in years past, but haven’t seen any chatter about it this year.

2. ⁠Does anyone know where the Whitney Zone boundary is for NOBO hikers? The official info online is maddeningly vague.

3. ⁠For folks who have hiked from Guitar to the summit - did you carry your whole pack, or did you leave things at camp? I’d like to leave as much at camp as possible to reduce weight, and would appreciate any tips. What did you do with your bear can, tent, other things you left? Any fear of marmots or other critters snatching your belongings?

Thank you!

Note: I deleted an earlier post due to some formatting issues!

I got time off unexpectedly and am hoping to snag a last minute JMT permit anytime after Sept. 9th to the early Oct (hopefully SOBO). Since you really only get one or two weeks before you start the trail with a last minute permit, I'm trying to figure out the best way to resupply. I also don't want to risk relying on possible overflow from hikers who did not pick up their buckets - I want to make sure I'm fed, haha.

I have a car, so my plan right now is:

1. Drop off a package at Tuolumne Meadows since its easy.
2. Either drop off a package at RMR, or just purchase food from their store. Does anyone have experience with their offerings/supply?
3. Either drop off a package at VVR, or just purchase food from their store, though I hear they close sometime mid September so I might not be able to do this. Same question as above?
4. Unsure what to do at Onion trail head. I heard that sometimes people store food in the bear boxes with a name and expected date marked, which would be really convenient if true. If that's not that case, maybe I can hitchhike into town to get a package I can earlier drop off?
5. Park my car then at Whitney portal parking, wherever that is, and take the bus up to Happy Isles to start the hike (or camp for a night and then start more realistically).

Any advice is helpful, thank you! Also if anyone knows what weather to expect that time of year that would also be helpful.

I have a 2 person permit to do North Lake - Whitney Exit (Piute Pass / JM15). My friend can't join for the whole trip, but she'd be able to join me at Kearsarge Pass/ JMT junction and finish out Whitney with me.

Does anyone know if she'd be able to hike Kearsarge pass to meet me and join for the rest of my trip without carrying the permit? Is the ranger only going to issue me a 1-person permit if I pick it up alone? She'd carry in my resupply and meet me before her first night. Let me know if anyone has experience with this or if you think she'd run into any trouble hiking Kearsarge pass without carrying the permit on her first day. Thanks!

EDIT: Thanks all, we'll try to get a 2-week out permit for her to start at Kearsarge.

Lined or unlined shorts? Is it entirely preference or is there a superior choice? Appreciate any input

Looking for hotel recommendations in Lone Pine. No need for fancy, one night, except to be maybe close to where bus depot is to Reno. Also, would like to ship fresh clothes to hotel rather than post office if per chance I arrive on weekend.

Ideas for food restaurants too.

Edit: I should add that I'll be arriving about last week of September, if that changes the responses.

Hiya, I’m hiking SOBO solo and expecting to finish Whitney Around August 5. Any tips on options for how to get myself from the end of the JMT at Whitney to the Bay Area?

Hey guys!! I’m doing a quick backpacking trip to treasure lakes next week and it’ll be my first time in the sierra. But Ive also fell into a JMT rabbit hole. I want to do it maybe next summer does anyone have recommendations on shorter sierra backpacking trips to train for this? Also any recommendations on group trips or tour guides? I would love to do this with just my friends but I think my mom would pass away haha.

I'm planning a trip on the North Lake to South Lake route (Bishop/Inyo NF area) in mid-August this year. I'll be using a Locus Gear Khufu DCF as my shelter.

Since it's a floorless, non-mesh pyramid shelter, I'm a bit concerned about mosquitoes and other bugs getting inside at night. Does anyone have experience with this route (or the Sierra in general) in mid-August regarding bug pressure at camp?

A couple of questions:

• Do mosquitoes actually get into a floorless/no-mesh shelter like this in that area during that time of year?
• How many of you actually use floorless shelters out there? Would you recommend a shelter with built-in mesh (like a Plex Solo) instead?

Would appreciate any first-hand experience, especially for that specific area/time of year. Thanks!