I'm gonna hike the JMT in August, starting next week, beginning in Yosemite Valley and finishing at Mt. Whitney.  Instead of working on meal planning today (I have to ship the resupplies tomorrow), I'm spending time putting my trip plans on the web.  Hmmm.

The red dots in the JMT Elevation Profile below will lead you to topo maps that show the relevant section of the trail. 

The spreadsheet at the bottom shows mileages and elevations. 

I've got my fishing pole, camera, solar charger, a solo tent, a lightweight  but warm down jacket for the cool nights, and a great pair of boots.  I may even take my backpacking espresso maker.  No (practical) way to offer updates along the way, but maybe I'll keep a journal so I can share a story when I get back. 

Wish me luck! That is, if you believe is that kind of thing.

 

   <------ Click here for Current weather (might be a little dark at night)

  

My route superimposed on a non-current weather shot  --->>>

Click the map to the left for current weather.

 

 

Aug 1:  My friend, Eric, the one who introduced me to backpacking and the Sierras 2 years ago, suggested I spend the last night on top of Mt. Whitney.  So, that's the new plan.  I'm too lazy to change the chart.  You can move dot 18 up the mountain using the powers of your mind.  The new moon will be night 16, just 2 nights before my Whitney sleepover.  The stars should be spectacular from the highest point in the continental U.S. 

 

Aug 2:  Because you can, here's the link to track my resupply bucket on its separate journey to Muir Trail Ranch.  I need it by day 10 (Aug 16th).   You're looking at nearly 20 lbs of dried everything on the floor, just before I tried (unsuccessfully) to stuff it all into that 5 gallon paint bucket.  Hmmm, clean socks or 2 dinners, socks or dinner, hmmm.   And some of you are wonder this:  "He's struggling to get all that food into a 5 gallon paint bucket.  How does he expect to make it fit into a much smaller bear can? Afterall, doesn't the bear can have to fit in his backpack?"  Good question.  Quick arithmetic, 9" diameter, 14" high cylindrical bear can holds 3.86 gallons.  I hope I got that right.  So I'll need to give everything a good scrunch, and I should be able to carry lunch and dinner for the first day after resupply outside the bear can.  And maybe I'll just eat what doesn't fit. 

 

Muir Trail Ranch's web site makes resupply seem easy.  I'll report later about how it turned out. 

 

Aug 3: The USPS has delivered, thru sleet, thru snow, this time thru total darkness.  I took the bucket to the Saratoga Post Office yesterday afternoon--a few minutes ago I received (automated, no less) email confirmation that it's been delivered to Muir Trail Ranch's PO box in Lakeshore.  Overnight delivery of 20 lbs of plastic paint bucket stuffed food.  Amazing.  Way to go, US Postal Service!  Now Muir Trail Ranch has the best part of 2 weeks to pack it in via strong hoofed animal to the ranch.   Now it would be really cool if my carbon fiber expedition-sized bear canister showed up outside my door...

Aug 4: Bear can arrived on schedule.  Last stages of packing today and tomorrow, and off I go. 

 

 

Map 13

 

 

 

Date

 

Night

Location

Mileage

Elevation (feet)

Notes

Daily Mileage

Mi behind Avg mi/day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7-Aug

 

 

Happy Isles

0.0

4,035

Start 8 am.  Camp at backpackers camp Sun night?

 

 

 

 

 

Mist Trail

1.0

4,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Panorama Trail

3.3

5,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Yosemite Valley

4.7

6,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Half Dome Trail

6.2

7,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clouds Rest Trail

6.7

7,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merced Lake Trail

8.6

8,100

 

 

 

Tue

8-Aug

c

1

Forsyth Trail

8.7

8,150

A mile or so after Forsyth Trail

8.7

3.5

 

 

 

 

Sunrise Camp

13.7

9,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Echo Creek Trail

14.7

9,450

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cathedral Pass

15.7

9,700

 

 

 

Wed

9-Aug

c

2

Cathedral Lake Trail

17.8

9,500

 

9.1

6.6

 

 

 

 

Tuolumne Meadows Trail

20.8

8,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glen Aulin Trail

22.3

8,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuolumne Meadows Ranger Station

23.9

8,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parker Pass Trail

24.7

8,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rafferty Creek Trail

25.6

8,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vogelsang Pass Trail

29.8

8,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lyell Fork Base Trail

32.8

9,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lyell Fork Bridge

34.0

9,700

 

 

 

Thu

10-Aug

c

3

Lyell Headwaters

34.8

10,200

 

17

1.8

 

 

 

 

Donohue Pass

36.7

11,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marie Lakes Trail

39.0

10,030

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rush Creek Trail

39.8

9,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Island Pass

41.0

10,200

 

 

 

Fri

11-Aug

c

4

Thousand Island Lake

43.0

9,834

 

8.2

5.8

 

 

 

 

Garnet Lake

44.7

9,680

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ediza Lake Trail

47.6

9,030

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow Creek Trail Bridge

49.2

8,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosalie Lake

50.2

9,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gladys Lake

50.9

9,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lower Trinity Lake

52.7

9,180

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnston Meadow

54.7

8,120

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mammoth Trail

56.2

7,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devil's Postpile National Monument

56.6

7,550

 

 

 

Sat

12-Aug

c

5

Red's Meadow

57.3

7,600

 

14.3

3.7

 

 

 

 

Mammoth Pass Trail #1

58.7

8,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crater Meadow

60.0

8,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mammoth Pass Trail #2

61.1

8,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deer Creek

63.1

9,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duck Creek

68.3

10,100

 

 

 

Sun

13-Aug

c

6

Purple Lake

70.7

9,900

 

13.4

2.5

 

 

 

 

Lake Virginia

72.4

10,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tully Hole

74.4

9,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cascade Valley Trail

75.6

9,100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodale Pass Trail

78.3

10,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver Pass

79.9

10,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver Pass Lake

80.5

10,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Fork of Mono Creek

83.5

8,900

 

 

 

Mon

14-Aug

c

7

Mono Pass Trail

84.9

8,300

Vermillion Valley Resort.  Buy a steak and a shower, buy a few camp meals. Easy days to Muir Trail Ranch

14.2

0.5

 

 

 

 

Mono Creek Bridge

86.5

7,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear Ridge

91.1

9,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear Creek Trail

93.2

8,800

 

 

 

Tue

15-Aug

c

8

Italy Pass Trail

95.5

9,250

 

10.6

2.1

 

 

 

 

East Fork Lakes Trail

96.7

9,500

 

 

 

Wed

16-Aug

c

9

Marie Lake

99.3

10,600

 

3.8

10.5

 

 

 

 

Selden Pass

100.6

10,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart Lake

101.3

10,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sally Keyes Lake

102.1

10,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senger Creek

104.3

9,700

 

 

 

Thu

17-Aug

c

10

Shortcut to Blayney Meadows

106.4

8,400

Muir Trail Ranch.  Resupply. Have to finish on 9 days of food

7.1

15.6

 

 

 

 

Blayney Meadows Trail

108.1

7,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Piute Pass

109.8

8,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aspen Meadow

111.3

8,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridge over South Fork, San Joaquin River

112.6

8,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goddard Canyon Bridge

113.4

8,450

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evolution Meadow

115.4

9,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McClure Meadow

117.4

9,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colby Meadow

118.4

9,800

 

 

 

Fri

18-Aug

c

11

Evolution Lake

121.9

10,850

 

15.5

12.3

 

 

 

 

Evolution Creek

125.5

10,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muir Pass

127.7

11,955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen Lake

128.7

11,595

 

 

 

Sat

19-Aug

c

12

Little Pete Meadow

134.5

8,800

 

12.6

11.9

 

 

 

 

Bishop Pass Trail

135.0

8,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grouse Meadows

138.2

8,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Palisade Creek

139.2

8,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deer Meadow

142.7

8,700

 

 

 

Sun

20-Aug

c

13

Palisade Lake

145.7

10,650

 

11.2

12.9

 

 

 

 

Mather Pass

149.7

12,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taboose Pass Trail

155.1

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bench Lake Trail

156.2

11,000

 

 

 

Mon

21-Aug

c

14

Lake Marjorie

157.7

11,200

 

12

13.1

 

 

 

 

Pinchot Pass

159.2

12,100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twin Lakes

162.3

10,560

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Fork Trail

166.8

8,500

 

 

 

Tue

22-Aug

c

15

Rae Lakes

172.3

10,500

 

14.6

10.7

 

 

 

 

Dragon Lake Trail

173.3

10,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sixty Lakes Basin Trail

173.6

10,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glen Pass

175.6

11,980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glen Pass Lake

176.4

11,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kearsarge Pass Trail

177.9

10,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bubbs Creek Trail

180.1

9,600

 

 

 

Wed

23-Aug

c

16

Center Basin Trail

183.6

10,500

 

11.3

11.6

 

 

 

 

Forester Pass

187.1

13,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lake South America Trail

191.4

11,160

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shepherd Pass Trail

192.1

10,930

 

 

 

Thu

24-Aug

c

17

Wright Creek

198.0

10,790

 

14.4

9.4

 

 

 

 

Wallace Creek

199.1

10,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crabtree Meadows Ranger Station

203.6

10,700

 

 

 

Fri

25-Aug

c

18

Creek to Guitar Lake

205.7

11,600

 

7.7

13.9

 

 

 

 

Mt Whitney Trail

209.6

13,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mt Whitney

211.9

14,495

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trail Crest

214.2

13,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trail Camp

216.4

12,040

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outpost Camp

219.0

10,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lone Pine Lake

220.0

9,960

 

 

 

Sat

26-Aug

c

19

Whitney Portal

222.4

8,360

 

16.7

9.4