tylerr39•1mo agoProlific Poster

Had a chat with a ranger that made me rethink the JMT timing

I was at REI in Reno last weekend and a ranger from Yosemite told me that everyone tries to do the John Muir Trail in late July to mid August because of the weather. She said the crowds are brutal and the permits are a nightmare. She suggested going late September instead and dealing with the cold. Am I the only one who just assumed summer was the only option?

3 comments

3 Comments

finley_bennett281mo ago

Idk is that really worth it just to skip a few people?

loganburns1mo ago

Wait, have you talked to anyone who actually did a late season JMT? My buddy tried it two years ago and it was a whole different kind of brutal. He went the last week of September and the first week of October because he thought he'd beat the crowds. Well, he sure did beat the crowds. But he also got hit with a surprise snowstorm near Mather Pass that had him huddled in his tent for like 18 hours straight. He said his water filter froze solid overnight and he had to melt snow for drinking water, which takes forever. By the time he got to Whitney Portal his fingers were so cold he could barely untie his boots. He still says it was beautiful with no people around, but he also swore he'd never do it that late again.

jackson.jenny24d ago

Seems like we all chase the perfect timing for things but the ideal window is usually smaller than we think.