{"id":21142,"date":"2016-03-04T09:03:44","date_gmt":"2016-03-04T17:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=21142"},"modified":"2022-09-23T14:22:22","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T21:22:22","slug":"john-muir-trail-backpacking-gear-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/john-muir-trail-backpacking-gear-list","title":{"rendered":"John Muir Trail Backpacking Packing List"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Many hikers dream about idyllic days on a backcountry pilgrimage through the granite-polished high country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Others fantasize about the ultimate thru-hike: the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). You can experience the best of both adventures, though, by hiking the 211-mile John Muir Trail (JMT).<\/p>\n

Route overview:<\/b>\u00a0While the JMT is relatively short by thru-trail standards, its north-to-south route from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney covers what many believe is the most spectacular stretch of the PCT (more than 80 percent of the JMT\u2019s route follows the PCT). Note, too, that the closest exit point is Whitney Portal, an 11-mile hike out on which you\u2019ll lose more than 6,000 feet of elevation. So one could argue that the trail is really 222 miles long.<\/p>\n

When to start planning:<\/b>\u00a0Depending on your pace and exact itinerary, the trail takes from 10 to 30 days to complete. You can also plan on 8 to 10 months of planning and preparation, primarily because permits are so hard to get: You need to apply 26 weeks (about 6 months) ahead of time.<\/p>\n

Expert tips:<\/b>\u00a0If all this sounds like your kind of hiking adventure, Stephanie Eastman, a veteran John Muir Trail hiker and a Camp Specialist at the\u00a0REI Roseville, CA<\/a>, store, has some insider tips about how to prepare and pack for this epic trail. We hope this guide will simplify the planning and set you up for success on your journey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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John Muir Trail Permits and Fees<\/h2>\n

Competition is fierce:<\/b>\u00a0For a classic Yosemite Valley start, the park service has a daily quota for the number of people per day exiting the park over Donohue Pass. For peak hiking days, Yosemite National Park can receive up to 600 applications, and only a small fraction of those will be fulfilled, making a\u00a0JMT permit<\/a>\u00a0one of the most sought-after prizes in the national wilderness system.<\/p>\n

Apply far, far ahead of time:<\/b>\u00a0Reservations can be made\u00a026 weeks (182 days)<\/a>\u00a0in advance. Unless you\u2019re going off-season, apply at the earliest moment allowed by the\u00a0backcountry reservation<\/a>\u00a0process.<\/p>\n

Because a handful of permits are held for hikers on a first-come, first-served basis, a walk-up JMT\u00a0wilderness permit<\/a>\u00a0is possible, though not probable. That also opens up the option of reserving a permit for an\u00a0alternate trailhead<\/a>\u00a0in advance, then trying to snag a walk-up permit for your preferred Yosemite trailhead on your start day. (You can revert to your reserved trailhead if you\u2019re unsuccessful.)<\/p>\n

South-to-north permits:<\/b>\u00a0You can also choose to start at the summit of Mt. Whitney and hike north. Unfortunately, that puts a grueling climb with a full pack at the start of your trip and requires a permit that might be even harder to get: Mt. Whitney Trail permits are given out by a lottery system. For details and an application link go to the\u00a0recreation.gov<\/a>\u00a0website.<\/p>\n

One other option is to pick an alternative trailhead near the Whitney Zone, such as the Horseshoe Meadow trailhead. One drawback with this tactic is that your approach to the summit of Mt. Whitney will definitely be longer. You\u2019ll also need to get a\u00a0wilderness permit<\/a>\u00a0from Inyo National Forest.<\/p>\n

Half Dome day permits:<\/b>\u00a0Though not on the main route, it\u2019s so close that many JMT hikers go up Half Dome as a side trip. The granite icon is so popular that the park service requires a\u00a0Half Dome permit<\/a>\u00a0for both day hikers and backpackers. If your plan includes Half Dome, you must specify that on your wilderness permit application. Again, there are very limited reservable permits. (This is a great opportunity to do Half Dome, though, because so many more people will be competing for the limited number of day-use permits.)<\/p>\n

California campfire permits:<\/b>\u00a0In order to combat wildfires, the State of California now requires a\u00a0campfire permit<\/a>, even to use a stove in the backcountry. Unless you opt for stoveless meals on your trip, you\u2019ll need this permit. Pay close attention to conditions in each region. If you use an alcohol or wood-burning stove, be prepared to switch to cold meals during extreme fire danger, when land managers might choose to ban those types of stoves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trip Planning<\/h2>\n

Food and resupply planning:<\/b>\u00a0These are the nuts and bolts of your trip plan, and the details will take substantial research. The PCTA page on\u00a0food<\/a>\u00a0is one good resource. REI is a great place to stock up for backcountry food<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n

One of the challenges for resupply planning is that the last easily accessible resupply point is Muir Trail Ranch, which is roughly at the halfway point of your journey. So you must decide whether to carry 10-plus days of food for the final, most challenging segment of the JMT or figure out a final resupply option for the southern section of the trail. A good place to start your research is the\u00a0PCTA JMT resupply page<\/a>, one of many good online resources for JMT resupply planning.<\/p>\n

Trip scheduling and mountain passes:<\/b>\u00a0Depending on snowfall in the year you go, prime JMT hiking season is July through September. Even at a leisurely 30-day pace, that offers plenty of time to do the trail. Because these months are prime time for afternoon thundershowers in the High Sierra, though, you\u2019ll need to get up and over each mountain pass early, preferably before noon each day.<\/p>\n

The traditional JMT route crosses 10 passes and you might add more, depending on your resupply needs and route variations. And the summit of Whitney is arguably your most lightning-exposed trail stop. So you\u2019ll need to pay particular attention to the details of your daily schedules as you craft your master plan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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JMT Maps and Guidebooks<\/h2>\n

The PCTA\u00a0maps and guidebooks page<\/a>\u00a0is an excellent resource. Halfmile\u2019s topo maps and phone apps, offered there free of charge, are thorough, detailed and constantly updated. You can also find\u00a0JMT books and maps<\/a>\u00a0at many REI stores in California and around the country. One highly recommended book is\u00a0John Muir Trail: The Essential Guide to Hiking America\u2019s Most Famous Trail<\/i>, by Elizabeth Wenk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Gear Considerations<\/h2>\n

Gear weight:<\/b>\u00a0Ultralight gear can really pay dividends on a long-haul hike. If you carry excess pounds over thousands of miles, your body will indeed pay a price. See our article about\u00a0Ultralight Backpacking Basics<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n

Gear philosophy:<\/b>\u00a0Your views about comfort and risk should inform your approach. Minimalist hikers will always argue that you can go lighter. You\u2019ll need to decide for yourself how ultralight or ultra-prepared you want to go, then select gear accordingly.<\/p>\n

Gear know-how:<\/b>\u00a0The JMT is not the place for a maiden equipment voyage. Take trips to familiarize yourself with your gear and take classes to ensure your backcountry skills are honed for the challenge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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John Muir Trail Backpacking Packing List<\/h2>\n

Differences from a PCT list:<\/b>\u00a0Because it\u2019s concentrated in the mountainous heart of the PCT, JMT gear can be consistent throughout your trip. In a typical year, water will be relatively plentiful and running into snow and ice is always a possibility. Bear canisters aren\u2019t required for the full JMT, but it\u2019s simpler to carry one for the duration of your hike.\u00a0(Because much of the hike is above treeline, you don\u2019t really have the option to hang your food.)<\/p>\n

Note: Included in this checklist are the Ten Essential Systems you should have on every backcountry trip: navigation; sun protection; insulation; illumination; first-aid supplies; fire starter; repair kit and tools; nutrition; hydration; emergency shelter. To learn more, see our\u00a0Ten Essentials article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Equipment<\/h3>\n