When is "The Season"?
Should I hike north or south?
Is a Wilderness Permit required?
Can I cook on a fire?
How can I resupply?
Where can I get trail conditions info?
Do I need to worry about wild animals?

When Is "The Season?"
Generally July to September, but it varies from year to year, depending on the previous winter's snowfall.

Most years one can plan a trip beginning the first week in July, and only hike on snow near the tops of the passes. The first snow usually doesn't hit until the end of October, but the days are getting short and cold by then.

In 1995 and 1997, there was an unusually heavy snow, the trail was covered in snow well into August. You can use the California Snow Survey Page to check on the snow depth along the trail. These reports are provided by large "pillows" that weigh the snow in several places in the California mountains, and relay the data via satellite hourly. They also provide temperature data. Some of the pillows that are near the trail are: Upper Tyndall Creek, Charlotte Lake, Bishop Pass, and Gem Lake.

Should I hike north or south?
Most folks hike north from Mt Whitney to Yosemite Valley. The author of this page has hiked both ways, and he suggests you consider hiking southbound. The terrain near Yosemite is less strenuous, and is lower, so the first part of the trip is easier, and gives you more time to get used to the altitude. Some hikers suffer from mild altitude sickness if they go from sea level to the higher elevations of Mt Whitney (14000+ft.) immediately. In addition the climb out of Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows is steep, but not nearly as bad as the climb from Whitney Portal to Trail Crest! However, north-bounders have the advantage of finishing the trip 4000 ft. lower than they started.

Is a Wilderness Permit required?
Because of ongoing budget restrictions, the USFS and the NPS have hired contractors to issue wilderness permits. The procedures have changed significantly.

Wilderness permits are required to spend the night along the trail, and for ANY entry into the Mt Whitney zone, even for day trips. Permits are free in person and there is a small fee charged for reservations (see below). There are a limited number issued each day, to prevent overcrowding. In addition, a special stamp on your permit is required for ANY visit to Mt Whitney, even day trips. "The Mt Whitney zone" is from Lone Pine Lake 2.5 miles west of Whitney Portal on the east, to Timberline Lake near Crabtree Meadows on the west.

Getting a permit at the Yosemite end:
The Yosemite Association (a non profit organization that has been helping YNP for years) has taken over issuing permits in Yosemite. Half of all permits can be reserved ahead of time via mail or phone, and the remainder (at least half) will be issued on a walk up basis. Permits will be issued to you no earlier than the day before your trip. The hours of operation of the permit office in Yosemite Valley are 9am-5pm.

Permits may be reserved by mail or telephone up to 24 weeks (to the day) or as late as 2 days (if any are left) before the date of your departure. The fee for reserving a permit is US$3 for each person listed on the permit, checks and credit cards are accepted. The maximum size of your group is 15, for hiking on the trail.

The YPA has a web site with information about wilderness permits.

Getting a permit at the Mt Whitney end:
All quota trails on the Inyo National Forest are 100% reservable. Reservations will be accepted from six months to the day ahead of time until two days before entry on the trail. Any unreserved permits will be available starting the day before entry at the ranger station. Permits for non-quota trails will also be reservable. The fee for reserving a permit is $15.

Mt. Whitney hikers will need a special stamp on their permit to enter the Mt. Whitney Zone no matter what their entry trail is. The zone boundaries are: to the east, just above Lone Pine Lake; to the west, just above Crabtree Ranger Station; and to the north, the Sequoia N.P./Inyo N.F. boundary. Day hikers will also need a permit to enter the zone. Mt. Whitney Reservations start on Feburary 15.

For additional information see:
Yosemite Wilderness Permits

Can I Cook on a Fire?
There are fire limitations in the National Parks and Wilderness areas. These limitations are usually based on elevation. In Yosemite, fires are prohibited above 9600ft, in Kings Canyon National Park, and the John Muir/Ansel Adams wilderness areas 10,000ft, and 11,200ft in Sequoia National Park. In addition there are several heavy use areas where fires are also prohibited. It is encouraged that hikers use stoves to cook.

How Can I Resupply?
There are three places to resupply on the trail: Tuolumne Meadows, Red's Meadow, and the Muir Trail Ranch. The Vermilion Valley Resort will also hold packages, and is only one mile and a short ferry ride off the trail.

You can mail a resupply package to the post office in Tuolumne Meadows. There is also a surprisingly well-stocked store there as well as a snack bar. This is only 24 miles from the north terminus in Yosemite Valley.

Red's Meadow will pick up your package from the Mammoth Post Office and bring it back to their store for a fee. Click here for more details. This is 57 miles south of Yosemite Valley. There is also a shuttle from Red's Meadow to the Mammoth Mountain Resort. From here it is an easy hitchhike down to Mammoth Lakes, with restaurants, backpacking stores, and supermarkets.

The Muir Trail Ranch will accept and hold resupply packages for a rather large fee. ($45 this year). The Ranch was featured in National Geographic in April 1989. They have white gas available for sale at the ranch, and they will dispose of your trash in your empty cache containter. They can mail letters for you. Meals, baths, etc. are only available to their registered guests (groups) on a week-long basis by reservation. They have rather detailed instructions on how to package and ship your stuff. This is about the halfway point (it is near Blaney Meadows). There are no more on-trail resupply points between here and the southern terminus.

The Vermilion Valley Resort will also hold packages, Their ferry boat dock on Lake Thomas Edison is only 1 mile from the trail and the ride is 15 minutes. They are attempting to cater to the John Muir Trail, and PCT Hiker, and offer a free night in a tent cabin with a soft bed and the first beverage is on the house. Their resupply fee is now $6.00 with no daily charge.

Where can I get trail condition info?
One hundred and seventy-five of the 211 miles of the JMT lie on the same route as the 2,665-mile Pacific Crest Trail. The two ends -- from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows, and Crabtree Meadows to Mt Whitney are different. Because most of the JMT lies within the bounds of the PCT, the Pacific Crest Trail Condition Reports is a good place to get information about the JMT.

The PCTA solicits input from hikers on trail conditions, and can usually give you the current trail conditions, especially early in the season: northbound PCT through hikers must pass over the JMT in late June if they want to complete the whole 2600 mile PCT in one season.

Do I need to worry about wild animals?
The California Black Bear can be a problem along the whole John Muir Trail.

Park bears who caused problems by raiding trashcans and campsites in the developed areas of the parks were relocated to the backcountry. They taught their bear-buddies that campers carry good tasting food. If you don't want a bear eating your precious freeze dried food (bears like toothpaste and other scented toiletries too!), you will need to store it properly at night.

For information and important links regarding how to properly store your food to protect it from bears along the PCT, visit the PCTA's Bears page.

Lyell canyon (between Tuolumne Meadows and Donahue Pass) has an especially bad bear problem. Avoid camping in this 11-mile section of the trail if you want to keep your food.

A large rodent, called a Marmot, that lives along the trail can also be a problem. Marmots will eat anything and may chew through your pack if you leave it unattended. This is especially a problem where hikers leave their packs at Trail Crest, for the short hike up to the summit of Mt Whitney.

The Mountain Lion (also called the Puma, and the Cougar) also inhabits the area of the JMT. These elusive creatures are not generally a problem, and you should feel fortunate if you see one. If you DO come across a big cat, don't run from it! Cats like to chase things that are running. Learn more at "Living With California Mountain Lions."