10 things I would have changed on my JMT thru-hike
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- Some of the best advice I have found about backpacking is hearing what others would have done differently after their experience. There are a lot of things that went right during my JMT thru-hike, but, this is what I will change for my next JMT hike (whenever that may be).
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1. Fly to Mammoth Lakes
2. Pick Up permit day before
3. Longer Sleep Pad
4. Watch for rodents going to your bag
5. Used Toilet paper Storage with downey sheets
6. Transportation to VVR, take the ferry 8:05
7. Spend more time at MTR & Hot Springs 10:53
8. Spend more time at Thousand Island Lake & Garnet Lake 11:55
9: Spend more time at Rae Lakes 12:30
10: Pack less food SOBO because of restaurants 13:15
I notice a common theme of "spend more money for a more enjoyable experience". 🙂
I hiked the JMT in 1971 for the first time and anytime above 9,000 feet it can drop below freezing. One time in 1972 at 1000 Island Lake it snowed almost a foot in July! I sometimes hiked in to Garnet or Thousand Island lake just to trout fish and to climb Banner and Ritter, talk about a beautiful view. Mt Banner is easier to ascend than Ritter from the backside.
There wasn't a store or grill in Tuolumne Meadows then, but I did resupply at Red's Meadows, but Muir Trail Ranch wasn't on my agenda because I couldn't afford their prices then and VVR didn't exist or l never heard of it. I took plenty of food to say the least. I had a little white gas stove then for cooking, but mostly used a campfire to cook on. The 1st time I learned that rice doesn't cook all the way through at high altitudes and I ended up throwing it away, well I left it out as bird feed. When I got to Red's meadow I hitched a ride into town and bought Uncle Ben's instant rice and had my carb fix back. Lots of bouillon cubes, but I'd use more gravy packs now too. I also carried one good multi-vitamin pill a day.
I'm in my 60's and my son and I are going to do the JMT from Tuolumne to Red's Meadow, about 55 miles, but we are taking our time and do some trout fishing, the headwaters of the San Joaquin River comes out of Thousand Island and Garnet lakes and the fishing there is very good, or used to be, I'm not sure now. Any one know? I haven't been up there since the early '80s and with the heavy traffic on the JMT it may have been fished out as it takes a trout up to 20 years to grow 12" up there. I know they used to stock it by helicopter back in the '70s. I moved out of CA in 1990, but still hiked the Blue Ridge mountains in NC near Asheville.
I still have my Kelty pack l bought in 1971 and it's in great shape, I've replaced the waist belt as the original didn't have lumbar support, something I found I needed as I got older. That's forty six years I've owned folks and I will be using it for next year's hike. My son and his best friend will be accompanying me, they will climb Ritter and Banner while I stay down and fish. My son did Mt. Rainier this year and he really wants to climb those two peaks. I now live in NM and just spent a couple of days up in the Gila National Forest. I will hike often this year to get ready and make sure my hiking boots are broke in. Something I think everyone needs to consider.
Amazing story, thanks for sharing. Didn't know rice doesn't cook through at high altitudes, good tip.
Great video Bigfoot! Last year my wife and I did the whole JMT at about the same time as you. We left Happy Isles in Yosemite on the 5th of September and finished at Whitney Portal on September 29th. Some things I would have done differently:
1. We packed WAY too much food. Especially in the first part up to MTR.
2. We packed too much heavier gear. Some of this came in handy when everyone was bailing out after 6 inches of snow that we got after Muir Pass, but still too much base weight.
3. We were wishing for some Calamine Lotion after my wife got into some Poison Oak near McClure Meadows Ranger Station.
Some things that went very well and I would recommend to all:
1. We stayed at Half Dome Village the day before and were able to pick our permit up. The Village has great food, Camp Store, Showers, and Tent Cabins.
2. We did have a permit for Half Dome and it was incredible! We also saw the mice and chipmunks on top that were getting into everyone's packs that did not pay attention!
3. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge had awesome food and we got lucky with a late season tent cabin too!
4. Red's Meadow was incredibly Hiker Friendly with an awesome Camp Store and Restaurant. We also got lucky here with a late season cabin availability! We resupplied here. Highly Recommended!
5. We stayed at Garnet Lake and it was BEAUTIFUL! Not to miss! Thousand Island Lakes and Rae Lakes were also very impressive.
6. VVR was one of our highlights! Stayed in the "Holiday Rambler" Trailer on the Beach! Great food!!
7. Of course, Mount Whitney was so incredibly panoramic!
I am going back in a couple of weeks to attempt a Full JMT YOYO! I depart NOBO on July 19th from Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead and turn around at Yosemite and all the way back to the same trailhead 30 days later.
Last years video of our JMT Adventure: ruclips.net/video/9DqRPcU6DEM/видео.html
Hope to see you on the trail!
Doug AKA "Colorado"
Love your Vids brother, considering the JMT in the very near futhre. I watched a ton of your stuff before I thru-hiked the AT in 2021...... your stuff rocks!!
Thanks for doing what you do, very much appreciated.
Smooth
It's surprising how a small thing like Hot Chocolates can make a huge difference; too many people underestimate the need for psychological comfort in such an arduous hike,
I was out during that 15 degree night in the Sierras as well. It certainly was freezing cold. Brrrr... Luckily I knew it was going to come and I was only there for that weekend. So, I brought a SOL blanket and a hot water bottle, which made it much better.
Great tips - thank you! Chipmunks are notorious!
Flying into Mammoth really worked out well. Hired a shuttle to town, then to Tuolumne Meadows to start the trip.(Arrived on a Thurs when the Yosemite shuttle was only running Sat-Sun.) Then hitched for the rest of the rides from Whitney to Lone Pine, Lone Pine to Tuolumne Meadows, and Yosemite Valley back to Mammoth. Although the trail was spectacular, the people I met from hitching were equally incredible.
Ditto on using a full length pad. I also used a torso length Neo Air with at least 5 nights in the 20's. Stayed warm except for my feet even with extra socks and down booties. Prior trips with full length and similar temps had no trouble with feet.
+MrHamish54 👍👍
Great info Bigfoot! I know you've been looking forward to that trip for a long time. Great camera work as always and like the added commentary. The shot of the burnt up rakes and shovels shook me up. Great job as always and happy hiking.
+Loner2012AT Thank you Loner!
Returning back to this and your JMT gear video as a guide for southern half section hike of JMT. Solid information , thank you! Hoping this finds you well!
I'm saving this video to watch several times. Valuable info FB.
Thank you for that information! I’m planning to hike the JMT next year and your tips are so helpful. I made a note to definitely stay at one of the lakes and how much food to pack. Love the dryer sheet tip!😂. One video I saw said they got a little portable bidet and it was a game changer with regards to having to pack out your used TP. Great video!
Sounds odd but try this. Mix Raspberry Emergen-C with the hot chocolate. Like drinking a red velvet cake and provides supplements, too.
The water taxi into VVR wasn't running during our last JMT and we did that same hike. We should have just walked off the cliffs headfirst onto the dry lakebed when we realized how bad that climb was.
+nixons I think they extended this years because of all the snow that caused them to open late in the season. Yeah that climb sucked.
Instead of TP, I use individually wrapped unscented wet wipes. I feel it is lighter. You use one for your butt, then open up a second one, use it for your hands, and then refold it and put it back in it's wrapper to use the next time on the butt.
Great video thank you my friend I recently just got into overnight hiking and I am hooked I absolutely love it
+ONETIME OUTDOORS Dj Rayner Its amazing. Once you get past day hikes, you can really go out there and see some pretty amazing stuff. Enjoy!!
Thank you! I’m planning a trip and your videos have answered a lot of my questions. Especially transportation!
This is a great channel. Can't wait for more videos of the JMT. Im planning to do the JMT summer of 2019
+Steven Ricks Sweet! More vids to come!
Maybe I'll see you out there.
Thank you! This helps in my planning.
+Greeter's 2017 Thru-Hike Are you thinking of a 2018 JMT Greeter?
Yes I am!
what's a jmt greeter?
Greeter is his Trail Name. I was asking him if he was thinking of doing the JMT in 2018
daaah! I'll read closer next time... thanks
I wish I had found your channel sooner. I’m responding to older videos.
Anyway, keep up the great vids!
I have a tip for packing out waste.
Opsak. It’s odor proof.
I also have an example.
I usually carry two. One for food and one for waste.
The last time was Glacier. I got my Bear Barrel, what I call it, for when I go to Yosemite in June. I took out the Opsak, used it four months ago, and when I opened it. it was like the best time capsule ever!
It smelled like campfire. The only thing better would have been the campfire itself. Nothing around it smelled like campfire. It fits into a bear barrel perfectly. There’s an assortment of size. That’s not poop but if smoke can be held in the bag that long it does it’s job. Things emanate from zip-locks because they are so thin.
I always wondered how effective they were. I just threw them away after because who wants a poop bag? But nothing smells like poop either.
You can take Greyhound from Reno to Merced, CA. It’s only $144, from Rochester, NY to Reno. And then it’s $40 bus ride. I like the other advice and information.
For poop-paper, I use a smell-proof opaque bag made from some super lightweight material, I think it's like mylar? It has a zipper closure. I got it in some random electronics I got from China-zon a couple years ago, and it's been my poop-paper bag ever since. Can't imagine using a ziploc for that lol
Hey Buddy, enjoyed your hike... Just a note, use the little dog poo bags for your TP and put that all in a ziplock bag. Take Care
The France hike is your best one yet
Tuolumne Store/Cafe was collapsed by heavy snow fall earlier this year, it is out of commission
Thank you for the insightful information good sire! VERY helpful video big thanks!
For packing out smelly items, whether TP or food waste: Mylar ziplock bags are *much* better at blocking smells than standard ziplock. They aren't completely smell-proof, but block nearly all of the smell. They weigh the same (nothing) and only cost a bit more per bag. Usually they are clear on one side though, so using the downy dryer sheet trick is still a good idea so you don't have to look at the contents. For really smelly loads like TP, you can put the waste in a small mylar bag and put that inside a larger bag, and that will block pretty much all odor. For body wastes, I still haven't found a better solution than the old PVC pipe trick.
@Hey Jude. By PVC pipe trick do mean a PVC pipe sealed at both ends with a screw cap at one end?
Thanks for the helpful info. The videos of the JMT trip were great. Flying into Mammoth isn't necessarily a good idea in the early Summer. The route from Mammoth to Yosemite Valley crosses the Sierra on Highway 120 (a/k/a Tioga Pass Road), which can be closed until as late as end of June if it is a high snow year. ( NPS's website has a list of dates in years past when this road has opened.) If 120 is closed, the shuttle might not run and you may have to go much further north to cross the Sierra. Consider an airport on West side of Sierra.
It is super impressive what you have accomplished!
Very informative especially the comments regarding your sleep pad. I am seriously thinking about purchasing a Nemo Tensor Short pad. Thanks
+Warren Davidson Thanks for commenting as always Warren!
Would be even more fun to parachute to the location instead of taking a shuttle
+d fernandez that would be quite an entrance
My guess is you would not need to worry about a Whitney exit permit either if you can catch a good wind at the top.
We stopped at Blaney Hot Springs at MTR and it was really hot and soooo nice to soak our tired muscles for a little while. We camped just off MTR's property for the night and wading across the river was awesome too! Next time you should definitely go...Thanks for sharing your adventure...My episode 2 is going up tonight as soon as I get home on Trail And Mountain's Channel...check it out if you have some time!
+Trail And Mountain Cool, thanks T&M!
FYI, MTR won't let you do anything except use their store and pick up your resupply package when they're open. They rush hikers out as fast as they possibly can lol
Love your videos. I have learned a lot of tips.
Sharing because I found this to be the cheapest way to get to Yosemite Valley.
When I go to Yosemite in June I thought about flying into Fresno. That’s Delta and United. It would be $650-700+. I can check one bag free with Delta because I have an AMEX and United would be $70 for two bags each way. Too much!
I’m flying into Sacramento as Southwest flies into Sacramento. Fresno is like 1 1/2 hours out and Sacramento is like 3-3 1/2. The flight is $338 round trip with Southwest and two bags check free! Yay me!!!!
I’ll be staying at Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort for the first night and staying at the backpacker camp north of North Pines the second night. Well, I find out about my Wilderness Permit sometime today or tomorrow. Starting at Happy Isles and camping First night in LYV campground.
Flying in from the East is good if you want to go Tioga road and see a few sights. The flight into Mammoth Lakes would be cheaper than Sacramento and Fresno but not by much.m and definitely not cheaper than Southwest. I hate United. They screwed me over once. BS story as well. Anyway, Southwest into Sacramento is cheapest and there are no layovers for my flight.
Just wanted to share on how to save time an money. It’s my first time in Yosemite so I can’t wait. No worries about the Wilderness Permit. I really want Half Dome. 5 days 4 nights. I just love the fact that I can camp anywhere in the wilderness, well, two miles from half dome trailhead, after the first night.
We did a family campout near Reds a few years back. It's so beautiful there. Hoping to JMT soon!
Good info. Never done jmt. I live norcal. Can drive to yosemite in four hours. But, I'm planning for 2019. Thanks
While I wasn't hiking the JMT this year, I did hike much of it while exploring the Sierra between Reds Meadow and Wanda Lake from August 15-29. I didn't even ship a resupply, I just bought a few things at VVR and got a few things out of the "hiker bucket" there before really resupplying out of the hiker buckets at MTR. I'd also say that VVR has much better food in the café than Reds Meadow. MTR has the best hiker buckets. I also visited the hot springs across the river twice, once on my way south and again on my way back to Mammoth. Both times made me feel like a new man. As far as the transportation issues, I would just recommend that anyone planning this needs to pay attention to the bus schedules. If you arrive before Labor Day, that means arriving on a Monday through a Friday before the ESTA bus leaves Reno. After Labor Day, it does get a bit complicated as the YARTs bus into Yosemite only runs on the weekend. Ideally, you arrive in Reno on a Friday and take the ESTA bus to Lee Vining then YARTs on Saturday morning into Yosemite. Lastly, do you put your pack under your legs? I had frost on the inside of my tent and ice coating my bear canister twice this year but was perfectly warm. If anything, my legs with the backpack under them fare better than my torso with the pad.
+Michael Burgess a lot of hikers I met were resupplying out of the hiker boxes in these thee areas. I heard that MTR's wasn't that great during the time I was passing through, but I know that's not typically the norm. I slept with my pack below my feet as well.
Follow Bigfoot VVR's bucket was pretty poor in volume and quality when I passed through, but instant mashed, PB, tortillas, and snickers from the store got me through the next few days. MTR had multiple unopened pbs, pasta, soup, etc. Just don't expect much in the way of snack foods in their original packaging.
Good info. Thanks!
My suggestion to you for your next JMT is to slow down. Stop earlier in the day, take zero days and explore side trails.
I agree 1000 island and Rae are some of the best of the JMT. Another favorite of mine is upper Evolution Lake. The views south are spectacular at sunset. Tyndall creek crossing is out of this world special if you get there during a full moon. I better stop now before I give away all my favorites!
+johnVidBozo That's the more difficult part for me as I usually don't have a ton of time off for some of these hikes. Perhaps the next time I'll be out there I won't have to go back to a job and could spend more time out there. Evolution was great! I stayed there one of the nights. There were a couple days I stopped really early, 2pm, and was able to spend a lot of time enjoying the Trail. Wish I would have saved some of that time for Rae.
Great advice.
Wish me luck, going 9.1.19, I'm trying to carry 7 days of food, nobo to either MTR or vvr.
Haha man chipmunks will eat anything, I had one eat my shirt because I guess it was salty 🤷♀️😭
Note that the Tuolumne Meadows Grill was closed in 2022. Verify these services before you decrease your food carry.
the grill was closed last year but the general store/post office were open. everything was closed in 2019 due to snow so it might not open this year.
I haven't hiked it, don't know if I ever will, but I think I'd take a zero day at the hot springs
Looked like a really nice trail
Subscribed. Thank you for all the tips. Id like to hike the JMT early 2019. Gear is getting good and starting to plan now. Kevin
1000' accent to go around a lake, "little bit of accending" lol! 200' would a lot when your legs and stomach know cheeseburgers are at the other end.
+tnprime Yep. The food is what pushed me through as always
I had an wonderful opposite experience than the prior comments. I picked up my resupply 9/20/18. Cabins were closed for the season then. That night we had steady rain that developed into snow. One of the hikers was only cowboy camping, no tent, no rain gear, and only a lightweight jacket. He got soaked in the rain.
The lady at the store coordinated a shuttle with VVR for him and several other hikers who turned back from Muir Pass. When this hiker decided to continue his hike, she found a rainsuit and heavier jacket that she gave away free.
Yes MTR’s services are limited at the end of the year, but the hot springs and being 20+ miles closer to Whitney made it a wonderful experience!!
Just love your insights
Hi Bigfoot, I’m a MN guy looking to do the JMT next year. I’m a hammock guy and had no trouble last year doing the AT. Plenty of trees as you well know. Will I be able to hammock on the JMT?
Thanks for all the knowledge you pass on. It makes our lives much easier. Spamtown
I hiked the JMT in '17 and never saw one person hammocking. It's just not the best environment for that in general. It might be doable but you'd really have to research which spots had trees
Hi. Have done the JMT. We did the trail with a zero in Evolution Valley, and a zero at Thousand Island. Two of my favorite places. Gotta take some time in all that Majesty and just sit and let it flow through you.
+John Hamm Great places to take zeros!
There is a cab service in Mammoth Lakes that goes to Reno airport for $200
BEWARE of the Mini-Bears!! They'll get you every time. Hot chocolate is also a great one.. I agree with it being a morale booster. I'm partial to Medaglia D'Oro espresso and pack that in for coffee. But some of that in addition to my my cocoa makes for a nice mocha on the trail. Great for those chilly evenings. Great video as usual. keep it up.
How much cash do you recommend bringing? Wondering if you can use plastic to pay for things like the VVR ferry, MTR hot springs, etc.
Bigfoot, awesome content... spent a few hours yesterday watching several of your videos on JMT. Helped a ton with planning! Thank you!!! I'm hoping to snag a permit to go this August of September... have lots of flexibility on when we go so hope that ups chances of YNP permit. Thanks again!
Thanks Bigfoot, you've had quite a big year for hikes. Are you planning on relaxing this winter or do you have winter trips planned?
Hey Bigfoot! Great videos and hike. You'll get it! Just wanted to let you know to google Old Spice burns. What you thought was chafing may have been chemical burn. It happened to me multiple times before I figured out it was my old spice. The more I sweat the worse the burns were. I saw your gear list and noticed it. Just a possibility.
+Joe S Thanks Joe, could have been. I have really only had it happen that one time at the beginning of the SHT. Might have to switch it up for that, but I remember hearing that before. It sure burnt like hell so that would make sense.
I would get those from Gold Bond, terrible. I switched to Glide now for a few years, never a problem.
I LIVE in Tuolumne County that borders Yosemite and I have been trying for 3 years to get a permit.
Great tips
Why not fly into Bakersfield (super cheap) and take the bus to Lone Pine and hike northbound?
I got a permit for June 15!!
Good info, thanks
Fresno airport and then yarts to Yosemite
Thank you sir
Best video. Insane how much you can preplan only to discover You Know Nothing Jon Snow!
+Johnny Redrum love the GOT quote!
We flew into Reno and rented suvs
I would recommend NOT putting your toilet paper in a bag with dryer sheets. They have such a strong smell they are going to attract animals, and for proper LNT all things with a smell need to go in the bear can... No thank you! What I have started doing picking up each day's TP in small dog poop bags. They are lightweight, opaque and can be thrown out with the trash
So, you put those small dog poop bags in your bear can then... because I'm pretty sure your poop has a smell and like you said, LNT states that all things with a smell need to go in the bear can...
+Brent Welborn 😂
I agree. I've been doing this for years and it works great. Dog bags with TP don't go in the bear can - I use an OP sack that stays in the outside mesh pocket of my pack. Leave that out at night with the bear can. Never had any problems.
I agree, dryer sheets not a good idea, I put a small pine branch in mine to cover any smell and worked great
I put my used TP in an old beef jerky or dried fruit bag. They're sturdy and non see through. I've also used the bags that you grind your coffee beans into. I get mine at Winco. Put new ones in your resupply.
Would you use a different bearcan? You mentioned something in your JMT gear video.
+Robert Waite I would, I'll talk about that when I review the canister on Thursday. Thanks for sharing!
Great informative video. I am on the JMT Aug 9th this year. Question: I finish up in Lone Pine on a Saturday. Any suggestions on how to get to Mammoth airport on the weekend from Lone Pine? Thanks! Skip
Would a odor-resistant bag have helped and if so what do you recommend?
Wow, really good tips! I plan to hike july 2018.
North TX Kayak don’t forget to apply for the permit lottery 6 months to the day in advance, you may not get picked for several weeks in the lottery
+Nathan Rieck Very true. I'll be doing another permit video when it gets closer to the 2018 opening dates (Decemberish)
Do you have to book a stay at MTR? Can you stay at MTR? Do you have to book a stay at VVR?
just found this as i'm prepping for my '18 JMT hike...how did the solar charger work? i plan on taking a 10kmh battery but at a mere 5-6 ounces, a solar charger might be a welcome addition to my pack so i don't have to be a power miser during the hike.
So you briefly mentioned that you have to pack out ALL your WAIST on one stretch. Did I hear that right???
Have you ever done a back and forth of a shorter trail like the JMT or the Colorado trail????
Do you have a guide book you could recommend to plan the JMT hike?
Right after I commented I got an email from Yosemite Wilderness Permits.
Wilderness Permit I wanted and Half Dome. Early Christmas Present!
Congrats!!!!!
Follow Bigfoot thanks man! It’s hikers like you that inspire me! You’re a beast Bigfoot!
MTR is not the most hiker friendly place, that is unless you rent a cabin for a minimum of two nights, then you are part of the “family.” With the lady that was helping people with the resupplies, I got the feeling she didn’t like her job. Not the most friendly, also hikers can’t walk around the property, here’s your resupply, there’s the hiker buckets, there’s a water tap on that building across from the store, there’s the store.... no bathrooms for hiker use, no camping on our property, you have to go past so and so point to camp (not sure where that point was to be honest, didn’t really apply since we kept going a long ways after resupply) and don’t play, feed, or throw stuff for dogs(I understand this one). That’s about it but come on, you charge 80$ and can’t let us use a bathroom, don’t get it
I had just the opposite experience at MTR. Arrived 9/20/17. Yes the cabins had been shut down for the season. That night was when a front moved through, raining into next morning then turning to snow and about 1.5' of snow was dumped on Muir Pass. The hiker I'ld met that day and camped with was cowboy camping and received a soaking from the rain. The lady at the store found a tarp for him along with rain gear so he could continue his hike, at no charge. The prices at the MTR store were about the same as REI. She also arranged with VVR for VVR's shuttle to pick up at least 10 hikers that were on their way or camped near Muir Pass when the snow storm hit and decided to call it quits. I Yes being able to use their heads would be nice, but we are camping.
I had the same expeirence
When you do your next JMT hike and if you have a choice of northbound or southbound, which way would you go? Perhaps it doesn't make much difference?
Depending on time of year and snow pack it can make quite a bit of difference. Northbound generally goes up south facing slopes to passes (Muir is the exception) and is easier than hiking uphill in snow.
Southbound is the traditional way because you end at Mt. Whitney, sort of. I'd rather end my hike at Mt. Whitney, than Yosemite Valley, and spending a day or two in Bishop after is a treat.
Southbound has the advantage of successively gaining in altitude giving you more time to acclimate. Especially good for flatlanders as myself. Just my 2 cents worth, but I'll swear that the southern approaches to the passes were steeper than the northern ones we had headed southbound. Permits are easier to obtain going northbound, unless you do a walkup from Tuolumne Meadows. Then you can flop from Whitney back to Tuolumne to finish your hike into Yosemite Valley(going downhill most of the way with a very light pack).
+mountaincat8 Maybe NOBO since I already did SOBO. The nice thing about SOBO is you acclimate as you head higher and higher until 14,505. Starting at Whitney you will need to probably spend some time acclimating before you hike from the portal which is around 8,XXX feet to Mt Whitney at 14,505.
Thanks for the review. Curious what you thought of the Hyperlite pack after the trip?
+Curtis MiLLER Next week I'll be doing a in depth review of the pack. Overall it's a great pack with some things they could change on it that I think would benefit most hikers using their products.
Did I miss something? You summited Whitney and that was the end of your JMT hike? Anyway, you talked about taking less food the first half do to being able to resupply but what about the cost comparison? Seems to me eating at the restaurants and resupplying at the outfitters will cost way more then carrying a few meals. As someone who has to live on a budget and watch their spendings, I'm also looking at info on cost saving as well as convenience and weight cutting. Not only for the JMT but also the AT I'm planning for 2018.
Bigfoot was specifically addressing carrying unnecessary weight since there is the convenience of prepared hot meals allowing a hiker to eliminate carrying excess days of food. While you have a valid point but he was not operating on a shoe string budget. You have done your cost analysis, he was offering nothing more than an option, not a debate.
Where did you pick up your gas canister between the airport and the trail head?
We stopped at an REI that was in the area
Dear bigmouth.
Your videos are great and I hope to see some more. I am sorry you are not from the south and that causes you to talk fast and with an accent! lol! thank you, you have been a big help.
Is it possible to hike the JMT using a hammock? Also, in general why do you use a tent vs hammock?
+geech08 No, there are many places where there aren't any trees or alpine to hang a hammock. I didn't see one hammock on the trail. I like having all the space of a tent, especially when it's raining, to set out my gear. To be fair, I haven't immersed myself in the hammock scene yet, so when I do, maybe I'll switch. But I love my
Duplex and the comforts it brings.
I would skip the huge crowds and start at Touolome Meadows. This would give me more time at 1000 Lakes and Rae Lakes. I'd also skip summiting Mt. Whitney--just too many people, so much so that camping the night before and after was really disgusting. It reaked of urine and many people just stuck their way bags in rocks instead of packing them out.
+g verdi Summiting Whitney the time of year I did got rid of all the crowds, which was nice. I hear you on the wag bags, disgusting people!
What airport would you recommend for a northbound hike?
Easiest is Mammoth Lakes. Take a shuttle from there down to Lone Pine/Whitney Portal. It will be more expensive to fly into Mammoth though. When you get done you would take the shuttle out of Yosemite to Lee Vining and connect with the transit that will take you back to Mammoth
Sooo your Bigfoot? Dang didn’t think harambe was a hiker ;)
+I walk alone ok 😊
Can you burn your toilet paper?
you always look worried