JMT tips for Yosemite to Mammoth ?
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 3:49 pm
hi all,
I hope your summer mountain season is going well. Been stuck behind a computer for months.
But! I managed to get both a JMT permit (little yosemite valley start) and a week off at the matching time.
I am starting on the trail on a sunday (sept 1). I need to exit the trail on the following sunday morning to drive back to my salt mine. My fitness level will be meh and coming from sea level, I will have at best one night acclimatization. So I am planning to take my sweet time and enjoy the views, and to exit at Devil's postpile or Reeds and catch my car back at Mammoth. Ideally the last camp would be about 4 miles from postpile to allow for an easy out and a long day of driving.
One of my side goals is to summit Banner Peak, if the conditions are right and I am feeling strong enough.
Here is my itinerary as of today. It is still very much in flux... I think my days 3 and 4 are maybe a bit too much (but spending the night at Tuolomne is not super appealing). Even the elevation change on day 2 might be tough without proper acclimatization, but Cloud's rest sounds like it would be worth it. If you have tips for lovely campsites (views, air, possibly less crowds), or a smarter breakdown or side trips I am all ears.
Also wondering if It's worth the hassle to mail a food box /ice axe / microspikes to tuolomne or if it's a headache. But a light bag on the first couple days might be nice.
PS I am a semi fit, decently experienced backpacker a half century young. I am fine going cross country on class 2/3.
Thank you for your wisdom and your knowledge,
S
Sunday
Day 1
Trailhead to little Yosemite valley 4.43 mi (mandatory first camp)
2833 ft up 763 ft down
day hike to half dome 6.83 mi
2725 up/ 2725 down
(with elevation stacking this is not a perfect day 1, even if I do half dome with just water and a camera... Maybe better to start the hike late and do half dome at dawn on day 2, then maybe spend the second night on top of clouds rest ?)
Monday
Day 2
LYV to Sunrise meadow via cloud rest 11.3mi
4970ft up 1719ft down
Tuesday
Day 3
Sunrise to Lyell canyon 14.1mi 1749 ft up 2346 ft down. A few miles but mostly loosing elevation that sounds doable. Spending the night at Tuolomne is not super appealing...
Resupply/lunch at Tulomne? or just pack all the food and toys from the beginning.
Wednesday
Day 4
Lyell to Thousand island
14.8 miles
3594 ft up 2602 ft down
(Too long? Might be a better breakdown ?)
Thursday
Day 5
Day hike Banner peak via glacier pass
maybe move camp to garnet ? or sit happily and enjoy the view...
Friday
Day 5
Thousand island to Garnet ? is that underachieving ? But then I can goof off and do some photography and reading maybe do Thousand to ediza ?
3.17
559 up 633 down
Saturday
Garnet to trinity lakes-ish? is there a nice place to camp around that mileage from postpile ?
7.18 mi
+1,852 ft / -2,230 ft
OR Saturday
Garnet to Ediza lake
Distance: 5.14 mi
+967 ft / -1,427 ft
Sunday
Trinity to Devil postpile
Distance: 4.90 mi
+2,012 ft / -254 ft
OR
Ediza to Devil postpile
Distance: 10.1 mi
+1,588 ft / -3,291 f
I hope your summer mountain season is going well. Been stuck behind a computer for months.
But! I managed to get both a JMT permit (little yosemite valley start) and a week off at the matching time.
I am starting on the trail on a sunday (sept 1). I need to exit the trail on the following sunday morning to drive back to my salt mine. My fitness level will be meh and coming from sea level, I will have at best one night acclimatization. So I am planning to take my sweet time and enjoy the views, and to exit at Devil's postpile or Reeds and catch my car back at Mammoth. Ideally the last camp would be about 4 miles from postpile to allow for an easy out and a long day of driving.
One of my side goals is to summit Banner Peak, if the conditions are right and I am feeling strong enough.
Here is my itinerary as of today. It is still very much in flux... I think my days 3 and 4 are maybe a bit too much (but spending the night at Tuolomne is not super appealing). Even the elevation change on day 2 might be tough without proper acclimatization, but Cloud's rest sounds like it would be worth it. If you have tips for lovely campsites (views, air, possibly less crowds), or a smarter breakdown or side trips I am all ears.
Also wondering if It's worth the hassle to mail a food box /ice axe / microspikes to tuolomne or if it's a headache. But a light bag on the first couple days might be nice.
PS I am a semi fit, decently experienced backpacker a half century young. I am fine going cross country on class 2/3.
Thank you for your wisdom and your knowledge,
S
Sunday
Day 1
Trailhead to little Yosemite valley 4.43 mi (mandatory first camp)
2833 ft up 763 ft down
day hike to half dome 6.83 mi
2725 up/ 2725 down
(with elevation stacking this is not a perfect day 1, even if I do half dome with just water and a camera... Maybe better to start the hike late and do half dome at dawn on day 2, then maybe spend the second night on top of clouds rest ?)
Monday
Day 2
LYV to Sunrise meadow via cloud rest 11.3mi
4970ft up 1719ft down
Tuesday
Day 3
Sunrise to Lyell canyon 14.1mi 1749 ft up 2346 ft down. A few miles but mostly loosing elevation that sounds doable. Spending the night at Tuolomne is not super appealing...
Resupply/lunch at Tulomne? or just pack all the food and toys from the beginning.
Wednesday
Day 4
Lyell to Thousand island
14.8 miles
3594 ft up 2602 ft down
(Too long? Might be a better breakdown ?)
Thursday
Day 5
Day hike Banner peak via glacier pass
maybe move camp to garnet ? or sit happily and enjoy the view...
Friday
Day 5
Thousand island to Garnet ? is that underachieving ? But then I can goof off and do some photography and reading maybe do Thousand to ediza ?
3.17
559 up 633 down
Saturday
Garnet to trinity lakes-ish? is there a nice place to camp around that mileage from postpile ?
7.18 mi
+1,852 ft / -2,230 ft
OR Saturday
Garnet to Ediza lake
Distance: 5.14 mi
+967 ft / -1,427 ft
Sunday
Trinity to Devil postpile
Distance: 4.90 mi
+2,012 ft / -254 ft
OR
Ediza to Devil postpile
Distance: 10.1 mi
+1,588 ft / -3,291 f