JMT info

Me @ the John Muir NHS

The John Muir Trail is a glorious hiking trail aptly named after naturalist, environmentalist, activist, author and founder of the Sierra Club, John Muir. Stretching from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley at its northern terminus and culminating at the summit of Mt. Whitney at its southern terminus, the trail spans ~211 miles. But, in order to get back to civilization, an additional 11-mile hike is required to the nearest trailhead at Whitney Portal.

The High Sierras of Central California are part of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range, the glory of which all nature aficionados should experience! 

The JMT can be hiked in either direction. Most people prefer to begin their trek in Yosemite Valley and hike south for various reasons. Personally, I will be hiking south because acclimating to the higher elevations is easier and summiting Mt. Whitney on the last day will be a grand end to an adventure of this magnitude.

While the views along the JMT are impressive, equally so is the elevation gain and loss experienced by hikers. Per Backpacker Magazine, hikers experience ~50,000 ft of elevation gain and loss. Talk about a rollercoaster ride!

JMT Elevation Profile - North to South

I plan to hike the JMT in 14 days, with one (planned) day off. Since I won’t be able to carry all of my food for the duration of the trek, I plan to resupply at least twice along the trail. Please refer to my itinerary for detailed information.