John Muir Trail

Well guys,
As a few of you know, I'll be leaving in less than a week for California to hike the John Muir Trail. I'll actually start on August 17th and finish on September 1st. My itinerary is 16 days/225 miles.
I've already mailed off my re-supply package that will be packed in via mule train to the Muir Trail Ranch where I will pick it up on August 25th.
For those who might be interested in my gear list, here it is:

JMT Gear List

Category Item Weight (oz)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Backpacks -ULA Catalyst (XL) 54.50
Clothing -Crocs 12.25
Clothing -Clothes w/Stuff Sack 55.51
(Wind Pants, SS Nylon T-Shirt, Underwear, 3 pr. Injinji Socks,
1 pr. Smartwool Socks, Down jacket, Wool Cap, Nylon hiking shorts,
Marmot Ion, Marmot Gloves)
Kitchen Items -Caldera Keg 7.62
(Includes Mini-Bic and MSR Spork)
Kitchen Items -Gatorade Water Bottle 1.25
Kitchen Items - Koozy 1.62
Kitchen Items -Nalgene 250 ml Bottle 1.38
(Alcohol Fuel Bottle)
Kitchen Items -Nalgene 500 ml Bottle 2.38
Kitchen Items -Platypus 2-Liter Bottle 1.38
Misc. Items -BearVault BV500 41.00
(Required by Law)
Misc. Items -Digital Camera w/Case 8.37
Misc. Items -Foam Sit Pad 1.75
Shelters -.7 mil Ground Sheet 1.50
Shelters -9x9 Flat Tarp 14.12
Shelters -eVent Bivy 8.75
Shelters -MSR Tent Stakes 6.25
Shelters -XL SilNylon Poncho 6.50
Sleeping Systems -Inflatable Pillow 4.38
Sleeping Systems -Marmot Atom (Long) 23.00
Sleeping Systems -NeoAir Pad 13.75

Total Weight of Selected Items 267.26 oz/16.7038 lbs.

Total Weight at Happy Isles 226.26 oz/14.1413 lbs
(No Bear Canister)

I also carry a little fanny pack (that I wear in front) that I carry things that I use or may need to use on a daily basis. I carry the following items in it:

Water treatment drops (bleach)
Lip Balm
Burt's Bug Bite Relief
Sunscreen
Contact Drops
Dr Bonner's Soap
Foot Care Kit
First Aid Kit
Tooth Paste
Tooth Brush
Fire Starter
Deodorant
Victorinox SwissCard Lite Multi-Tool
Petzel eLite
The total weight of this pack is 21.75 oz.

The first 3 days of the hike, I will be able to take advantage of the bear lockers at established campsites, so I won't have to lug around the bear canister (read ANCHOR). I will pick it up at Tuolumne Meadows at the start of Day 4.
I started a Trails Journal (http://www.trailjournals.com/JimEnnis) back in the spring that you can read if you wish. I will not be able to access the web or send any emails with any regularity, so I will keep a written daily journal and will post them to the Trails Journal site when I return.
Wish me luck,
UL

Best of luck! I hope to be able to make great journeys like this someday.

Just wondering about your footwear and the Crox?

Coldspring:
My hiking shoes are Merrill Moab Ventilators (Low Tops) along with a pair of DirtyGirl gaitors. The crocs are primarily for camp wear, but also a necessity for some of the creek crossings.
Foot maintenance on this trip is going to be paramount, so even though I don't usually bring along the crocs, I don't want to be stuck in the same shoes at night that I've hiked in all day. They will allow my feet to breathe and allow my hiking shoes to dry out at night.
I am also using the Spenco Backpacker inserts in my hiking shoes. I've used these for the past three years and they are awesome. Great forefoot cushion so that the balls of my feet don't take the pounding that they used to.
UL

UL,
Good luck and safe travels.

HBH

Good luck UL... have u checked the forecast? I know its a ways away but....

We definitely want a complete report when you return. Without knowing about your trip, I've spent over 8 hours online this weekend reading trip reports on the JMT. I'm thinking summer 2011? Particularly interested in your resupply plans as it seems the southern route is slim pickings. Have the trip of a lifetime and come back safe and give up all the details.

Thanks guys.
Red:
There are three major re-supply points along the trail. Tuolumne Meadows, Vermillion Valley Resort, and Muir Trail Ranch. MTR is the last major supply point and is at about the half way point (108.8 miles). I will arrive there at the end of Day 9, pick up my resupplies, and will have 110 miles left to do in 7 days. My food weight leaving MTR will be about 10 lbs. I packed some extra food that I will have for dinner on Day 9 and breakfast Day 10. High calorie stuff that weighs more than what I would carry, but can enjoy before leaving MTR.
If you would like a copy of my 16-Day spreadsheet, email me and I will send you a copy of it. You can certainly make it a longer trip if you want.
TM:
I've been watching the weather very closely. Right now they are dealing with 15-20 mph winds, but on Thursday, they were forecasting snow above 9000 ft. That's pretty much the entire southern half of the trail. They were not expecting a great deal of accumulation and it will probably be gone by the time I get there. The big thing that I'm watching for is any hurricanes off the coast of California or Baja Mexico. They can bring in some nasty stuff up high.
Thanks again for all the encouragement,
UL

Sounds like you have a solid plan. There's no way I could jaunt the 100 miles in 7 days. I'm seeing where some folks hike out / hitch hike to Independence for a fourth resupply at the post office. I'm thinking that would be me. I don't even know how probable it would be for me, but I do have it on my bucket list. Have a super fantastic trip and stay safe! Looking forward to the report.

Have a great time!!!! I wanted to hike a little bit of it a few weeks ago, but Amanda told me that we didn't have time . Be safe andgive us a full report

Just ordered the book: JMT Essentials

Good Luck! I know you have been planning this for awhile and now its game day! Wish I could be there with you!

Lew

UL,
You are living my dream when I was younger. Never know if I can get my foot problems behind me I might still be able to do some thru hiking but mainly in AR.

Good luck!!

Thanks, all:
I will be sure to take plenty of pictures and will be looking forward to sharing the experience with you.
Red:
The book that I used to plan my trip is written by Elizabeth Wenk. It is her book that the spreadsheet that I sent you is derived from.
UL

Hey guys, I made it back in one piece. The bad news is that I was unable to finish as planned. At the end of day 5, about 100 yards from my planned campsite, I made a bad step down off of a ledge, blowing out my right knee. I actually exaccerbated an old injury to the medial collateral ligament of my right knee. This caused a great deal of swelling and pain, which pretty much ended the trip. I was able to make it to Red's Meadow late in the day on Day 6 and catch a couple of shuttles back to Mammoth Lakes, CA.
I will post a trip report, along with pictures, as soon as I get things organized around here.
UL

Man, sorry about the injury UL. Maybe you'll be able to do a round 2 and finish someday. Can't wait to hear about the first 5 days of the trip.

UL,

I hate to hear about the injury. I am glad you were able to make it out.
I hope the injury is repairable and does not keep you down long. I look forward to a trip report.

HBH

Bummer about the injury. I look foward to the trip report.

UL, Where's that JMT report? We'd like to know some details. I'm booked for July 12 and hope to learn from your experience. My shake down trip is to yo yo the ERL early June.

skd

Thought we we yo yoing the BRT Red?

Its going to be awhile before I'm able to put together a trip report. I'm having to deal with an IRS audit right now, so that's eating up the majority of my time.
UL

UL - totally understand. Hope it comes out all right.

TM - I'm still OK w/ a BRT yo-yo, just thought the ERL would have more ups and downs and river crossings, which is what I need for the JMT. Thinking six days. Also, I'd like to do it with no resupply (maybe a shower though) so I'm going to try and haul six days worth of food and treat water. .

Ok.. well let me know where and when.. I could to a perpetual loop on the ERL hahaha We might get dizzy.. oh oh we could hike it one direction then do it in the opposite direction. lol

Received backcountry wilderness permit today for July 12, 2010 JMT!

That ERL Yo-Yo work-up / shake down is looking like sometime between June 7 -18. Planning a 6 day trip w/ no resupply (but maybe a hot shower?). I have weddings June 5 and 26 and keeping the 19th open to book.

Anyone is welcome to join in on all or part of the Yo-Yo. I'll be doing around 10 miles a day.

Red 10 is not to bad.. we did 12 on the first day from the upper falls TH to Winding Stairs... very doable. Mountains may give you a little trouble but even there you can do it. I did it backwards the same way.. upper TH to Winding Stairs first night and finished the second.. Took 3 weeks to recover but is possible. I will have to see when it gets closer to the 7th.. Is this the second annual tristate solo group hike Red hahaha.

That would be awesome to make it a multi-state hike again. All or part.