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Post by jonmclean on Feb 11, 2017 8:28:26 GMT -8
Hi everyone, I’m new to the forum and was looking for some advice on my summer trekking plans.
I intend to do the JMT starting 15-25 August this year with some potential diversions on the sierra high route.
My questions are:
1. What permits are required for the sierra high route? Do I need any further permits if I have a JMT permit? Do I need permits at all?
2. If I fail to get JMT permits, is it possible to hike from Happy isles to Tuolumne and then bypass Donahue Pass on the sierra high route and then carry on along either the JMT or SHR?
3. My girlfriend (not an experienced hiker but keen) wants to join me for a couple of days. I was thinking Happy Isles/ Glacier Point to Tuolumne on the JMT if I can get my permit would be the most logistically sensible stretch to join me for. What permit would she need or are you aware of any other sections along the way where she could join for a couple days?
4. If I fail to get north to south permits are northbound permits from whitney portal more straightforward and available to acquire?
Sorry for the bombardment, I’m from Scotland and all of this hiking permit business is new to me so I want to make sure I get it right. Also if you don’t know the answers but do know who to ask that would be fantastic.
Thank you very much for any help!
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null
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Post by null on Feb 11, 2017 8:35:15 GMT -8
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Feb 11, 2017 10:48:03 GMT -8
No worries, someone on the forum will answer your questions. Are you a Munroist? Hope to visit your country someday and hike a few.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Feb 11, 2017 16:23:55 GMT -8
The rules change every year and sometimes depend on the issuing ranger. But you only need one permit, and don't tell the ranger if you plan to leave the trail to go into town in the middle. Permits southbound out of Yosemite are hard to get and permits for Whitney Portal are hard to get. If you avoid those places it's much easier to get a permit. So study the maps and look for alternative trailheads that get you where you want to go. You may need to phone more than one ranger office to get the info you need. There's a facebook/yahoo group on hiking the JMT that has lots of current information. Link to info. What parts of the High Route were you considering?
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 13, 2017 0:11:56 GMT -8
Yes you always need a trailhead specific wilderness permit. After your entry you can wander wherever. The permit is largely a traffic monitoring control device. The new process for Yosemite is nice with the lottery. www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/jmtfaxform.pdfYour friend will need a similar wilderness permit for whichever trailhead she wants to start from. The Mammoth ones are frankly easier to apply for. Recreation dot gov and Inyo have a nice layout and intersctive map.
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Post by jonmclean on Feb 13, 2017 9:21:23 GMT -8
First off, yup I've made a start on my munros, 61 down and only 221 to go... There are some really great hikes in Scotland so I'm sure you'd enjoy a trip here! So just to check then; the permit applies to the trailhead and from there I can wander wherever without issue? Does it matter where I exit? Thanks for the replies guys, the link is also handy. And finally "If it's not Scottish it's crap" is a certain truth.
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Post by jonmclean on Feb 13, 2017 9:27:19 GMT -8
As for the bits of the Sierra High Trail i'm considering, from the map I have there seems to be two short and two longer sections that cross over the JMT back and forth between Tuolumne and where the SHR diverts for it's final stretch to Kings Canyon. So if I'm finding the JMT to be plenty enough challenge (a distinct possibility) I'd stick to the short stretches but if I'm going well (or can't get a permit for Donahue Pass) I'll consider the longer parts.
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null
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Post by null on Feb 13, 2017 10:18:39 GMT -8
As for the bits of the Sierra High Trail i'm considering As far as I know, there is no Sierra High Trail. There is a Sierra High Route and a High Sierra Trail. I don't know that much about either but the former is more difficult and the latter is on marked trails.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Feb 13, 2017 13:11:23 GMT -8
As for the bits of the Sierra High Trail i'm considering Alternatives that get you off the JMT are great. There's a lot of steep trail-less talus on the SHR that most wouldn't consider fun. I've done a few "Class 2" backcountry passes and they are no joke. I usually don't find the easy line and do something more than "Class 2." Do plenty of research so you can be flexible and keep yourself out of trouble and into the fun stuff.
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Feb 13, 2017 19:25:40 GMT -8
If you mean the Sierra High Route, there's no trail to follow. So you better have good game with navigation - maps, compass - and a copy of Roper's book, so you don't get off route and end up in gnarly stuff that requires protection. While it's more popular than before thanks to the book, it's still off trail and still easy to get yourself in trouble.
If you mean the High Sierra Trail that does not intersect the JMT until Crabtree Meadows. Two different things. Permitting is from trailheads in Sequoia NP, not Yosemite.
To do a 200+ mile route, consider: resupply points are difficult, not a lot of roads anywhere near the trail thus you are going to hike quite a bit out of the way to do it unless you are on the JMT, or you are going to be REALLY AWESOME at cramming stuff into the biggest bear canister out there, the Wild Ideas Expedition - unless you can completely avoid areas where there are no mandatory canister rules, aka, you will be entirely outside Yosemite and the Whitney Zone when you camp - also Dusy Basin, Rae Lakes, and the other scattered "gonna get a fine unless you have a canister" places.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 13, 2017 21:41:11 GMT -8
So you're thinking of going over Blue Lake Pass?
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Post by jonmclean on Feb 20, 2017 3:37:29 GMT -8
Yeah I do mean the Sierra High Route (not trail), I keep making that mistake when I talk about it. I've got the Roper book and I'm used to off trail and talus so while this will be a big step up for me in terms of length and logistics it seems like it shouldn't be too far out of my comfort zone from what I've read so far.
And yes I'd be thinking of going over Blue Lake Pass instead of Donahue Pass if I can't get the JMT permits I want. Anyone done that stretch over Blue Lake? Any thoughts on it?
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Feb 21, 2017 5:23:28 GMT -8
Anyone done that stretch over Blue Lake? Any thoughts on it? No, but you've got me interested. There are a lot of ridges to cross between trails. My brief research hasn't turned up any scary stories like Alpine Col & Snow Tongue Pass.
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Post by Dave Ayers on Feb 21, 2017 16:15:56 GMT -8
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Feb 22, 2017 5:18:30 GMT -8
Or this - www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14666If you can get past the people too cool to hike trails or say the actual names of places in their trip reports, there's lots of great info on that site. Just know it's a place where people brag about what badass hikers they are.
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