Trail Log
Your Flight Plan
Long thru-hikes like the Pacific Crest Trail obviously require a support person at home. You need someone trustworthy to call in case of trouble. Maybe like me, you might forget some important piece of gear, or you might need to resupply at a different place than originally planned. This person needs to know your “flight plan.” Cell phones don't get reliable reception on the JMT, but there are a few options if you need to get out. If you can walk out, there are some access trails. It's a good idea to read about them in the trail guides. Some are better than others. You would be better off on the JMT than lost on some little-used access trail. Horse and mule packers use the JMT and in an emergency they would be helpful. At the very least, they are probably carrying communications equipment. Also there are a few seasonal ranger stations along or near the trail. It is part of their job to help hikers who get into trouble.
Craig's wife Hanna, and my wife, Darlene provided support for our trip. Hanna drove us up to the trail-head at the start of our hike, and Darlene met us at the finish. They both had copies of our basic trail plan, and we checked in with them from V.V.R. and Independence. Your support person should know the numbers of rangers and other authorities to contact if you are significantly “off-plan.” Decide on contingency plans with your support person(s) before you leave. You'll all feel better talking about it.
OK, here’s how we did it. This section is more or less, a trail log, with emphasis on things we hope other hikers will find helpful. If you are mainly interested in “how to” hike the JMT, feel free to skip ahead. On the other hand, you may find our experiences interesting and useful. If so, please join us on our trek...
Craig and I met on a Sierra Club snowcamping trip, where he introduced me to the joys of ultra-light camping. Most of us were hauling ponderous packs with a lot of heavy winter gear. Craig’s pack was light; marvelously light. So light, that the trip leaders asked him to totally unpack so they could be certain there were no dangerous omissions. I was impressed and on subsequent trips, we got to know each other, and I began reading about ultra-light hiking and paring down my equipment weight as well. After doing a few summer outings, we began talking about section hiking the PCT, and decided to start with the JMT in 2003. For months prior to the trip, we planned, did day hikes on Mt. Diablo, reserved our permits, and got our equipment together.
Our Plan:
We decided to allow 21 days for the hike re-supplying at the Vermilion Valley Resort, the Muir Trail Ranch, and the town of Independence. Not being purists, we decided to hike from north to south, and to start from Tuolumne Meadows rather than the traditional endpoint in Yosemite Valley. Starting on the Valley floor, exposes one to a daunting climb right at the start, where conditioning and acclimation is the weakest. We planned to start comfortably, doing about seven mostly flat miles the first day. Though Craig and I planned to do the whole distance, we had other friends who would join portions of the hike. Our plan worked fine, but we could have improved in a couple of areas.
Tuolumne Meadows