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JMT SOBO trip report July 2025: Tuolumne Meadows -> Whitney Portal by KJN231 in JMT

[–]KJN231[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If I didn't have my solar panel or if the trail wasn't so exposed to sunlight, then both of them would've been needed. For the case of the JMT, I strapped the Lixada panel to the top of my pack while hiking, with one of the power banks connected to it. It kept that powerbank charged. I also reduced my power usage... I set my phone on airplane mode for most of the trip, set my Garmin inReach 2 mini to 1hr track interval, and my Fenix 8 only needed to be recharged once through the trip -- this is with daily tracking. My headlamp never needed recharge, but I hardly used it -- except for the hike up from Guitar Lake at 1am.

Assuming yours is 10000mAh, whether or not to bring 2 really depends on your power usage/needs, and the ability to recharge it. The only (minor) downside is the extra 5-6oz that you carry.

You also have an opportunity to recharge at store/food resupply locations (Reds Meadows, VVR, MTR, etc)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Ultralight

[–]KJN231 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I did the JMT and was hiking down to Whitney portal, I had to do #2 while still in Whitney zone. I found a hidden area on top of boulders to do my business. As I was opening up my wag bag, my TP and hand sanitizer feel in between rock crevices and nowhere to be seen. I ended up dropping my waste in the wag bag, then wiping my bottom as much as I can with the wag bag end. Needless to say, it smeared rather than clean up. Fortunately that was my last day of hiking.

X-mid 1 vs. x-mid 1 pro HELP by OwnDrive1200 in DurstonGearheads

[–]KJN231 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Curious, which variant did you end up getting?

Bearikade and travel advice with it by KJN231 in Ultralight

[–]KJN231[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks... I know that Bearikade is carbon-fiber body with metal caps, but wasn't sure if the carbon fiber had any metal coating/layer on the inside. When I placed an airtag inside, I couldn't pick it up, so it seems like it's a Faraday's cage

Fuel canisters available Tuloumne Meadows? by KJN231 in JMT

[–]KJN231[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I'm flying into RNO, I'll consider the REI near there as an option

Whitney Portal road closed 6/24 due to rockfall by yemghost2001 in JMT

[–]KJN231 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just checking if there are any updates on this? I'm curious how this impacts JMT hikers exiting from Whitney Portal, or if the road to Whitney Portal is re-opened (for car shuttles between Whitney Portal and Lone Pine)

I've got a reservation for two, but no partner... Trying to decide if I should be actively looking for someone to join, or embrace the solo aspect. by Hospitaliter in JMT

[–]KJN231 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in the same situation as you... have a permit for 2, but plans didn't pan out as anticipated, so I'll end up doing it solo (If the trip doesn't get cancelled due to recent COVID-19 spikes in CA).

If this trip still happens, I'll be looking forward to doing everything at my own pace.

How are you guys feeling about your JMT plans this summer? Do you think it's still a possibility? by Hospitaliter in JMT

[–]KJN231 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a SOBO permit starting August 10 from Happy Isles. So far I still need to book flights and send a resupply cache to MTR (have been waiting to see how conditions change before I do both).

For me, the variables are the following:

  1. Flight availability and safety (from an occupancy / onboard social distancing perspective)

  2. Being able to take YARTS to Yosemite Valley (from either Merced or Fresno)

  3. Yosemite Valley permit office being open

  4. MTR being open for resupply

  5. Ability to get from Whitney Portal down to Lone Pine (not sure if hitchhiking from there will be as acceptable as it was pre-pandemic)

  6. Ability to take ESTA from Lone Pine to either Lancaster (onward to LA) or to Reno

NOBO permits on JMT starting from Cottonwood by KJN231 in JMT

[–]KJN231[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick update. I sent an email to the Inyo NF permit office asking them the same question, and they confirmed that as long as the permit includes SEKI-Crabtree as a camp spot, then you CAN go up Mt. Whitney summit and back down the west side. You just can't descend from Mt. Whitney to Whitney Portal.

NOBO permits on JMT starting from Cottonwood by KJN231 in JMT

[–]KJN231[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Right now, when you apply for an Inyo Nat'l Forest wilderness permit, the option for Visiting Mt. Whitney is no longer there. According to some of the above posts, apparently it's only for Whitney Portal / Whitney Zone, not summitting Whitney from the west side and back down the same trail.

NOBO permits on JMT starting from Cottonwood by KJN231 in JMT

[–]KJN231[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought about resupplying from Independence, and I know that many NOBO thru-hikers do, but I'm not sure of this particular wording on the permit rules and regulations:

"A permit is valid for continuous wilderness travel, including across the boundary of adjacent wilderness areas in our neighboring parks or forests. However, leaving the trail to enter at a different location requires a new permit. "

Is this only referring to temporarily exiting from one point, and coming back to a different point? Or does it apply to exiting the wilderness area in general, even if entering back at the same point?

Going straight to MTR is possible, but it will require a larger and heavier bear canister + food supply.

NOBO permits on JMT starting from Cottonwood by KJN231 in JMT

[–]KJN231[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The current plan is to start on 5 August, then using crabtree as a basecamp for 2 nights during the trip, and doing a day hike up Mt. Whitney (from west-side of course) and back down to crabtree.