The JMT is obviously the Interstate 5 of the High Sierra. It's an easy hike. It's so beautiful and life changing your first time. I can't imagine how someone could lose the trail. People screw up with all the intersecting trails south of Reds. Just follow the well placed signs. Compare it to you map if you are in doubt. Hold your map in the proper relationship. Or just wait a few minutes and ask someone.
? The true start is at Mt Whitney summit, ending at Happy Isles.?
? It's not true that you can acclimatize going N>S. Day 1 is a?
5.3k vertical climb,? from 4k to 9.3k in 13 miles to a good campsite with a water faucet. Sunrise High Camp. If you can, go 4 more miles over Cathedral Pass 9.7k to Cathedral Lake, 9.5k, a 17.5 mile day. It's the most difficult day of your hike. If you aren't accustomed to altitude over 7k, you probably won't have an appetite for dinner, have a headache, and possibly nausea You'll have a terrible night sleep. 17 sets you up for an easy 2nd day. Down for 4.5 miles to TM. 8.5K. Then you gradually start your accent to Donahue Pass. Walking through a trail for 3 miles to the beginning of Lyell Canyon. Then you have to go at least 4 miles to legally camp your second night. Around 12 miles for the day. I recommend that you go 2 more miles to Lyell forks.?
9k. You go over Donahue Pass the next morning. 11k. That's enough. There is no advantage starting at HI. Instead of Horseshoe Meadows or Whitney Portal.? I like going north. I like the southern approaches to the passes, and especially like the sun at my back. It's downhill all the way. Ha Ha?
Make your pack weight as lite as possible.? Don't carry shit that you don't use every day other than food raingear first aid repair stuff extra pair of sox and extra batteries or a super lite solar charging power cell. My pack is empty every night. 29 lbs including 20 oz of water is my starting weight for 9 nights 10 days. It gets lighter every day.?
Don't take so much heavy food. You won't eat it. Well that's enough from me. Just my experienced opinion.
Happy trails.?
Oh. One more thing. Turn around and go back if you are over your abilities. You can regroup and try again another day.? You could die out there.
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Jeffery Yeider
jyeider