Greetings,

My wife and I are trying to finish the high sierra camp loop this year. Sunrise HSC & Merced HSC.
We both have back injuries and last year we tried to make it last year to Sunrise HSC via Cathedral Lakes TH, with full packs but was just too much.
We are wondering if there are any Pack Mule services that cover that area, that could be used to help carry some of the weight ?

We have permit for Sunrise TH for August 31st 2022
Sunrise HSC
Merced Lakes?HSC
Little Yosemite
Exit Happy Isles

would appreciate any tips on Mule Pack services

regards
William Vannerus

If I were to summarize the key finding of the survey is hike your own hike. I see no particularly strong differences between daily mileage and experience problems. That was true an analysis that Lizzie Wenk did of the 2015 data if I remember correctly. If I'm wrong about that, it's probably an example of how hard it is to avoid confirmation bias.
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John Curran Ladd
San Francisco, CA?
415-648-9279

It would be interesting to look at survey data as to the plan daily mileage of the lighter weight hikers. It is my impression that their plan daily mileage is quite noticeably higher than backpackers who carry more weight. We could also look at The relationship between pack weight and fatigue. In 2015 there was a surprising lack of any relationship between fatigue and pack weight.

I think it is doubtlessly the case that many people hike with lighter weight to make it more enjoyable. I think that's probably all you are saying in your email to the group. But I did want to make this related point.
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John Curran Ladd
San Francisco, CA?
415-648-9279

I read it as what is typical of UL forums. Your perspective and example supports Ravi's main point that different hikers are looking for different experiences and should carry (or not carry) items that enhance that personal experience.

Which leads back to this thread which is this group is awesome and provides valuable JMT information, supportive for multiple styles of backpacking experiences.

开云体育

Well that pdf clears things up quite well. That pack is for the UL hikers.

Two Dogs

https://isotropic.org/papers/chicken.pdf

Cool, now I can use 100 chickens to pack my gear for me.

Added bonus: Fresh dinner meat. :)

What parts of the JMT are off-limits to chicken? And is it legal to kill them on the trail? What is the legal means for disposing of feathers and entrails? Do I have to carry those out? Can I put them in my wag-bag and drop them off at the Portal?

开云体育

Pack that chicken feed in the pack so it carries its own food. And for that time you run out of food on the trail, you can have fresh chicken.

Two Dogs

Hey Ravi. I want to offer another perspective on UL backpacking that is meaningful to me. I find that a small, light pack increases my enjoyment while hiking. There is an illustration of a hiker in one of Mike Clelland’s books of a person with a small pack whistling and walking with their hands in their pockets. The approach is like taking a comfortable stroll in the park. That’s my vibe and it has nothing to do with pounding out 25 mile days. I like to amble slowly all day in a relaxed fashion and I find that carrying a minimal kit enhances that experience.

Your assertion that people go UL to pound out miles is not universally true. There are lots of reasons people go UL. Another reason is back/neck problems.

??

It's about time!? Finally a backpack that my chicken can wear!


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Byron Nevins
Lead Moderator of JMT at groups.io

Judith, I agree with everything you said. I'm 78 now, and though I may get back to one of the eastside access trails, I'll probably never hike along the crest of the Sierra again. But I continue to follow this group as I have since 2013.

开云体育

Well said...both approaches are great...just depends on what turns you on!

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The problem with many UL forums is that many proponents don't understand that different hikers are looking for different experiences. In terms of weight, there is an enormous difference between the ULer pounding out 25+ mile days and the backpacker hiking 10 miles. The UL hiker puts a premium on weight to move fast and there's not much time in camp to enjoy luxury items or creature comforts. A more leisurely hiker looking to spend a lot of time in camp, maybe go fishing, swimming, etc, should logically put more value on carrying items that enhance that experience. Many UL forums tend toward optimizing for weight regardless of the type of hiker or what experience they're looking for, or outright ridiculing people who don't want to pound out 25 miles a day (I've seen them described as "tourists" rather than backpackers, etc). ?The JMT group here stays away from all of that which is a good thing.

I loved the old group with the camaraderie among the gram weenies measuring the fuel effectiveness, cutting of extraneous parts of equipment, etc. I didn’t notice the bad behavior but I was probably too busy laughing at the extremes to notice. I hadn’t been backpacking since the seventies, so I learned a lot about the new light weight equipment, foods, and clothing.
I’m eighty and I’ve deleted all the other trail groups, but I continue to follow this one. I participated in the trail survey a couple of times. I’ve used the lists here to find people to share resupplies. I continue to enjoy this group for keeping up on the ever changing ways to obtain permits, new equipment, and safety. Most of all, at this time in my life, it brings back such beautiful vivid memories of the trail and the fellow travelers on it. Thank you to all who have contributed to this group and who continue to make it the best place to go for information and support in successful travel on the JMT.

Promised paywall-free recap and elaboration
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John Curran Ladd
San Francisco, CA?
415-648-9279

5 days ago from Fredxy "This is a very well behaved group. I'm sure part of it is due to the fact that it has such a narrow, niche focus: a single trail. Part of it is also probably due to the 90s style technology. But I'll put my money on moderation as the key."

Before Roleigh Martin and I became lead moderators in succession (2010 until I moved it to groups.io). it was misogynistic and competitive. UL hkeres vs traditional, boots vs trail runners, comply with the rules vs finding ways to not getting caught, etc. Appalling and it was then the only JMT group (pre-FB) so it needed more active moderation an da lot of communications from Roleigh or me. Roleigh did a great job with that though he and I had a falling out later. Since then, moderation rotates and new people replace the worn-out ones.

It's really important. The very knowledgeable John Dittli left the group after too many people were suggesting ways to get around logical limitations on permits. We should have expelled a few more members to save John, but we were too reluctant to expel members. "Free speech" has its place but not not everywhere. No one has a right to offend other members intentionally and repeatedly. It has gotten much worse lately on on poorly moderated FB groups. The Ladies of the JMT on FB was one result of reluctant moderation which cost the other groups a diversity of viewpoint.?

We only had to expel maybe one offender who couldn't be coaxed away from responding defensively to every disagreement. The others learned or moved on to one of the unmoderated PCT groups on Facebook.? Good riddance.

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John Curran Ladd
415-648-9279

Although I am not a fan of hiking through burn areas for prolonged periods of time, sometimes there are interesting things to observe as the area recovers. Probably a lot of wildflowers and maybe some green shoots emerging, and of course the views will be more open.?