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Hi,
?
Long time member of the former yahoo group and have hiked the JMT a number of times, and considering the ongoing difficulties with securing permits, does anyone have a suggestion of a trail about 100 miles that is similar in terrain and altitude to the JMT that does not require permits?
I'm of a mind to hike in the Sierras again - it's been a few years - and want to try to avoid the hassle of fighting for the few permits that do come available.
If this is not an appropriate forum to post this, I don't mind being told so. Peace and love and all that.
?
Thanks.
?
Ken J.
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1. North Cascades Wa ?There are multiple excellent options. 2. Goat Rocks Wa Shorter but fantastic.? 3. ?Wonderland trail Mt Ranier NP 4. Pct South Lake Tahoe south to Yosemite NP 5. Pct North Kennedy meadows south ?to wherever you like All of these options except Wonderland trail are non quota trails
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On Feb 6, 2025, at 4:55?PM, kenjessett via groups.io <kenjessett@...> wrote:
? Hi,
?
Long time member of the former yahoo group and have hiked the JMT a number of times, and considering the ongoing difficulties with securing permits, does anyone have a suggestion of a trail about 100 miles that is similar in terrain and altitude to the JMT that does not require permits?
I'm of a mind to hike in the Sierras again - it's been a few years - and want to try to avoid the hassle of fighting for the few permits that do come available.
If this is not an appropriate forum to post this, I don't mind being told so. Peace and love and all that.
?
Thanks.
?
Ken J.
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Ken,
All trails in the High Sierra that I am aware of require overnight wilderness permits. The question is, which are easy to get or have no quota.
If your goal is to re-hike the JMT, you can obtain a last minute permit from a no-quota trailhead like Kennedy Meadows South (or others) and go north from there. The downside is that all of these trailheads add significant miles to a JMT trip (for example an extra 50 miles from KMS) and many (like KMS) take you through high desert where water may become an issue.
If you want to discover new terrain in the High Sierra, I would just look at a map and make your own trail. Any route that is not well tread should have permit availability! Some of the best trips I've done have been on less-well-trod routes.
If you are up for some adventure with a tad of route finding where the old trails have vanished in some spots, check out the Theodore Solomons Trail group on Facebook for a route that parallels the JMT along the West Side:
Cheers!
Ethan
"When you see a new trail, or a footprint you do not know, follow it to the point of knowing."? - Uncheedah
On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 5:11?PM Tom Kennefick via <tomkennefick= [email protected]> wrote: 1. North Cascades Wa ?There are multiple excellent options. 2. Goat Rocks Wa Shorter but fantastic.? 3.? Wonderland trail Mt Ranier NP 4. Pct South Lake Tahoe south to Yosemite NP 5. Pct North Kennedy meadows south ?to wherever you like All of these options except Wonderland trail are non quota trails ? Hi,
?
Long time member of the former yahoo group and have hiked the JMT a number of times, and considering the ongoing difficulties with securing permits, does anyone have a suggestion of a trail about 100 miles that is similar in terrain and altitude to the JMT that does not require permits?
I'm of a mind to hike in the Sierras again - it's been a few years - and want to try to avoid the hassle of fighting for the few permits that do come available.
If this is not an appropriate forum to post this, I don't mind being told so. Peace and love and all that.
?
Thanks.
?
Ken J.
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KEN:
?
Every place that fits your criteria of similarity requires permits, but that should not dissuade you. Many of the trailheads that lead to the area you describe - including the entire JMT - are perfectly easy to obtain.? I take great pleasure in assisting those who like you are interested in the quality of the are and the experience rather than the abstraction of doing THE trail.? I am glad to help and will email you shortly.
Peter
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The Trinity Alps Wilderness near the Oregon border is Sierra-like and has self-issuing permits at kiosks.
The Big SEKI Loop is 155 miles but there are shorter variations. You can start at less-busy SEKI trailheads and easily get a permit.
Non-weekend permits are usually available for most Sierra National Forest trailheads.
Sequoia National Forest has several wilderness areas without permits. But it would be challenging to do 100 miles without entering SEKI. Golden Trout Wilderness permits are not in high demand and allow entrance into SEKI. They are obtained from Sequoia National Forest, not rec.gov.
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On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 07:11 PM, Carl Joplin wrote:
The Trinity Alps Wilderness near the Oregon border is Sierra-like and has self-issuing permits at kiosks.
Just to the east of the Trinities, PCT Section P from Castle Crags to Etna Summit is just under 100 miles and I've seen it written up as an interesting individual through-hike section.? At least Kauffmann's Conifer Country speaks positively of it . ? Scenery mixes Sierra-like granite terrain with red-rock geology (peridotite, serpentinite, and other mafic rocks).? My experience up there is limited -- I have more in the Trinities -- but I'm thinking this will be a good year to spend time exploring the Klamath Range since they are getting plenty of precip this winter while the southern Sierra is not.? No permit issues.? I'm personally not a through hiker, but I am looking at maybe two different loop trips or in-or-outs in the Klamath Range somewhere in June / July.?
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Sierra National Forest permits for the JMT are still quite easy to get. This would be trailheads at VVR/Lake Edison or MTR/Florence Lake. Not sure of the mileage, but if you go northbound and end at Happy Ilse, you can get back to your starting point via YARTS and Sierra Shuttle. Not cheap but very workable.
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If you are flexible I have found that the permits are easier to
get during the Yosemite week-ahead and Inyo 2 week-ahead release
periods.
Here are some ideas if you want to look at areas outside the high
Sierra:
The PCTA has a map of the areas along the PCT that require
permits. You can select an area with trailhead issued permits or
no permits. Northern Washington is my favorite after the Sierra.
Most areas are self-issue but there is a small section near
Stehekin that has a quota.
I believe you can get a no quota permit from the Lake Tahoe Basin
Management Unit for hikes south of Desolation Wilderness (hwy 50)
to Tuolumne Meadows, about 150 miles. Lower than the Sierra but I
enjoyed it. Yosemite only accepts their permit or a PCTA long
distance permit to go south of Tuolumne over Donohue Pass.
The Colorado Trail has trailhead self issue permits for
wilderness areas. San Juan National Forest has no permits.
Silverton to Durango along the trail is about 75 miles. You could
add a hike to the east from Silverton to make it 100 miles.
Frank
On 2/6/2025 3:23 PM, kenjessett via
groups.io wrote:
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Show quoted text
Hi,
?
Long time member of the former yahoo group and have hiked the
JMT a number of times, and considering the ongoing difficulties
with securing permits, does anyone have a suggestion of a trail
about 100 miles that is similar in terrain and altitude to the
JMT that does not require permits?
I'm of a mind to hike in the Sierras again - it's been a few
years - and want to try to avoid the hassle of fighting for the
few permits that do come available.
If this is not an appropriate forum to post this, I don't
mind being told so. Peace and love and all that.
?
Thanks.
?
Ken J.
--
Frank
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Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I shall enter them all into the thinking box and make my plans accordingly. Lots of good advice showing there are many ways to enjoy backpacking the great wildernesses this country has to offer - although so far the Sierras are my favourite.:-)
It maybe next year though before I can organise a trip though - or possibly later in the year; this year starting in May I will be in the UK cycling 1,000 miles from one end to the other.
Thanks again.
Ken.
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There's the Cohos Trail in New Hampshire.?
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https://www.cohostrail.org/
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NH is underrated for hiking; there are bald granite domes and the trails are carpeted in blueberries in the summer. The altitude is not as high as the Sierra but the daily gains can be.
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Thanks. There are so many wonderful places to hike in the world, I envy eagles' ability to soar above all of them.
[Edited Message Follows]
There's the Cohos Trail in New Hampshire.?
?
?
NH is underrated for hiking; there are bald granite domes and the trails are carpeted in blueberries in the summer. The altitude is not as high as the Sierra but the daily gains can be.
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I really enjoyed the Collegiate West alternative for the Colorado Trail, which is part of the Collegiate Loop. The trail is high, often above treeline, and within close proximity to many side trips. The trail is easily accessed from Leadville and Leadville is easily accessible via public transit from Breckenridge which is easy to get to from Denver. The entire loop is 160 miles which is equally divided between the east and west segments. I hiked this as part of a CT thru hike, southbound. I hitchhiked to Salida at the end of the segment. That was a tough two part hitch, so a shuttle at that point might be a good idea. This hike was a while ago, in 2014, but some searches indicate that advance permits are not needed. There were self issue permits at various points on the CT.
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https://coloradotrail.org/traveling-the-ct/collegiate-east-west
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I have hiked portions of the CT and will concur that resupply is difficult. There are no facilities close to anywhere - other than maybe Copper Mountain Resort - and getting to Salida from the trail is a very long hike out and back and can be quite a bear - no bears were seen however. :-) The true downside of doing the CT from Denver to Durango or vice-versa is the lack of reasonable transport back to either of those locations after a through-hike.
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There aren't many long hikes with transportation and resupply as
easy as the JMT. Having done some longer hikes I didn't find there
to be much of a problem on the CT. Hitch hiking was necessary, but
there was also Trail Angel transportation support at some of the
stops. There are bus, train and flight options between Durango and
Denver.
Frank
On 2/11/2025 3:16 PM, ken jessett via
groups.io wrote:
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I have hiked portions of the CT and will concur that resupply
is difficult. There are no facilities close to anywhere - other
than maybe Copper Mountain Resort - and getting to Salida from
the trail is a very long hike out and back and can be quite a
bear - no bears were seen however. :-) The true downside of
doing the CT from Denver to Durango or vice-versa is the lack of
reasonable transport back to either of those locations after a
through-hike.
--
Frank
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Bus schedule from Durango to Denver
6:32?础惭?–?6:30?笔惭
11h 58m
1 change
Not real convenient and not real quick
Train similar time
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6:24?AMDurango, Colorado
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6:32?AMDurango Transit Center Gate 1
(Platform 1)
CDOT Outrider towards Grand Junction
12:25?PMGrand Valley Downtown Transfer Station
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12:40?PMGrand Valley Downtown Transfer Station
6:30?PMUnion Station
(Denver, Colorado)
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Yes, it isn’t fast. However the Outrider to Bustang trip from Durango to Denver is beautiful and inexpensive. And it drops you off a block from easy transit to the airport.?
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On the CT the worst hitch for me was to Lake City.? No traffic on rd.? Waited over an hour.? Meanwhile, hikers wanting ride piled up.? Luckily a pickup happened by and gave us a ride in rain (very unsafe though).
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Judy McGuire
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I agree after a strenuous multi day hike taking the train would be a relaxing means to return home. Particularly when it travels through Colorado
Yes, it isn’t fast. However the Outrider to Bustang trip from Durango to Denver is beautiful and inexpensive. And it drops you off a block from easy transit to the airport.?
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I took the bus ride. It was very pretty too and a comfortable ride. Wifi on both Bustang and bus to Durango.?
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I agree after a strenuous multi day hike taking the train would be a relaxing means to return home. Particularly when it travels through Colorado
Yes, it isn’t fast. However the Outrider to Bustang trip from Durango to Denver is beautiful and inexpensive. And it drops you off a block from easy transit to the airport.?
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Getting to Lake City was difficult for me as well. There was a lot of traffic but no one stopped at the trailhead for at least an hour. ?I started walking and a few miles later someone took pity on me and stopped. ?Getting back to the trail was easy. Someone at the hostel offered a ride.?
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Jim Ringland
ravi_jmt2013
