So, I'm planning my treks for the summer and have a couple questions for the group. I have a set-in-stone week off on the July 4th week to work with, plus other flexible time I can take off during the summer.

The first question is how likely it is that the west switchbacks up to Mt Whitney will be climbable in mid July (say between July 12th and 14th)?
I figure with the average snow year we just had, the west side should be have melted out enough to reach the summit from that side. I’d be coming up from the PCT.

If the east side isn’t clear enough to descend directly to the portal, I would go down via Shepherds Pass or Kearsarge Pass. My plan is to leave a resupply package at Horseshoe Meadows with enough food to get to any of those exit points based on conditions mid-July.

BUT that got me thinking: I could just keep going NOBO on the JMT since I found the area between Glen Pass and Muir Trail Ranch one of the most scenic parts of the JMT when I did it SOBO in 2020 (of course, the other parts are great too).

The South Fork San Joaquin River Bridge being out is a complication. ?How likely is the river to be low enough in mid to late July to ford the river near the missing bridge? The detour skips some of my favorite parts of the JMT, so probably wouldn’t bother continuing if I couldn’t get to MTR directly.

So, approximately 2 weeks ?along PCT section G from Walker Pass to Whitney (add 5 days or so to exit via Kearsarge), or 4-5 weeks to Yosemite Valley.

I could also exit from Kearsarge Pass, take 2-3 weeks back in civilization (my boss would appreciate that), and then restart JMT NOBO from there in mid August. Better chance of fordable rivers then. Getting a permit may be an issue for a restart.

So, really the final question is: Split the trek in two to be more likely to be able to do Kearsarge to Happy Isles with better chances in August or tempt fate by trying for a full 5 week uninterrupted trek (except for maybe some zero days in Independence and/or Reds Meadow during resupplies there)?

Thoughts?

On Sun, Jun 2, 2024 at 12:02 PM, Henning Rech wrote:

I am on the PCT this year, just now in Ridgecrest for a town day and will be back on trail at Walker Pass tomorrow. Whitney in 2nd week of June, can tell you more when I'll be in Bishop.

Thanks, any first hand info will be greatly appreciated.

Good luck!

Hej Jim,

Now I'm in Bishop. I summited on Thursday 6/13 a few minutes before sunrise.

Not much snow left. Nothing on trail until past Guitar Lake. I cowboy camped at the pond above Guitar Lake, also free of snow. After that there were small snowfields where you either followed a boot track or went around off-trail. The long switchbacks were essentially free of snow, with 2 or 3 patches where you had good boot tracks. After trail junction one place where the trail was blocked and one had to do some easy rock scrambling around on a length of less than 50 ft. Two longer snow fields on the gravel before you turn right for the final approach. That was it.

I enclose some photos; will be available for questions tomorrow.

Henning






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Am 02.06.24, 16:51 schrieb "WanderingJim via groups.io" <jimjmt2020@...>:

On Sun, Jun 2, 2024 at 12:02 PM, Henning Rech wrote:

I am on the PCT this year, just now in Ridgecrest for a town day and will be back on trail at Walker Pass tomorrow. Whitney in 2nd week of June, can tell you more when I'll be in Bishop.

Thanks, any first hand info will be greatly appreciated.

Good luck!

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Am 18.06.2024 um 04:37 schrieb WanderingJim via groups.io <jimjmt2020@...>:

?Thanks. Doesn't look the like the west side will be a problem. Based on those pictures, I don't see a need to even put my microspikes in my resupply bucket for Horseshoe Meadows.

Plan is to enter at Walker Pass (with a ton of water), resupply at Kennedy and Horseshoe Meadows, then go up Whitney. Exit from Onion Valley.

I'm? still debating if I should just continue up the JMT from there after resupplying down in the town. Prepping resupply buckets (got plenty of extra food on hand) just in case I decide push my luck.
My boss won't like it if I do. :)

I'm more likely to try to take a Zero Month and then restart NOBO in Mid August. :)

Hello Henning/Rest?

I habe two more questions:

1. not sure which route you did (sounds like too NOBO JMT) but are there any conditions on the (SOBO) JMT that one should be aware of? (Snow/flood/closures/reroutes/Critical river crossings due to too much water)

2. where did you restock on food? Did you send it there yourself from the us or did you use one of the services??

Will probably buy for the first part in San Francisco or bring it by plane and then send through a service to MTR. kind of a lot of days of food to carry ?

Not sure if red is helpful by getting 1-2 days of food from the shop there???

Thx

Cristina

Von meinem iPhone gesendet

Am 18.06.2024 um 04:37 schrieb WanderingJim via groups.io <jimjmt2020@...>:

?Thanks. Doesn't look the like the west side will be a problem. Based on those pictures, I don't see a need to even put my microspikes in my resupply bucket for Horseshoe Meadows.

Plan is to enter at Walker Pass (with a ton of water), resupply at Kennedy and Horseshoe Meadows, then go up Whitney. Exit from Onion Valley.

I'm? still debating if I should just continue up the JMT from there after resupplying down in the town. Prepping resupply buckets (got plenty of extra food on hand) just in case I decide push my luck.
My boss won't like it if I do. :)

I'm more likely to try to take a Zero Month and then restart NOBO in Mid August. :)

On Sun, Jun 2, 2024 at 12:02 PM, Henning Rech wrote:

I am on the PCT this year, just now in Ridgecrest for a town day and will be back on trail at Walker Pass tomorrow. Whitney in 2nd week of June, can tell you more when I'll be in Bishop.

Thanks, any first hand info will be greatly appreciated.

Good luck!