SummitPost.org

I'm hoping to get in contact with someone who has hiked the JMT southbound in 14 days in order to better plan my trip. Feel free to post on here or e-mail me at go_live@sbcglobal.net

Tony

My wife and I did the jmt in 14 days a few years ago. Email me and let me know what info you need. Good luck and have fun, its a great hike!

I did it in 15 days in 1995. I'll help with whatever I can. What info are you looking for.

14 days makes it pretty intense, but if that's all you have time for, its possible. I was able to cut out a bunch of weight by using a bivy sack instead of a tent and bringing all dry food so I didn't need a stove.

Buy the guide book too, that will help. Are you doing it solo or with a couple people?

Damn, I did it once in thirteen days, which is almost 14, so maybe I can help and then the other eight times I just kept letting it last longer and longer.

This sounds like a case of, "I've got two weeks of vacation and don't plan to sit down once"

A good friend did it in 10 days, he's not on SP, but I could put you in touch if you like. Email me.

Did this in 10 days in 08. Happy to answer any questions you might have,

I did the JMT in 15 days both in 1986 and 1993. Both times I re-supplied in Mammoth Lakes; after five days on first trip and after four days the second trip. I wanted to carry a lighter pack initially to get comfortable, and push a little harder latter in the trip.

Some advice from someone who's been on the trail a lot....

Don't bother. Cut 1/3 off the trail, bail out at Kearsarge Pass, and enjoy yourself a little more. Sure, you can hike the whole thing in 14 days, just to "say you did it". But what are you trying to prove? And who are you trying to prove it to? If you're looking for some Q.T. in some of the most spectacular Wilderness on the planet, then just go up there and hike, take some rest days, enjoy yourself, and don't try for the whole thing. If you're trying to say you could do it, then yeah... hike it in 14 days and suffer. It's your choice.

What's the "normal"/more relaxing time to do the hike? (I know, I should and will look it up). 3 weeks?

If you went to visit The Louvre, would you see how fast you could race past all the works of art?


Please don't demean The Sierra Temple by blindly racing through it.


The Sierra is far too special not to savor at a more appreciative pace.


If you are after a workout, visit a local beach and see how many 60 pound loads of trash you can haul out.

I'd say 3 weeks is a good leisurely pace, but I'd take even more time if you can. That takes you to about 10.5 ish miles per day. I'm planning an 18 day trip. It's the longest I could convince my wife to let me be out. She hates when I do trips without her.

Looks like you got tons of help already, but if you need more info, I did in 10 days several years back.

Seeing this discussion I wondered what the record time was. My guess was about 5-6 days.
Well, a google search came up with this:
http://pbakwin.home.comcast.net/~pbakwin/fkt/jmt.html
Reading this, I have the same question that the woman in the quote by John Stamstad asks: "Why are you here?"

Backpacker magazine had a brief notice 2-3 months ago about the new JMT trail record. An impressive feat in more ways than one.
I had the opportunity to leave a cache near Grouse Meadow when I did the JMT years ago, then I also re-supplied at Reds Meadow. Caches are not allowed now, glad I was ahead of the red tape.
The Vermillion Resort does a thriving trade in servicing JMT through hikers. That will be the best cheeseburger you ever taste in your life. They will ferry you across Lake Edison from a point only about 1.5 miles from the JMT. I was there last August and at least 3-4 JMT hikers per day came in for supplies, showers, lodging, messages, beer and other sundries. You can also ship supplies to the resort for later pickup. A valuable service.
14 days is an aggressive schedule for the entire JMT. Coincidentally that is the exact number of days I hiked the trail, south to north.