Gear for the JMT

“It's time to think about gear for this trip. I am pretty set besides a couple things:

1) I need a new pair of rain paints, just don't trust my old one.

2) I have 2 tents, one of them I want to use. My black diamond lighthouse and my cloudburst.

I really trust my BD tent, but it's much heavier then my cloudburst. I love my cloudburst but didnt' really use it during heavy rain or snow yet. It's sooo light!

So my question for now is cloudburst or lighthouse? Any experience?”

“Yeah....don't forget to pack a TV....you might miss your dim witted soap shows...maybe even Dr Phil!”

“Take the most durable gear that you can, let weight be second. Your not going to be staying in the tent all of the time anyways.”

“People have thruhiked the AT, CDT and PCT in tarptents with no problem. My opinion: name your poison.”

“gem, i've heard some good things about froggs toggs. i'm also looking at this suit, but the durablility issues has me wondering.

http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/driducks_rainsuit.html”

“Rainshield O2 rainwear. Cheaper than FT's very light and compactable. Only drawback no pockets.”

“if you don't plan to be bushwhacking the frogg toggs are great. the dryducks stuff is even better, IHO... the seams are sealed, not sewn. lighter _AND_ cheaper.... a full suit is like 20 bucks. anyway, that is what i use. frogg toggs is great too. i never carry rain pants except in winter. i wear nylon pants. they dry quickly enough.”

“take your existing rain pants and a good amount of duct tape in case of problems”

“duct tape is a must-have. a million uses! fleet farms sells it in sheets with removable backing... cool stuff. i still make my own mini-rolls and i have seen some ppl wrap it around their trekking poles but i just keep a stock in my first-aid kit. i am told "100 mph" brand is the best but i just get what is on sale at home depot.”

“I always have ductape with me. I don't really like my rain paints...they are my first rain paints ever and pretty cheap. I think it's worth investing in a new pair. I saw the froggtodds before. not sure if that's what I like though...I think they may not able to live through 23 days or so of hardcore JMT.

i'll check out 02.

Main concern really is my tent. I don't want to carry 1 more pound if my tarptent is good enough.”

“The tarptent will be fine unless you go early in the season (June) or late (October) when snow is a risk. Most of the rain you get will be afternoon thunderstorms - they last an hour or so then move on. If you wait to set up your tent until after the rain, you won't even have to carry a wet tent.

Most important gear for the JMT: lots of sunscreen and dark glasses. The air is thin up there and you will get fried.

If you are hiking in early season (June, July) bring lots of bug dope too.

Don't forget your bear canister.”

“My opinion for tents in California, coming from a right coast hiker, is to not worry as much about rain in CA as you do in the south. I know that in the south, there is always a chance for a really big storm, any day of the summer.

Talking with CA hikers, they seemed to be less worried about long rains than I was. You might get an hour or two of rain each afternoon, but most never expected to run into days and days of rain.”

“Take the Lighthouse. That way there will be no doubt. One pound of weight is very cheap insurance on a three week hike.”

“oh yahhh...I remember the bugs. I will NOT leave the eastcoast without bug repelent that's for sure. I've never seen as many knats in my life then over there. [leaving mid july]
got the bear canister.

thanks for saving my dough for this trip I have actually all my gear at least what I can think of right now. just a tent question and rain gear question.

Well, maybe a food question...but I'll think about that next week. I do know for this trip I'll ziplock every day in one ziplock back, this way I won't eat too much and be without food for a week.


solitary, yeah strong hiker, but hey if I can do without one pound I rather do that.”

“That is all I've used for summer hiking in California (90% Sierra) for the past few years. No problems, and I've had it in some good rains and wind. Just make sure you can pitch it correctly!

I'll be on the JMT this summer and am ditching the cloudburst for the tarptent rainbow. The only problem I've had with the cloudburst in the sierra is that it isn't free standing, and it has made campsite selection up above treeline (all that granite!) tricky at times. I like that the rainbow has the freestanding capabilities if I really need it! (I always carry poles anyways...)”

“On which tent to take, I'd go as light as possible. We didn't take any tent except plastic tube tents, and only had to use them in rain for a few nights out of 28 days. If I was doing it again I'd get a tarp tent, with no poles, and set it up with a hiking pole.

We also didn't have rain pants, and used ponchos instead of a nice light stuffable raincoat.

We also didn't have stoves, but you can't get away with wood fires anymore I suppose.

Food in separate zip lock baggies for each day is a good idea.”

“Ginny is right on about the rain situation in the Sierra. It's pretty much in the afternoon, and then it clears off for the night . . . although we did have one day of solid rain and falling temps when a cold front went through. One other consideration for a tent is the amount of vestibule space. There were several times during those late afternoon rains when prosecutor was up enjoying the scenery from his tent while the rest of us were holed up inside our tents. He had a vestibule that could be converted into an open awning with his trekking poles.

I would definitely take the rain pants because, if nothing else, they serve as an additional layer to help keep you warm. There will be times when you need that extra warmth in the Sierra. I used my Golite Reed rain pants (less than 5 ounces) on both the JMT and the WT last fall. They have worked very well and are going with me on the AT this year.”

“Gem - I have the Marmot Precip rain coat and pants and consider them one of my layers. So far that has proven to be weight efficient.”

“Thanks, I def. will take my rain pants and jacket with me. I just thought I may buy a better rain pants, and a lighter jacket. Not sure though. my marmot isn't bad, just heavy. I have an ultralight but I get soacked wearing it. Rain all of a sutton goes right through.”

“Has anyone tried a tarp/bivy setup for the JMT?”

“gem, did you decide which stove you're going with?”

“any links for the dryducks raingear Jimmy?”

“see mine from yesterday morning helinka.”

“thanks sacco”

“are driiiiiiiiiducks really at all breathable?
last edited: 2/20/07 8:39:18 AM”

“nope, I did decide NOT to go with my jetboil.
I think I'll use my canister stove though. This way I don't have to rough it.

ARgghhh!!!!1 I don't know! I am still debating on the espit stove. It would be easier if I had a chance to try espit at least once.”

“A cheapa$$ $2 head net was the most important piece of my gear on my Wind River Range trip.
I do not like to put bug dope on my face.

I say take the Cloudburst. My Squall TarpTent worked fine on all my Western trips.
Only place I had problems was on clear rock, couldn't put down a stake. Had to look around a bit for a site.”

“I was thinking about bivy/tarp, but once in a while I just like a tent, and I think on a 23 day trip I'll rather go with the tent.

I agree about the net. Those bugs over there are abolutly insane.

I am going to take a fishing rod. me fishing, or trying to fish, that ought to be funny.

I am so excited, I have to pee again.”

“gem, i'll prolly use a canister stove as well. i don't think it's much of a compromise, if it's a compromise at all.”

“I don't think you can fly with Esbits.
You would need to buy them at an REI or someplace after you got off the plane.
They are about the lightest way to go if all you do is boil about two to two and a half cups of water.
They do leave a nasty gunk on the bottom of your pot.
last edited: 2/20/07 9:16:00 AM”

“you can't take esbit on the plane, carry-on or checked. they can be mailed via ground only.”

“are you taking freeze dried food? Do you repack them into zip locks to reduce bulk and trash? How does freeze dried food work for 23 straight days?

Fishing is a great thing to do, as relaxation and to add protein and calories to your diet. Bring oil and spices to cook them in, plus extra fuel.”

“you can't take esbit or canister in the plane, so no matter what I'll have to supply once arrived in CA.

I have some high cal soups from Germany, they are pretty light, I may take them for part of the trip. No need to repack them either. Only problem I see is how tired i get of soups for supper.


I will pack every days food in one ziplock, so I don't over eat.

I like the raincoat. very light. Trail day is coming up, I betcha they have it there.”

“are you mailing food drops to pick up?”

“yupp”

“Can they be delivered to the JMT, or do you have to hike out to trailheads? The hike out to trailheads added many days to our trip, but allowed us to clean clothes, buy extra food, have a good meal and shower, buy new socks, etc. You might even want to put some goodies in the food drops, like new socks, sun block, chap stick, a paperback book ripped into sections, with the next section in the next food drop, etc.”

“still deciding on it. I was hoping to find someone who would resupply us. I don't have it on this computer, but do have something bookmarked about delivery to the trailhead. At least I thought so.

I think that as the link:
http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~rbell/johnmuir.htm

I thought Muir Trail Ranch will bring it to you for $40. at least I thought that's what someone posted.I need to start worring about the resupply.


Lastly one may resupply at Muir Trail Ranch, 108 miles along the JMT, (next to Blayney Meadows and its hot spring). Since the ranch has to carry in all its supplies on mule one must pay $40 per package for this service. Arrange this by writing the owner:

Muir Trail Ranch
Box 176
Lakeshore CA 93634

I hate that there isn't a phone number.
last edited: 2/20/07 12:38:43 PM”

“If you are going to be cooking fish, I would not even think about Esbit or alcohol stoves.”

“lol, that's tru. Espit Fish...yummy.
I do like sushi though.”

“My first food drop is planned for Tuolumne meadows so I may just rough it for a day or two and mail my stove with the first food drop.”

“We got food drops at Devils Postpile, South Lake, and Onion valley. A resupply on the JMT near South Lake would have been nice. Devils Postpile is not out of the way at all, but Devils Postpile to South Lake is a long way, unless you do more miles than we did with our heavy packs.”

“After Red's Meadow / Devil's Postpile, you can resupply at Vermillion Valley Resort - they have that deal where you ride the boat across the lake and stay at their resort, etc. That's what we will be doing if we end up doing the northern "half."
last edited: 2/20/07 3:02:39 PM”

“That sounds like a deal, and its at the right part of the trip where a break is needed.”

“gem, aren't you one of those peeps who are always cold?
what kind of clothing/layers are you considering? what sleepingbag you bringin?”

“I am brinking my 20 degree western mountaineering bag. that should be ok.
lots of layers, at least 3 jackets. I'll be fine if I bring my down jacket and my poly fill jacket. I am only cold at night and at camp. and yes, I cry like a baby if I am cold.

I know it's overkill...I dun care!!
tent: decided to use my tarptent. It's much lighter.
last edited: 3/05/07 9:54:07 PM”

“i think my wife has a similiar thermostat to you, gem.

i'm thinking total available layers for her:

(for the top)
s sleave wicking T shirt
l sleave wicking T shirt
fleece vest
down jacket

think that should cover early august nite time temps? (~30* right?)

i also plan to bring plenty of fuel for the stove. nothing like a boiled nalgene stuffed in the coat to warm ya up.”

“gem, whats yer bag? the WM ultra lite?

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/23108,1.php”

“OMG, I will most likely freeze to death.

JKing, but I always carry just a midweight fleece and a rain jacket. I figure if I'm cold, I can put on the long-sleeve poly shirt I wear for mosquitos during the day AND the long-sleeved capilene shirt I sleep in at night. I only bring the shorts I'm wearing. At the end of the day, I put on my capilene long underwear with my rain pants over that for warmth. If I'm still cold, it's bedtime.

I guess some people are cold wusses and some people are weight wusses, and I don't want to carry even an extra ounce.”