Realistic?

“To be honest, i am a complete newbie to hiking. The largest vertical i have probably ever done was 2k ft. im a climber, paddler, biker but pretty much I recently found a love for backpacking. I saw pictures from the JMT and i told myself i had to hike it to see such a gorgeous place. I want to do it in 2 years from this summer (after i graduate).

Seeing that i know pretty much nothing about gear i have done a TON of reading and think i have aquired some decent backpacking gear to start using and getting familiar. I have read some "beginner hiker" stuff but i'd like to find more. (please direct me towards any you know of!)

basically i want to know, if in 2 years i could get enough experience to do the entire JMT. I live in VA practically on the AT so im going to do some packing there, but from you experts, is it a realistic goal? thanks for your feedback.”

“it depends on the person, but its very realistic for a fit person. i started doing weekenders in 02, and in 04 i thru-ed the AT.

the best way to know for sure is to go on some multi-day trips, 3-5 nights, because thats all a thru-hike is, stringing together several multi-day jaunts”

“"The John Muir Trail: Through the Californian Sierra Nevada"
by Alan Castle

this has everything you need to know about planning, logistics, and BEAUTIFUL COLOR PICTURES”

“Yes, very realistic...my advice to you would be to go to the trips page and join some of us on a hike...you can learn an incredible amount from the knowledgable folks here and backpackers love helping each other...especially when it comes to gear advice...LOL...”

“Its realistic so long as there are no trolls involved...”

“hell i'm 46, don't think i'm really in that good a shape, i smoke, and i'm pretty sure i can do it. i haven't slowed down my Boy Scouts yet.”

“There really should be no problem. You have plenty of time to get used to backpacking. Do as much hiking now as you can, then start doing overnight trips. You'll learn what you need to do before you go. If you are a student you should have time this summer to go out for a week or more to see if you really enjoy backpacking enough to go for a longer trip.

When I thruhiked the AT I had been hiking for about three years but only backpacking for about a year. I had only done one trip longer than a weekend - and that was my first ever backpacking trip. That one was only four days. I had a lot to learn and I learned most of it the hard way, but because I loved being outdoors, I persevered.

The JMT is a beautiful hike. There are some good climbs, but the trail is built for horses, so it is graded at 10% or less -- lots of easy switchbacks. Parts of the AT are much harder.”