A Gaysian’s Guide to the John Muir Trail

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Meal Planning and Resupply

Maintaining proper nutrition on trail is crucial for your JMT adventure. Your daily experience on the JMT will involve strenuous hiking through high-elevation mountain passes. In order to ensure that you have the energy for these long and grueling days, you will need to properly plan your meals and snacks each day that you will be on trail.

Unless you’ve had previous backpacking experience and know how many miles you can comfortably cover each day, I recommend starting with an estimated average of about 10 miles per day. This will help you determine how many days you will be on trail and the number of meals you will need to prepare.

There are many backpacking meal options available, ranging from very expensive dehydrated meals to instant ramen noodles. The most important things to consider when planning your meals are:

• Calories

• Carbs

• Protein

• Weight/size of packaging

• Flavor/taste

Eating foods that are high in calories and carbs will give your body the energy it needs for long days of grueling physical activity. Eating foods high in protein will help your muscles recover from the strenuous workouts that you will be putting them through each day.

Each morning, I would prepare two packets of instant oatmeal and mix in pumpkin and chia seeds for extra calories and fat. While on trail, I would snack on salted nuts, fruit jerky, and energy bars/waffles. For dinner, I brought a variety of carb options (instant ramen, instant mashed potatoes, and instant rice) that I mixed with salmon or tuna packets for extra protein.

It is important to note that all food must be stored in a bear-proof container while on the JMT. This will limit the amount of food that you can fit in your backpack. I do not recommend carrying all of your food with you as that will make your backpack unbearably heavy and could lead to an injury while on trail. I recommend packing at least 1 week’s worth of food in your backpack, and then coordinate resupply points along the trail. Click here for more information on resupplying on the JMT.

If you are going northbound from Cottonwood Pass, I recommend the following resupply points:

• Independence, CA

  Distance from Cottonwood Pass: approx. 72 miles

  Independence is a small town in the Eastern Sierra. Getting into town will require you to leave the JMT at Kearsarge Pass and hike to the Onion Valley Campground. It will take approximately one week to reach the JMT junction with Kearsarge Pass from Cottonwood Pass. Once at the Onion Valley Campground, you can arrange a shuttle or hitchhike into town. In town, there are stores, showers. restaurants and lodging options. I have stayed at the Mt. Williamson Motel and the Eastern Sierra Motor Lodge. I recommend both places, but Mt. Williamson provides free breakfast, laundry service, and a shuttle service to/from Onion Valley, which makes it a more convenient option.

• Vermilion Valley Resort

  Distance from Kearsarge Pass: approx. 92 miles

  VVR is a popular resupply option that is conveniently located along the JMT. It will take approximately one week to get to VVR from the Kearsarge Pass area. During the regular season, you can take a ferry from the ferry stop at Lake Edison, which is only 1.5 miles from the JMT. The ferry arrives at 9am and 4pm each day. VVR closes for the season in mid-to-late September.

• Red’s Meadow Resort

  Distance from VVR: approx. 28 miles

  Red’s Meadow is approximately 2 days of hiking from VVR. The resort is conveniently located 1/2 mile from the trail. There is a restaurant, laundry, showers, general store, and lodging options. I spent a zero day at Red’s Meadow which was a great way to rest, recharge, and resupply my pack.

• Tuolumne Meadows

  Distance from Red’s Meadow Resort: approx. 42 miles

  Distance to Happy Isles Trailhead (terminus): approx. 24 miles

  Located in Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne Meadows has a store, restaurant, and campground. It will take approximately one week to get to Tuolumne Meadows from Red’s Resort.