A Gaysian’s Guide to the John Muir Trail
At the famous trailhead sign at the Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite National Park, the northern terminus of the John Muir Trail.
Tips and Recommendations
The John Muir Trail was an extraordinary and life-changing experience that I will always cherish. This was a journey filled with profound and awe-inspiring moments with Mother Earth. During my adventure, I established several rules for myself which made my experience more enjoyable. I share these rules as tips and recommendations for you as you plan your JMT adventure.
Approach each day as if you’re going to be doing a strenuous day hike and don’t focus on the miles of the JMT that you have left. Depending on your physical fitness, you may only be able to cover a few miles the first few days on trail. If you focus your attention on the number of miles/days remaining on your journey, it may seem insurmountable and you may feel discouraged. If you take the JMT one step/day at a time, you will have a more pleasant experience.
Set a goal to hike at least 10 miles per day, but stop whenever you feel tired. When applying for your JMT permit, you will be asked to identify specific campsites that you plan to sleep at each night. Note that you do not have to follow this plan. You can set up camp at any designated spot along the trail. So don’t push yourself to get to a specific campsite. I recommend stopping for the day whenever you feel tired and done for the day.
Hydration is crucial! When hiking in the late-summer/early-fall, a lot of the smaller streams and lakes along the trail will have dried up. There were a few stretches where I hiked over five miles before reaching a water source, despite seeing several water sources on my AllTrails map. Refill your water when you have approximately ⅓ of your water reserves remaining. It is also important to find a campsite close to a water source so that you do not have to ration water for your meals and personal hygiene while at camp.
Be mindful of your calories, carbs, and protein when planning your meals and snacks. Calories and carbs will give you the energy you need to get through the long and strenuous days of hiking. Protein will help your muscles recover after the intense workouts that you will be experiencing each day.
Always listen to your body. Do not wait until you’re starving or feeling dehydrated before you eat or drink something. Consistently giving your body the fuel it needs will help sustain your energy throughout the day. Additionally, it is important to take breaks when you feel tired and to stop when you’ve reached your limit for the day. Do not push yourself beyond your physical limits as that could lead to injury or other serious health consequences.
Begin and end each day with gratitude. The JMT is an extraordinary experience that will leave you in awe of the beauty of our planet. This is a life-changing journey that very few people are able to experience. On the days when I felt physically exhausted, feeling grateful for being in the Sierra Nevada wilderness gave me the energy I needed to push forward and complete the JMT.