They call the Sierra Nevada “The Gentle Wilderness”, but it does rain. Two years ago it rained almost every day for two weeks in August. Make sure you have a strategy to either stay dry, or get dry, and make sure if you have a down sleeping bag that it is protected from the weather at all costs.
Hey Ray,
We were in two weeks of rain and hail last August on the JMT…really stacked people up trying to get over Forrester and get up to Whitney.
Hope it’s not like that this year..but if there’s a monsoonal flow predicted, count on it.
Just doing Rae Lakes Loop with my family this year and some other hikes here and there. I’ve gotten in about 70 miles in the Sierras so far this year. Emmigrant and Hoover mostly. We’re down in Golden Trout Wilderness this next weekend.
Cheers, jc
I think last year was even worse than 2013. I’m hoping for a dry September. Thanks for the comment, Jack!
I was surprised your blog talked about two years ago. The historical monsoonal JMT season was last year. What was the two week continuous rain dates and where on the JMT are you talking about. I don’t remember 2013 being that bad. I do remember encountering severe rain at the Island Pass stretch of my hike in 3 of the years, 2011-2014 but nothing approaching two weeks straight. In 2014 though, it was bad for about three weeks.
Great question, Roleigh! I think last year was worse, but in the two weeks BEFORE I got on the trail in 2013 the weather was horrendous, particularly in the southern half. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I actually spent a week at the Shiloh Inn in Mammoth prior to the hike, and every day there were folks bailing off the trail. That would have been August 8 – 22. My first day on the trail was the 23rd; I was on for almost three weeks and saw what I consider to be normal: rain for parts of three different days. Thanks!
Yes, but after those 2 weeks of rain it was 14 days of beautiful, sunny weather until Guitar Lake!
True! And then Guitar Lake was an adventure!
Yep,
Last july-aug was wet. I hiked the last half of july and was rained on all day several days. 2 ft snow on whitney on aug. 1 if i recall correctly, some had to bail and couldnt summit.
Well looks like you helped me decide on bring my lhg solong6 tent instead of trying a tarp. I’ll gladly carry the 31 oz to stay dry!!! Can’t wait till sept 10..hopefully the rain kilt works out also.
Happy trails..