The change in the way permits were issued this year affected me, just as it did hundreds of other hikers. Many of us have had to consider alternatives. Some have decided to begin in Tuolumne Meadow. (This is a popular option since “walk-up” permits to pass over Donohue Pass are still available from that Wilderness Center, unlike in the valley.) Others have decided to give a northbound route a try. Perhaps most imaginative are those who are going to enter the wilderness at some mid-point, walk north to Yosemite Valley to exit the wilderness, re-enter the wilderness at the same, initial trailhead, and then walk south to Whitney Portal.
I decided to take a different route, literally.
My permit will allow me to enter at Glacier Point. I’ve started hikes there before, but never one that was destined to exit the park.
My route takes me up the Illilouette drainage all the way to the Merced Pass lakes. From there I’ll go past the Ottoway lakes and over Red Peak Pass. I’ll exit Yosemite at Isberg Pass and continue down past Sadler Lake, where I’m going to try something new – at least new on a JMT hike. The blue line on the map, above, shows the stretch where I intend to leave the trail and go cross country. It isn’t a long leg, and the terrain is pretty benign, but I’m really looking forward to leaving the trail and heading to Lost Lake where I intend to stay the night.
Once I return to the trail near Hemlock Crossing I’ll have a fairly straightforward walk to Red’s Meadow and the world’s greatest patty melt at the Mulehouse Cafe. From then on out it will be the standard JMT, all the way to the summit of Whitney.
Most of this route to Red’s Meadow is going to be unfamiliar to me, which is one of the reasons I’m so looking forward to it. I’m told that it goes through a burned area and that some parts of the trail are not as well maintained as the JMT. We’ll see.
Whatever I find I’ll report in October!
Good hiking, Ray
This sounds like fun! I look forward to hearing your impressions.
Thanks, Trinka! Can’t wait: 76 days until my first day on the trail.
I think you’ll enjoy the Red Peak Pass area. When are you starting?
August 31st!
I’m exiting over Isberg pass myself, I start my hike on Aug 23rd from Happy Isles. Sounds like I might be blazing the trail for you 🙂
I hadn’t considered going off-trail for that portion, but seeing how much mileage it would cut for me, I may have to take a look!
That’s great to know. If you are taking any time at Red’s and have email access I’d love to get your thoughts on the route. Thanks for the comment, Erin!
Hey Ray, We were looking @ something like that as well if we couldn’t get a permit. Ended up getting one (33rd application) – also to start @ GP, also on 8/31 – maybe we’ll see you there!
Appreciate the post about water concerns. Going to be a different kind of year!
Ken (Austin, TX)
Good luck, Ken. I’m not sure if I am going to take the bus or try to get up there another way from the valley. Have you given some thought on how to get to GP?
[…] year’s hike begins on Monday, August 31, at Glacier Point. I am exiting Yosemite National Park at Isberg Pass and will arrive at Red’s Meadow on Friday, September 4. The 5th is a zero day, the 6th […]
[…] When the new John Muir Trail permitting rules were implemented this year I knew I would need a back-up plan if I failed to secure one of the “exit quotas” over Donohue Pass. After after a solid map reconnaissance and discussing different ideas with other hikers, I settled on a route that would begin at Glacier Point, go over Red Peak Pass, exit Yosemite at Isberg Pass, and work its way into the Devils Postpile and Red’s Meadow. More about that route here. […]
We got a permit to exit Isberg Pass and I would love to know how everyone got to Red’s Meadow. I’m fiddling around with online USGS maps and I’m missing some trails. Please email me!
Thanks,
Alice
justafew@gmail.com
The map, above, is pretty close to what I hiked, Alice, except that I did not do the cross country part. More about that portion of the trip here: http://jmtbook.com/the-isberg-alternative/. Thanks for the comment!