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A ranger in Yosemite told me they're seeing a big shift in how people plan the John Muir Trail.
He said over the last two years, about 40% more hikers are booking their permits for the southbound route starting in Yosemite Valley. The old advice was always to go northbound from Whitney Portal to avoid the high passes early on. But he thinks the new permit system and wanting to finish on the highest peak is driving the change. It made me rethink my own plan for a 2025 attempt. Has anyone here done the JMT southbound recently and have thoughts on the pros and cons?
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patel.leo5mo ago
Did the ranger mention if this new permit system is actually harder to get for the northbound route now? That seems like the main reason people would switch if the old advice was so solid. I'm trying to get a permit for next year and the whole process feels like a lottery.
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stellaj705mo ago
Yeah, the new system is a mess. I read a whole thread from people who tried this year and it's basically luck now. They changed the online queue and it crashes half the time. The northbound route permits are gone in seconds because everyone is trying for them. It's not planning anymore, it's just hoping your internet is faster.
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jana_price2mo ago
Idk, I used to think the old system was fine and people just complained too much, but after hearing this I get why northbound permits are such a headache now. @patel.leo you're right that the lottery feel is real, I've seen people miss out on the northbound route even when they had fast internet and were ready. It kinda makes me want to try southbound or a different trailhead next time instead of dealing with that mess.
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