JMT shelter recommendation?

The JMT in summer is pretty benign. You can take any 3 season shelter you like. Any of the ones reviewed here would be fine. As would a tarp.

Bob

My experience is that you need shelter from the mosquitos more than from the rain. Something to keep in mind when considering the tarp option.

Bill

I would second the observation that mosquitos are more likely to bother you than rain. [Note: not suggesting that you aren’t prepared for rain, but it is much less frequent than the mosquitos mid-summer.]

I like using a tarp (gossamer gear spinshelter) and the most excellent a16 bug bivy. I would also highly recommend the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo and shelters from tarptent.com

But any 3 season shelter should do just fine given the typically mild weather of the JMT in late July.

–mark

Yup, you’ll want the two screens: bug and sun.

If you’re 6ft. or shorter, I would recommend that Big Agnes Seedhouse 2 SL. Freestanding, total protection from rain and bugs, yet very light and very compact.

I stuff my tent, fly, poles and stakes — plus a plastic groundsheet and ‘mud mat’ — all inside a Thermarest Prolite 4R silnylon stuff sack.

For the bucks it’s hard to beat REI’s Quarter Dome. I just love that thing! I just had it out in 18 inches of snow and it held up fine. Awesome in winds up to 50mph (maybe a tad more) and venting is great in humidity. Cheaper than the B.A. Seedhouse SL2 and you get two doors/two vestibules. Might be too small for two 6 footers, but the Seedhouse is probably the same. Plus, as well-known, REI is no-hassle with returns/exchanges.

Thanks for the suggestions. Anyone have any feedback on a Warmlight tent?

Consider a tarp with a bug net either attached or hanging separately.

Tarps are supremely versatile and very effective protection. A 10×8 with our without ‘beaks’ or hoods is a generous 2-person size. With side-panel pullouts the interior room is huge and the set-up will be bombproof.

With a separate bug net, you can enjoy the stars without getting bled dry.

If you use a poncho AND use it for the ground sheet, you get bonus weight-saving points.

Late July, like the last week and above 9,000 feet, not likely to get mosquitos, however, just in case, either a tarptent like tarptent.com or a light tarp like gossamergear.com spinntwinn. Gossamergear has a 3 oz. netting that works beautifully.

I have lead and guided all over Sequioa and Kings Canyon and did the JMT two years ago with the Shires Tarptent Squall. One day in high winds I was fine, but two tent mates had their tents blow out! Of course, the key to all back country safety is location location location. Sheltered, tail into the wind, equal tension and multiguy points regardless.

The weight savings are huge, but even better, their is more comfort on a really rainy day.

Evan

Two of us completed the JMT this summer with a Tarptent Squall. Worked great! The biggest problem we dealt with was the mosquitoes.