Another JMT Transportation Thread

That time of year, you have so many visitors…especially europeans of all ages!!…I can't imagine having any issues finding someone going south from or north to Yosemite who might enjoy your company and hearing about your adventure…sight seers in a parking lot, day hikers at a trail head, campground, even hitching. Go to the Whitney Portal Store website.

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com

Give Doug Thompson a call (760) 876-0030 during the evening hours at the Portal Hostel if you don't believe me. He'll know EXACTLY what is available in terms of public transport as well…it's limited and it is a pain.

One person getting a ride in those parts should be a cinch. Our European visitors are a good bet.

I hitched from Whitney to Yosemite without much problem. Took a while because it is a long way. You should also look at the eastern Sierra transport buses. They run up the east side of the Sierra. Also, you may want to park in mammoth and bus it to Yosemite. That would make the return easier. Another option is to skip the car and take the bus from Reno to Yosemite then the bus from lone pine to Reno. I did part of this during my SHR trip.

if your parents can pick you up at Happy Isles that would be extremely helpful.

the following transportation from Happy Isles to Whitney Portal involves 3 legs and 2 full days, with a hotel or campground overnight in between.

from Yosemite Valley catch the YARTS bus to Mammoth. bus leaves Yose around 5pm I think and gets to Mammoth around 9pm.
spend night in Mammoth.
the next morning catch an Eastern Sierra Transit Authority bus from Mammoth to Lone Pine (these may not run 7 days a week).
from Lone Pine, hitch hike up to Whitney Portal.

YARTS

Eastern Sierra Transit

Are your parents by chance flying to Bend, as well? They could pick you up at Happy Isles and then drive you there, instead. About 10 hours north from Yosemite.

This would be a real longshot, but you could try rideshare section of Craigslist/Bend to see if anyone will be returning there by car from Yosemite around the time you need to.

Vegas is a LOT of backtracking from the Sierras and especially from the northern end of the JMT. Could you fly to Bend out of Reno or Sacramento?

In the end, the most realistic scenario might be to drive from Vegas, park in Lone Pine, hitch to Whitney Portal, and hike as far north as you can get. Then bail and hitch back to your car. If you bail at Tuolumne (or earlier) rather than going all the way to Happy Isles, you save yourself some travel time spent extricating yourself from Yosemite Valley.

– Elizabeth

Unless you're hard over on going NOBO, SOBO may make more sense (ie efficient public transport) transportation wise.

Drive or fly to Mammoth Lakes, take YARTS to Yosemite Valley, get your permit and start at Happy Isle. When you exit at Whitney Portal, it is very easy to hitch to Lone Pine. From there ESTA bus travels between all the little towns and Reno.

FWIW – if it's possibe to change your flight, it may be worth delaying your return so you have more time on the trail. it is very beautiful and is a shame to have to rush through if you don't have to do so.