Mt Whitney to JMT thru in August

So you have two permits – a trip to Whitney and then the JMT on the 13th? Because I’m pretty sure walking back out of the wilderness isn’t going to leave you with a valid permit to go back in.

You want to resupply after two days? What? Why not take enough food to get to Muir Trail Ranch and just start hiking?

I have one permit. My idea was to pack 2 days of food for the Whitney Summit and then resupply for a longer stretch on JMT. Heading back to Lone Pine is dependent on whether I’m allowed to leave the trail and come back. From what you said I gather its not allowed but I have yet verify that myself. Thanks for the input.

Edit: To clarify, I’ll be summiting Whitney with my wife and soloing JMT. Heading back to Lone Pine with her logistically made sense.

I’m pretty sure you cannot legally go back to the Portal after summiting and then re-entering. That would also mean climbing up to Trail Junction twice which would suck. I see two ways that make sense for a NOBO JMT that originates at the Portal:

1. Ascend Whitney with your full load, drop your full bear can at the Trail Junction, climb the last 2 miles/1000′ to the peak, return to the Junction and then continue north.
2. Same plan but less food. Head north, take Kearsarge Pass to Onion Valley and pick up a cache of food that will get you to MTR/VVR, return to the JMT then continue north. I don’t think you are supposed to leave a cache in the bear boxes at Onion valley but people do it. Also you can have the pack station there hold your stuff for a reasonable(?) fee.

Another option would be having resupply via mule.

You should call the park service, but I’m pretty sure you are allowed to exit and reenter with the same permit if you reenter within a certain number of hours… I think it is 12 hours… but unless there is a ranger standing there timing you I would think you could get back in any time during the same day you exited…

billy

But I agree that ascending that side of Whitney twice would seriously suck.  Load up your pack, hike to Trail Junction – leave your stuff – summit.  On your way down grab your pack and keep descending down the backside and keep walking.  I mean, either way you are carrying fully loaded packs up the Portal side of Whitney – so just do it once.