Use a hammock from Mammoth to V.V.R. on the JMT?

Easy.

I spent 21 nights on the JMT and could have hung every night except two (both south of VVR). Many nights would have been easier with a hammock and likely more LNT.

Bring really long tree straps/huggers/whatever they are called. Lots of trees are large diameter. Pi x D = hella-long circumference.

I did the PCT in 2014 and only went to ground twice, both down in the desert. In the Sierra I would stop at tree line and or do extra miles sometimes to get to trees. I don’t recall any problems hanging in the section from VVR to the Mammoth area. Before your trip I would figure out approximately where you plan to camp each night then go to Google Earth and zoom way in. That technique has helped me find good hanging spots more than a few times. Safe Travels…

YMMV but I think a good Sierra setup for hanging might include a shortish UQ and a pad for under your calves. An ideal pad might be a torso XLite and if you had to go to ground you’d put that under your torso and then you’d put the UQ and your pack under your legs.

That said, I don’t think you’ll be going to ground for that segment. I was in a full-on hanging phase when I hiked the JMT and reluctantly went with a tent. Each evening I thought “yep, I could have hung here too” except at Wanda and Guitar Lakes. Maybe I just got lucky…

Thanks guys!