Guide to the John Muir Trail

by Thomas Winnett

Book Overview

Offers advice on planning a hiking or backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail, discussing supplies, permits, animal problems, and packing, with trail profiles and maps. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0899972217
• ISBN13: 9780899972213
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Wilderness Press
• Length: 104 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

greaat detail, could be better

Took this guide along on my recent JMT hike. Lots of detailed info on the trail, campsites, etc. Topos included, although the printing of these is a bit fuzzy so would recommend carrying the Harrison topo map set. Information provided was fairly accurate. Would be nice to include a table with cumulative distances and ascent/descent for the points of reference along the actual trail itself. As it is they only provide the elevation and the distance between points of reference. Distances provided didn't match the Harrison topo maps or the other trail guide we had on the trip, so much confusion in this respect for mile counters. Overall a very useful guide. I found it a bit hard to use to plan the trip since the descriptions of the campsites were not too detailed (poor, modest, spartan, good is about as descriptive as it gets in this regard).

Old Reliable

In 1981 I took the first edition of this book on a traditional north/south thru hike of the JMT and found it generally accurate and, most importantly, reassuring about the day(s) ahead. In preparation for a 25th anniversary reprise (this time south to north) I got the latest addition. About the only real difference is that the format is a little larger and the small inset maps are a little easier to read. As a trip planner and inspiration it rates right up there with Pete Starr's guide and the author, Tom Winnett, has probably forgotten more about the eastern Sierra than most of the more "modern" writers ever will know...BUT, it is a somewhat historical work and one needs to acquire proper USGS topos to insure having the most up to date maps available. If you're only going to carry one "pack book" with you I'd suggest "The John Muir Trail" by Alan Castle first with Winnett's and Starr's as pre trip reading material that you leave at home. The JMT is one of the most spectacular high country routes one can undertake and I can honestly say that trip 25 years ago changed my life. If you can manage it and you have the desire, it's well worth the sacrifices (and there will be some) you'll make.

Great book; the standard for a thruhike

First it is important for me to respond to David Sloan from Menlo Park, CA. This is not the venue to display your ignorance of distance backpacking and/or backpacking guides in general.That aside, here I go.This JMT guide is excellent. It does not advocate any one backpacking philiosophy over another. It simply presents the JMT trail beta. Used with the data book you would be in excellent care.The JMT pushed me over 3,000 long distance miles and this guide fullfilled my very picky requirements for a trail guide.Just buy it.

Descriptive of trail both ways, plus planning helps

One of the other reviewers said the book has nothing for planning a trip, but someone must have ripped out those pages from his copy. The book is more than a trail description; it includes descriptions of mid-way trailheads, resupply options, and other planning guides. This book is a great resource both for hiking the trail and planning to do so.