Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board hiking JMT north of Whitney

Hello all,
Forgive me if this is basic information to you guys, but I have not yet visited this area.

Myself and three friends are coming to hike a section of the JMT during the first week in July. We will be starting at North Lake coming through Piute pass, coming off the trail, hopefully, at Onion Valley, conditions permitting. We'll take a hop down to Whitney and after a day's rest, we are hoping for a day hike on Whitney. Of course we realize that unless I can export some of my Florida weather to you over the next weeks, the conditions on Whitney may not permit a summit, but we'll have fun even if we have to turn around at the switch backs.

Our big question right now is about stream fording on our hike portion. I've been told that unless the snow melts faster than expected that the streams will be swollen. We will be bringing appropriate lines to safely ford them, (up to a point, of course) but we don't have any information about how wide these streams can get. I personally don't want to lug any more line than reasonably necessary. Any suggestions as to what we might expect for a maximum width over that stretch of trail?

Thanks!
Mark

You will just have one crossing of any significance and it will be early in your hike in Evolution Valley.

I would guess the creek is about 50 to 60 feet wide in the meadows where it is slower moving and you can probably count on it being waist deep. Hikers on the PCT are usually among the first in the area and their reports I have seen from previous years usually say it is waist deep as the backcountry first becomes accessible to hikers.

Despite the width and depth, you can cross without a rope. The water is clear and the bottom is fairly smooth in the wider slower moving spots. If you have hiking poles for a little extra stability it is a straightforward crossing as long as you go slowly and carefully.

I should be just a couple of days behind you on the trail so I hope I am not underestimating the possible conditions! I haven't been there really early in the season so anyone who has might have different ideas about the expected coditions. I was there in early July a couple of years ago and the water was about knee height but that was a much lower snow year.

Hard to say right now but I would guess that Humphrey's Basin and Piute Canyon stream crossings will be swollen but the Evolution Creek crossing in lower Evolution Valley will probably present the most challenge.

So..... for those of us doing the entire trip, who have added gaitors and crampons to our gear list now need to add snorkel mask and fins! So much for my 40lb pack.

Are there any Seabees posted at China Lake? Maybe they could get some practice building temporary bridges over the swollen creeks.

Hi Try to make your crossings very early in the morning, hike up if you can to snow line and cross on the snow. Just because you can see the bottom its still deep and very fast moving, talk with hikers coming along the trail that made the crossing, Ropes and fast flow get tricky can tend to pull one under when you run out of rope and are tied off.

Packs, boots, gear add to the mix what and how to carry and when do you let go if you take a slip.
Good Luck Doug

Has there ever been a year when it was not crossable? We have not ventured that far on the JMT so it will be unfamiliar territory for us. Please.. all the information on the how too's and what not to do is extremely helpful. Living and hiking in Arizona, we do not get to experience hiking around or thru running water to often. I suppose if we come across other hikers they either made it or are turning around.

Tina,

Don't get overly concerned. Just be prepared to get cold and wet....I always carry my Teva's for stream crossings and kickin around camp.

Ditto doug's advice....there will be plenty of people on the trail to update you current conditions

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I think we'll take one rope just in case, but you all have put our minds at ease a great deal.

We are really looking forward to a great hike and some new challenges for this Florida boy. I've done a little bit of "real" mountain hiking in Oregon, but this will be a whole new experience. Our challenges down here have more to do with crossing swamps and miles of "sugar sand" than with crossing streams and finding good footing. We don't actually have enough elevation change for far enough to get streams too swift to cross safely. If anyone needs advice on avoiding gators and cottonmouths, though, I'll be happy to help :-)