Great video! This is exactly what a friend and I did last year. Cottonwood pass to Happy Isles in 23 days.....most amazing trip ever! I will do this trail again, but planning on the PCT for 2021. Ha, guess I'll essentially do this section again while on the PCT. Keep on steppin…...
@@ChadLubinski What a small world! That is awesome, and I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. I will be doing a daily vlog on the PCT this spring as well, as long as Covid does not ruin things. As far as the JMT, people are crazy for fighting the lottery system to go SOBO, or starting from the Whitney Portal. NOBO all the way, plus you don't have the crazy sun in your eyes most of the time.
** You may notice that as of 2021, these permits are labeled as "W" for Walk Up. RANGERS HAVE INFORMED THAT THEY ARE LIMITING PERMITS OUT OF COTTONWOOD LAKES AND PASS. THEY'RE ONLY RELEASING PERMITS 2 WEEKS BEFORE. CONTACT INYO RANGER STATION FOR MORE DETAILS** I know. This kinda sucks for people after 2020 :( sorry guys 📌 Get a FREE customizable copy of my exact JMT itinerary here: unique-innovator-6945.ck.page/7f645a94d3
Thanks Chad for this info! I’m wondering aside from Cottonwood Lakes and Cottonwood pass, are there other trailheads we can enter through for the JMT heading northbound?Or can I assume everything you pulled up on the Inyo national Wilderness were trails you could enter the JMT?
Really good information. Thanks. I have 1 question. I'm planning a section of the JMT next year. When I checked the campsite options for the areas I will be staying in, There are no options anywhere near my plan on the permit page. Any suggestions? Or does accuracy not matter? Thanks!
Hey Jeff! Thank for the comment! Love that you're planning a section hike! In my experience, accuracy doesn't really matter with it - it's more of a estimation of where you'll be in case they had to look for you or something. If memory serves me correct, I definitely approximated my campsites when applying for my permit.... and generally didn't stay at the ones I selected on there. It's more of a "check the box" sort of thing. Hope that helps!
Great video! Wonderfully informative. If going with 1 or more additional people, do they each need a permit? I saw that it asks about size of party and ability to add additional permit holders but wanted to ask the obvious. Thanks!
Hey thanks Michael! I’m fairly certain you can do it just off one permit and add the others to it. BUT not 100% sure on that. I’d really recommend joining the JMT Facebook group! It’s unbelievably informative and you can ask that question and someone will confirm for ya!
This is very helpful Chad, thank you! If the Cottonwood Pass and Cottonwood Lakes are not available, which other location do you suggest? I want to make triple sure you can hike Whitney with this permit?
That’s a really good question! Since I didn’t research any other areas, Im not sure in an answer. Maybe try looking on the map to see other trailhead entries near those locations? As long as you are coming out and back from the West to summit Whitney, you’ll be good! (Hope that makes sense).
@@ChadLubinski very helpful! One more question, George Creek is available and seems nearby. If I purchase that permit, can I still start at Horseshoe Meadows? Do you know? Thank you!
@@laurengreenberg8854 I believe that you could only start at George Creek with that permit unfortunately! You might consider joining the JMT Facebook group and asking your question there though! Very good resource!
So, if you do a NOBO PCT and want to modify it with the JMT NOBO, because you won't know your dates until less than a month ahead of time, it may be hard to get a NOBO JMT permit?
Greg Christensen Good question. There’s a better chance if it’s during the week, but still pretty minimal if it’s less than a month IMO. A workaround would be to join the JMT Facebook group (the main one and the one for the year you’re hiking). I’ve seen people post in there that they have given up a permit and asking for someone to take it!
So, does this method (getting a permit from the Mt Whitney end and trekking NoBo) mean that you don't have to go through the lottery process for permits issued from the Yosemite end?
Hey Chad, Great info. I went on the site today 2/22 for a 8/22 start out of Cottonwood Pass and there's nothing available at all for any date all the way through the 1st of September, which is still closed. Do they open up a block of dates on the first of each month?
@@ChadLubinski I'm almost thinking that today's allotment has been taken and that it will open for tomorrow morning. I'll get up early tomorrow and check it out. I actually just want to hike around the Cottonwoods Lake area, possibly make it a 25 mile loop over Cottonwood pass, over to Soldier Lake, then over to Muir Lake and down that way.
@@ChadLubinski It never dawned on me that I needed to input the date. I figured it would default to the first available day 6 months in the future. As it is, I was able to procure a permit for the Cottonwood Lakes Loop trail, in through Cottonwood Lakes trailhead and out through Cottonwood pass. Looks to be a good excursion.
To my knowledge, you'd need a separate permit for Half Dome; but yes, you could just do Whitney with it! The top of Whitney is roughly 27.5ish miles from the starting point at Horseshoe Meadows (if taking Cottonwood Pass). Hope that helps!
Great video! This is exactly what a friend and I did last year. Cottonwood pass to Happy Isles in 23 days.....most amazing trip ever! I will do this trail again, but planning on the PCT for 2021. Ha, guess I'll essentially do this section again while on the PCT. Keep on steppin…...
Dude, I actually watched a most of your videos prior to planning my trip!! Loved them! Thanks for the comment 👍🏻
@@ChadLubinski
What a small world! That is awesome, and I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. I will be doing a daily vlog on the PCT this spring as well, as long as Covid does not ruin things. As far as the JMT, people are crazy for fighting the lottery system to go SOBO, or starting from the Whitney Portal. NOBO all the way, plus you don't have the crazy sun in your eyes most of the time.
@@Rance120 You're gonna rock it man. Looking forward to the vids!!!
** You may notice that as of 2021, these permits are labeled as "W" for Walk Up. RANGERS HAVE INFORMED THAT THEY ARE LIMITING PERMITS OUT OF COTTONWOOD LAKES AND PASS. THEY'RE ONLY RELEASING PERMITS 2 WEEKS BEFORE. CONTACT INYO RANGER STATION FOR MORE DETAILS**
I know. This kinda sucks for people after 2020 :( sorry guys
📌 Get a FREE customizable copy of my exact JMT itinerary here:
unique-innovator-6945.ck.page/7f645a94d3
only 40% are for walkup two weeks prior to opening. The process will still be the same for the remaining slots. Just talked to a ranger.
Thanks Chad for this info! I’m wondering aside from Cottonwood Lakes and Cottonwood pass, are there other trailheads we can enter through for the JMT heading northbound?Or can I assume everything you pulled up on the Inyo national Wilderness were trails you could enter the JMT?
Hey thanks! Yes those are about the only feasible trails that I remember
I made the reservation already, so does that mean I can go on the hike or I still need to wait for confirmation from them to make sure I can go there?
Nice!! Sounds like you're good to go on the dates you selected 👍
Really good information. Thanks. I have 1 question. I'm planning a section of the JMT next year. When I checked the campsite options for the areas I will be staying in, There are no options anywhere near my plan on the permit page. Any suggestions? Or does accuracy not matter? Thanks!
Hey Jeff! Thank for the comment! Love that you're planning a section hike!
In my experience, accuracy doesn't really matter with it - it's more of a estimation of where you'll be in case they had to look for you or something.
If memory serves me correct, I definitely approximated my campsites when applying for my permit.... and generally didn't stay at the ones I selected on there. It's more of a "check the box" sort of thing.
Hope that helps!
Awesome, thank you. Did it ask how many in your party if not going solo?
Thank you! And yes I believe it did!
Great video! Wonderfully informative. If going with 1 or more additional people, do they each need a permit? I saw that it asks about size of party and ability to add additional permit holders but wanted to ask the obvious. Thanks!
Hey thanks Michael! I’m fairly certain you can do it just off one permit and add the others to it. BUT not 100% sure on that. I’d really recommend joining the JMT Facebook group! It’s unbelievably informative and you can ask that question and someone will confirm for ya!
Thank you so much! I didn't realize there was a group. I'll do that now. Great work! I hope to see you on the trail sometime!
@@michaelwolgast5115 You bet man...happy trails!!
Hey Chad, thanks for posting all these helpful videos. I believe you completed JMT in 12 days right? Do you have your itinerary posted somewhere?
Hey Barsha! Yeah, shoot me an email at clubinski10@gmail.com !
@@ChadLubinski hey Chad, Can I also checkout your Itinerary.
@@edizzle2427 mailchi.mp/5d092dbebf32/jmtcolorado-trail-itinerary
👍👍
@@ChadLubinski thank you Chad! Happy trails brotha
@@edizzle2427 hey you got it!!
This is very helpful Chad, thank you! If the Cottonwood Pass and Cottonwood Lakes are not available, which other location do you suggest? I want to make triple sure you can hike Whitney with this permit?
That’s a really good question! Since I didn’t research any other areas, Im not sure in an answer. Maybe try looking on the map to see other trailhead entries near those locations? As long as you are coming out and back from the West to summit Whitney, you’ll be good! (Hope that makes sense).
@@ChadLubinski very helpful! One more question, George Creek is available and seems nearby. If I purchase that permit, can I still start at Horseshoe Meadows? Do you know? Thank you!
@@laurengreenberg8854 I believe that you could only start at George Creek with that permit unfortunately! You might consider joining the JMT Facebook group and asking your question there though! Very good resource!
So, if you do a NOBO PCT and want to modify it with the JMT NOBO, because you won't know your dates until less than a month ahead of time, it may be hard to get a NOBO JMT permit?
Greg Christensen Good question. There’s a better chance if it’s during the week, but still pretty minimal if it’s less than a month IMO.
A workaround would be to join the JMT Facebook group (the main one and the one for the year you’re hiking). I’ve seen people post in there that they have given up a permit and asking for someone to take it!
So, does this method (getting a permit from the Mt Whitney end and trekking NoBo) mean that you don't have to go through the lottery process for permits issued from the Yosemite end?
You still have to do it six months in advance but Yep, not as competitive
Hey Chad,
Great info.
I went on the site today 2/22 for a 8/22 start out of Cottonwood Pass and there's nothing available at all for any date all the way through the 1st of September, which is still closed. Do they open up a block of dates on the first of each month?
Weird! There's not even any dates prior to 8/22??
@@ChadLubinski I'm almost thinking that today's allotment has been taken and that it will open for tomorrow morning. I'll get up early tomorrow and check it out.
I actually just want to hike around the Cottonwoods Lake area, possibly make it a 25 mile loop over Cottonwood pass, over to Soldier Lake, then over to Muir Lake and down that way.
@@ChadLubinski Eh. User error on my part. sorry to have bothered you.
@@WebfootWanderings No worries, man! Glad it worked out!
@@ChadLubinski It never dawned on me that I needed to input the date. I figured it would default to the first available day 6 months in the future.
As it is, I was able to procure a permit for the Cottonwood Lakes Loop trail, in through Cottonwood Lakes trailhead and out through Cottonwood pass. Looks to be a good excursion.
Wow
What time on the east coast should i be ready to input my info. on a new release day?
I believe 10am!
@@ChadLubinski Yes, I just verified that. Thanks so much for getting word to me so quickly!
All the best.
Kristine
@@kriskenison9381 No problem at all. Good luck getting one!!
Can I use this permits to do only Half Dome and Whitney. Where should be the entry point?
To my knowledge, you'd need a separate permit for Half Dome; but yes, you could just do Whitney with it! The top of Whitney is roughly 27.5ish miles from the starting point at Horseshoe Meadows (if taking Cottonwood Pass). Hope that helps!
Thanks for the Beta!
got you!!