Customer Reviews

Guide to the John Muir Trail

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I hiked the JMT from Tuloumne Meadows in Yosemite to the Whitney Portal in July/August 1997. We used the book to plan the trip as well as for our exclusive guide book/map source on the hike. The book weighs next to nothing and I found it easier to keep track of one book rather than a whole bunch of maps, so it was worth taking. The book contains all necessary maps, trail descriptions in both directions, and a mileage/altitude chart. With the book, we always knew how many miles we had to hike in a given day and what the terrain would be like (elevation changes etc.) My only suggestion for improvement with the book would be for it to discuss recommended camping spots in more detail (perhaps by placing symbols on the map for particularly scenic spots, spots with bear boxes etc.) In general though, as someone who has hiked most of the JMT using this book as a guide, I'd highly recommend it. For the money and weight, you're unlikely to find anything better.

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.

I have thru hiked the Muir Trail from north to south and found this book informative and containing some useful information. However, much of the info is of the common sense variety and could also easily be gleaned from the Internet. There is superfluous information on bear canisters, marmots and other hazards that any semi-experience hiker/backpacker would already know. The book is not marketed as being geared towards novices, but there's no doubt it would benefit a beginner and be less beneficial to a seasoned backpacker.

The first section of the book consists solely of topographical maps, so the text portion is not especially lengthy. There are route descriptions of each facet of the trail, such as explaining the drop off points, elevation gains and topography of Thousand Island Lake in Mammoth to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite. You could do a thru hike without this guide, but if you're the least bit apprehensive, then this would ease your worries.

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 edition. 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.

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).

This book really is not much more than a turn by turn description of the trail. In that regard, it provides little in the way of interesting prose to prepare you for the trip. So, basically, you pretty much have to carry this book with you to get much use out of it. Its informative sure, just not what I'd expect. Also, the maps in the book are black and white and much much much too small to actually read/use easily--buy the Tom Harrison maps for the JMT.

A disclaimer: I have not used this book to hike the JMT.

The trail description seem adequate, as far as I can tell.

The maps seem small, though how much area they cover is unclear since there is no scale. There is no indication of mileage, and side trails are not shown except where they appear on the underlying USGS topos (and how accurate are those?).

The brief introductory section has nothing I don't already know, or couldn't find out from a quick google search. The section on bears basically repeats the NPS line (ie, 'canisters and bear boxes are the only way!!'), and is followed by a note to "leave your pets at home" (huh?).

The most useful section to me (sitting on my butt at home) was the appendix on resupply options. This is the most comprehensive list of stopping points that I've seen. Contrary to what I've heard elsewhere, there are resupply options in the South, just not easy ones. My only problem is with the occasional use of the word 'access', as in "Access to Big Pine" (a mile down the road? 25 miles?), though most of the entries are ok.

Overall, I think this book is usable, but I would bring a supplementary map or maps, and I would look at other books before I attempt the JMT.

The first time I did the John Muir Trail I diligently bought this book like good little Internet researcher. I assumed, like everyone else, that this book would help me plan my trip. Not so. This book is like a play-by-play description of walking down the trail. It doesn't mention preparation, weather, seasons, services, rest stops, food drops, transportation...nothing. I quickly shelved this book and moved on to Ray Jardine's bible of the PCT. Although Ray's book often borders on insanity, it is full of trail wisdom. If Winnett's guide is the GEO Metro of trail books, Jardines is the Ferrari.

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.

DO NOT EVEN LOOK AT THIS VILE,PESTILENT BOOK! IT WILL GET YOU LOST IN THE WILDERNESS! The author may be a very fine fellow, and is probably a better backpacker than I am, but he can NOT tell anyone how to get from point A to point B. I wasted days getting lost from this awful book, as he yakked endlessly about flora, fauna, and geology. Meanwhile, you the sucker stand there at unmarked trail intersections getting no help. Do NOT follow the author's dangerous contention that you don't need maps if you buy this book-its maps don't show you the OTHER trails, and get you lost. The Tuolomne and Devil's Postpile sections just may constitute the worst writing of all time.