My Food & Resupply Strategy for My JMT Thru Hike

In this video I go over the food I'll be carrying and my resupply strategy for my upcoming thru hike of the John Muir Trail. The calories average about 2600 per day. Please note, this is not every resupply option available my any means, but these are the resupply options I am planning to use. I'll be starting with 5 days of food, staying and resupplying at the Mt. Williamson Motel in Independence, then carrying 6 days of food to Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR). I will resupply using their shop to get to Reds Meadow. There, I will also resupply at their shop to get to Tuolumne Meadows, where I will yet again use their shop for a small and final resupply to get to Yosemite Valley.

[CarlZ]

Looks like a good hiking food plan. On my longer hikes, I'll often bring some olive oil to add 1 oz (250 cal) to my evening meal. I'll also make a nut mix - equal parts cashews, almonds, & sunflower seed - that I chop up in a food processor. I'll add 3 TBLS per evening meal for some extra calories & flavor. I never tire of either. You got me fired up to do the JMT again. Been a long time since 2004 when I did it.

[PatrioticGma]

Great video! Thanks for putting the work in to give us the details!

[RustyPNW]

Great videos and info, thanks for sharing. I'm starting the JMT out of CW Pass late July. Your videos have helped me immensely with the early stages of planning. Can't wait to get out there.

[robbailey]

Hey Justin, thanks for the vid. I'm starting at Cottonwood Pass this early July. Question, how did it go finding your food at VVR? I've been debating not sending a box at all (but I'm not planning on stopping in Independence either). Can you get what you need there to keep going?

[nedanother]

Im guessing you are still out on the trail. I can't wait to find out how you did. Your kit was pretty tight. Im most interested in how you felt about your food selections. This is the area that I believe where most people blow up their pack weight. You're younger than me but I'm guessing the reality of the eating that went on had you showing up to resupply with 3 to 5 lbs of food still in your can. Im not sure I could eat a whole mountain house on a bet which is real nice when repackaging. The next person (not dumb and 20) I see come off a mountain without food in their bag and water on their hips will be the very first time. Base weight to me is one of the silliest notions invented by people who wanted to appear lighter than they are. The same with gas canisters. I'm almost completely dialed in now. 5 nights on the same trails you're hiking now all in at 21 lbs. The rules are as follows. Embrace your funk. In these mountains you will not eat as much as you think. and you do not need "extra" cloths other than socks "just in case". And believe with all your heart you can do it with the BV450 even if its a little white lie for a day. Cheers

[francoislefevre]

I have the same ressuply plan for mid august 2025. What is the size of your canister ?