[US] 400km John Muir Trail (JMT) California

[berniehh]

Thanks for the report and the great photos. The Sierra Nevada is a great hiking area that I would like to go to again.
Did I read correctly that there is a bear canister requirement there? That would really piss me off. If so, does it apply to everyone? I can't imagine the PCT thruhikers all dragging one along. Or is it?

[Torridon]

...
Did I read correctly that there is a bear canister requirement there? That would really piss me off. If so, does it apply to everyone? I can't imagine the PCT thruhikers all dragging one along. Or is it?

Yes, most of the JMT requires that you carry a bear can. And since you usually don't exit the Sierra in between, you will have to carry the bear can all the way. So nearly all PCT hikers pick up a bear can at Kennedy Meadows South. In the past most hikers dropped their bear can at Sonora Pass / Kennedy Meadows North, but this will probably change with the new bear can requirements in Desolation Wilderness (close to Lake Tahoe) since this year.
More details:
https://www.sierrawild.gov/media/foo...-Area-ver8.pdf

https://www.sierrawild.gov/bears/food-storage/

[thedutch]

Thanks for the report and the great photos. The Sierra Nevada is a great hiking area that I would like to go to again.
Did I read correctly that there is a bear canister requirement there? That would really piss me off. If so, does it apply to everyone? I can't imagine the PCT thruhikers all dragging one along. Or is it?

Hi Bernd,
everybody needs the canister..I had Rangers asking for my permit but not for my canister. But rumours on the trail that people have been checked. You can rent them out, but I didn´t even check. Just bought my own.
Didn´t want to end up at the beginning of my hike and end it before starting just because all canisters are gone.

[Torridon]

.....
You can rent them out, but I didn´t even check. Just bought my own.
Didn´t want to end up at the beginning of my hike and end it before staring just because all canisters are gone.

We checked this in 2018 when we did the JMT. It was cheaper to buy a BV500 than to rent a bear can out back then.