View Full Version : permit check on the trail
The Will
08-02-2010, 21:32
Has anyone who has hiked the northern JMT ever had their permit checked between Happy Isle and Little Yosemite Valley? Is the ranger at Little Yosemite Valley very active in checking permits?
As far as I know, no permits were being checked so far this year. I got into Tuolumne about 28 June, and the rangers weren't even that concerned with hikers camping in the "closed" campgrounds. They were only 2 or 3 days into trying to open the facilities, so they weren't wasting time with thrus who were LNT, not starting campfires, using bear boxes, and leaving out at dawn. I saw no rangers in the backcountry, but then again, I had a thru permit, so I wasn't worried.
Mango
The only ranger to check my permit during my 2008 NOBO hike was the Bench Lake ranger. I believe she was the last ranger I saw on my trip all the way through to Happy Isles.
I and others have had our permits checked between HI and LYV.
Helmuth.Fishmonger
08-09-2010, 13:02
Has anyone who has hiked the northern JMT ever had their permit checked between Happy Isle and Little Yosemite Valley? Is the ranger at Little Yosemite Valley very active in checking permits?
only time I ever was checked for a permit in 15 JMTs was this July on Long Meadow, by two "volunteer rangers" who felt it was a good idea to stop hikers in the most mosquito-infested place of all of Yosemite for a permit check (which they then didn't quite comprehend...)
Other than that, I've met another 4 or 5 rangers this summer and had long talks, but none asked me for the permit.
PUNKINPUSS11
08-18-2010, 20:50
yes they r checking permits hard out there!!!!! they will escort u out if u get caught, i just got back and had mine checked twice
Helmuth.Fishmonger
08-19-2010, 10:34
yes they r checking permits hard out there!!!!! they will escort u out if u get caught, i just got back and had mine checked twice
really depends on the location. Yosemite, between Happy Isles and Tuolumne accounts probably for 95% of all permit checks on the JMT, because they know some people just can't get the Happy Isles entry permits. Anywhere else, you will maybe meet the local ranger for the area, but I have yet to be checked by any of them. They generally can tell who is a JMT hiker and has been on the trail for a long time. I assume some of the fishing folks who come up into Evolution Valley from Florence Lake for a few overnight fishing days are more likely to get checked than the through hikers, but I really don't know what the criteria are that would prompt a permit check in such a remote location.
The ranger we met at Evolution this year has been up there for 26 years - he carries a gun as "law enforcement" up there but said he was "trying to get out of that aspect" - beyond that he was really just hiking up and down the valley, restoring some areas where camp sites were set up too close to the water and pretty much just checking things out. None of the 10 hikers that passed us by while we had a long chat were asked for their permits either.
We also met ranger Laura from Tyndall again (third hike in a row) and she even remembered us (because of the stuffed animals we carry). So again, long chat, no permit asked for. I think we smelled official by the time we got to Sequoia ;)
ChinMusic
08-19-2010, 10:41
This reminds me. I need to send my info to them letting them know what areas we camped.
Just did 8 days and were not checked.
Helmuth.Fishmonger
08-19-2010, 10:48
This reminds me. I need to send my info to them letting them know what areas we camped.
Just did 8 days and were not checked.
where did you get your permit? They actually care about where you stayed? In Yosemite they generally don't care at all where you want to stay, even before the hike (exception Happy Isles entry first night). In Lone Pine hiking northbound, I had to 'estimate' where I was going to stay, but they certainly didn't care about hearing later where I actually stayed. This was more for a potential search and rescue call, which I always found odd regarding Yostemite, where they absolutely show no interest in your plans beyond entry/exit locations and dates
ChinMusic
08-19-2010, 11:04
where did you get your permit? They actually care about where you stayed? In Yosemite they generally don't care at all where you want to stay, even before the hike (exception Happy Isles entry first night). In Lone Pine hiking northbound, I had to 'estimate' where I was going to stay, but they certainly didn't care about hearing later where I actually stayed. This was more for a potential search and rescue call, which I always found odd regarding Yostemite, where they absolutely show no interest in your plans beyond entry/exit locations and dates
We started in Reds so I picked up my permit in Mammoth Lakes. It was the Inyo portion were they wanted my projected camping areas. Once my itinerary left Inyo no other sites were listed specifically.
I did NOT have to camp at the sites I told them. They understood that plans change.
They would appreciate a report of where we actually camped. I suspect that is for records so they can get a better idea if an area is getting beaten down. I will be giving them GPS coordinates for my sites.
I suspect that if enough folks select an area they may close it to allow vegetation to recover.
Ediza, for example, has camping closed on the east(?). We went to the far side of Ediza and camped high (freaking gorgeous).
I didn't hike in the section you ask about, but where I did hike (Duck Pass to Bishop Pass) the ranger I met was asking about bear canisters, not permits.
That whole campsite itinerary thing is so stupid. You have to pick named stuff on the map, which means lakes. But if you actually go to these lakes they're like human crapopoloozas so I just keep on going until I find some clean place not full of toilet paper. I wish everybody would learn no-TP backpacking skills.
In Yosemite and along the JMT I passed and talked to several Rangers. None ever asked for permits.
I just got back from hiking the JMT and every ranger we passed asked to see our permit.
RichardD
09-14-2010, 01:21
I have just finished the JMT. Permit checked in Backpackers Camp in Yosemite Valley (as it should be) and again near Bench Lake. At Bench lake the ranger also wanted (and recorded) ID.
I had my permit checked in 2007 between LYV and Tuolumne Meadows, just south of Tuolumne Meadows, and near Purple Lake. At least one of the rangers knocked on my pack to hear if there was a bear canister in there.