snowshoeing the JMT

Anyone have any experience snowshoeing the John Muir Trail? Is it any good? any Avalanche risk?
freezing cold in mid December?

Never done it (not sure if anyone has) but, if you are talking the entire JMT, expect loads of avy danger, buttcold temps and (hopefully, for CA's sake) a heinous amount of snow. And a snowed in trailhead...Tuolumne will be closed at the north end and the south end is 13000 feet on the Whitney trail.

Or are you just talking bits and pieces of the JMT in mid December?

I've done some short bits of the trail in the winter (mostly around Mammoth) and the full trail in the summer. Definite yes to both of your questions, and if you're talking about attempting the whole thing in winter (it's done occasionally) you would want skis, solid winter backcountry skills, and some luck.

I was thinking just a in and out couple day trip in the south end

Which part of the south end? If it helps, the Sierra are actually a pretty gentle range compared to others. Every 14'er has been done in winter time, often several times every winter. People do trans range tours every winter, Mammoth to Tuolumne, etc.

Beginning at the very southern end, Whitney Portal/mount whitney trail.

Absolutely avalanche danger. The concern would be a mid-trip storm loading slopes and making retreat impossible over some of the many passes on the trail.

Daniel Bookless wrote:Beginning at the very southern end, Whitney Portal/mount whitney trail.

You're looking at a couple days trip just getting to the portal and back to your car in mid-December, unless you're super fast and strong on snowshoes!

If the west side is an option, consider a backcountry snowshoe trip through the redwood groves (out of the Grant Grove area). I did that a few years ago, and it was absolutely beautiful with little to no avy danger, easier terrain, and a trailhead that is much more accessible in winter.

I read one time of some people skiing the whole trail, in what seemed like a very short amount of time 5-7 days if I remember correctly in Winter. Would be a lot of great skiing, but yes, definitely must know how to judge avalanche conditions and be prepared for 5 feet of snow overnight.

All 267 miles or whatnot in 7 days is monstrous.... I don't think I've ever skinned 35 miles in a day!

8 1/2 days, he did skip the last 20 miles in Yosemite and headed east out of the park, so say what you want about that, either way crazy fast. Spring not Winter.

B-Mkll wrote:I don't think I've ever skinned 35 miles in a day!

You also ski 10 major passes so there is a good amount of downhill as well.

wildsnow.com/5566/skiing-mu…

Spring trip in a high snow year. Resupplied by self-placed food caches.

Spring will be easier for overnight trips for a person starting out, for a variety of reasons (avalanche safety, temps, day length, etc).

IMO, learn cross country skiing or basic randonee/telemark ski touring skills, much easier than snowshoeing except on really tight/overgrown trails.