Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion JMT 2024 SOBO advice

Hello all,
Long time lurker but first time poster. I know this is not a JMT board and for that I apologize but I like the advice given in this group. ( I have indeed joined the JMT FB group). I have looked at some of the JMT posts here as well as WanderingJims's recent TR.

I have a JMT2024 SOBO permit starting at LC with a July 24 start date. I have not done a long backpacking trip like this so I am doing my best to prepare and plan. I am trying to go light but not ultra light. Here are my questions:

1) I have a REI magma 30 bag (comfort rated for 39F). Is that adequate if I don't mind sleeping in my puffy jacket on really cold nights? I generally sleep warm. Or should I get a lower rated bag? I'll be sleeping in a BA CS2 tent on a Thermarest uberlite sleeping pad.

2) Since this looks to be a normal snow year, what are he chances that I will be able to ford the south fork of the San Joaquin river past MTR where the bridge is washed out? I know late last year in Sept. people had been able to do that. I am hoping that by the time I get there in the last days of July, it will be in the same considering the normal snow year this year compared to last. I don't want to miss the Evolution valley if at all possible. There is a chance of course that the new bridge will be up by that time and I don't have to worry.

I am sure I'll have more question as the date draws closer ... Thank you for your time.

-Abe

Glad someone got some use out of my JMT trail reports.

For #1, I had a 32 degree rated bag on the JMT. And while there were some cold nights on the trail where I had to wear my down jacket, never really felt like I was freezing. I did wear my fleece pants most nights. So, if you can layer up, a 39 degree bag may be okay.

Where is "LC"?

Ok. Thank you. I'll stick to my bag I think.
>> Where is "LC"?
That is the Lyell Canyon trailhead. As you probably already know, but only 50% of the "Donahue exit" quota is now from the Happy Isles trailhead. So I do get to skip the first 20 miles / 3k climb out of Yosemite which is a mild positive.

Ah. I usually think of that as starting from Tuolumne Meadows so didn't get the LC reference.

Have fun.