Lonesome Miner Trail FAQ

When’s the best time to hike the LMT?

Usually April/early May and late September/October. Other times might just get too hot/dry or snowy.

If you go up when there is still snow, bring microspikes and maybe even an ice axe. If you go up in warmer months, be aware springs won’t be running as strongly. Monsoon season is NOT reliable/predictable in this region.

How Long Does the LMT Hike Take?

That depends how long you want it to take. There are places near water where you can set up base and stay a couple days to explore, but you’ll need to rush over long bits of trail getting water-to-water. Water needs will force you to make miles. Most people hike it in about 5 days. One time I lived back there for in one of the cabins for weeks.

I’ve read that some people try to FKT the LMT and that’s a bit ridiculous IMO. The faster you go, the less you see!

The LMT is loaded with treasures to explore and savor. Plan to take your time and maybe have a layover at Frenchies so you can explore the ghost town, fall into the pioneer spirit, and end up cutting back rose bush, and working on the cabin roof like I did. 😋

How much elevation change does the LMT have?

The Lonesome Miner Trail is roughly 30 miles long, ranging from 1122 foot to 9506 foot elevation. Your lungs will suffer roughly 15,560 feet vertical up and your knees will suffer roughly 18,300 feet vertical down.

Why hike it northbound?

I think the two best reasons are:

1. `less elevation gain
2. ending the hike closer to a hamburger and cold beer in Lone Pine

If you aren’t averse to hitch-hiking, it’s possible to hitch from the Interagency Center in Lone Pine clear to the Hunter Canyon trailhead. There’s plenty of year-round tourist traffic heading out that way toward Death Valley, and down Saline Valley road to the hot springs and Steel Pass.

Can I go alone?

Sure, if you’re a confident, skilled and fit backpacker, why not?

Most people will want to tell you to NOT hike difficult things alone, but I look at this differently. Hiking difficult things with a partner doubles the chances that something will go wrong, and if your partner sucks, the odds stack against you. 😜

If you want company and have deep pockets (e.g. want to fly me out to Bishop and pay for my meals), heck, maybe I’ll hike it with you!

Tips for Finding/Staying on Trail?

The trails in the Inyo were first created by animals moving from canyon to canyon for food and water. Animals aren’t stupid and don’t usually hike straight up or straight down unless being chased, so they make nice tracks. They create switchbacks and follow contours. You might think switchbacks are some annoying human invention created to vex hikers, but in fact, they’re just nice to have! I hesitate to say “game trail” because I don’t see wild animals as game. But that’s what we have: game trail.

Anyway, original peoples such as Shoshone and Paiute tribe members would follow these trails to find the animals (and water of course), bedding in the trail further. They became “use trails.” Some routes were better than others, some were used a ton, and those became permanent. You will find use trail ALL OVER the Inyo, not just where mapped.

Switchback Pros and Cons

Sheep herders came along, then miners came along during the gold rush, and adjusted these trails somewhat to accommodate their animals. Donkeys and mules do not appreciate steep grades, especially in talus with hundreds of pounds on their backs, and so some of the steepest parts leaving valley floors were further switch-backed, and then pressed in by heavy hooves.

Remember that when you are hiking steep terrain, switchbacks are possible at any moment. Always be on the lookout for hairpin turns in the trail, and if the trail suddenly becomes faint, turn around and make sure you didn’t miss a switchback. Missing switchbacks is the number one way to get lost on backcountry routes. This is probably becoming more common now that many hikers are looking down at their phones, and not watching the trail for turns.

Trail Work

Look for signs of trail work, including cut trees and limbs (especially cut tree limbs at torso/head height), and stone work. The Lonesome Miner Trail has quite a bit of stone work (stone retainer walls) which will re-affirm any doubting hiker. In the diaries left behind at the cabins you will see evidence how rangers and volunteers were out in the 1980s and 1990s working VERY hard on this route.

Finally, look for changes in soil texture/color. Are there fewer rocks and stones in an area? Is the soil a lighter color? Is the line you’re looking at somewhat depressed? Are there larger rocks or straight-ish rows of shrubbery on the downhill side of the line that seem to be retaining the soil/sand? Are there animal tracks or footprints? (Don’t trust footprints; they’re just a clue.)

Cairns

Granted, just because you’re following footprints, doesn’t mean you are going the right way. Same for cairns – some people place cairns decoratively, and some people place them during rescues. They don’t necessarily mean anything to YOUR hike. Be leery of following cairns. That said the east end of the Pat Keyes trail is HEAVILY cairned, and these are generally correct.

Finally, in some places, especially when leaving Keynot mine area northbound, there are a few options for rounding the Keynot ridge. The map shows the route the BLM intended, but you could also hike up high behind the bulldozer, attain the ridge crest sooner, and walk (descend) that. You’re likely to find many trails in this area, and others, but my goal is for you to use the BLM route. It should probably be your goal, too, since it is the most expeditious and a safe way from Hunter to Pat Keyes on the east side of the Inyo crest.