Saw a stat about the JMT that made me rethink everything

I was reading this survey from the PCTA last week, and it said 70% of people who hike the John Muir Trail go southbound. I always figured most folks went north from Whitney, but apparently the permit system and the altitude adjustment push people the other way. I hiked it northbound 3 years ago and nearly got wrecked by the elevation gain right out the gate. Has anyone else switched directions after seeing data like that, or am I the only one who stubbornly sticks with the popular route?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim_sanchez1922d ago

Donohue Pass wrecked me too when I went NOBO, I had to chug electrolyte packets and take a full rest day at Reds Meadow before I could even function. What really saved my trip was dialing in my pack weight to under 30 pounds with base gear and going super slow the first three days to let my body adjust to the altitude. Just taking that extra time early on made the whole trail way more enjoyable for me.

grayw3222d ago

Yeah that stat about 70% going southbound caught me off guard too. I read an article last month from some trekking site that broke down the permit lottery numbers and apparently NOBO permits are way harder to get because everyone wants to start at Whitney. But I've also heard from a buddy who did SOBO last year that the altitude gain from the north end is no joke either. He got wrecked at Donohue Pass and had to take a zero day just to recover. I'm northbound all the way though, even if the first few days are brutal.