Chose the High Sierra Trail over the John Muir Trail and I don't regret it one bit

Elliot King · 2026-10-16T15:25:05.1328+00:00

Everyone pushes the JMT like it's the only real thru hike in California, but permits are a circus and I wasn't about to gamble my 10 vacation days on a lottery. So I did the High Sierra Trail instead, 72 miles from Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal over 8 days in early August. The climb out of Hamilton Lakes to Kaweah Gap wrecked me, and I ate so much trail mix my hands smelled like peanuts for a week. Zero permit stress, saw maybe 15 people the whole time, and the view from the top of Whitney at sunrise was worth every step. Anyone else skip the famous route and end up way happier with the quiet one?

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Chose the High Sierra Trail over the John Muir Trail and I don't regret it one bit | Backpacking Routes - The Community Guide