Guy at REI in Boise told me my Sierra loop plan was 3 days too long, and he was right

Taylor Hart · 2026-10-06T22:10:02.4995+00:00

I mapped out a 47 mile loop through the Sawtooths last spring and figured 4 days was plenty. Showed the route to an older guy working the counter in Boise and he just pointed at the elevation profile and said "that's not a mileage problem, that's a knees problem." I ignored him, did it in 4, and spent the whole third day miserable and limping. Now I add a full day for every 8,000 feet of gain and my trips actually feel fun again. What's your rule of thumb for trip length versus elevation?

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Guy at REI in Boise told me my Sierra loop plan was 3 days too long, and he was right | Backpacking Routes - The Community Guide