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Hot take: People keep saying the High Sierra Trail is a 7 day trip and it's just not true for most.
I've done it twice now, once in 5 days and once in 6, and both times I saw groups struggling hard trying to stretch it to a full week. They end up with these weird 5 mile days and then a brutal 15 mile push over Kaweah Gap. The permit system lists it as 7 days, so everyone plans for that, but it creates a weird food carry and pacing issue. If you're in decent shape, 6 days is comfortable and 5 is a solid push. How many days did it actually take you guys to finish it?
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ivan_murphy802mo ago
Yeah, that's a thing everywhere, not just hiking. People take the official number and treat it like a rule, even when it doesn't fit. It happens with project timelines at work, how long a home repair should take, you name it. The schedule becomes the goal instead of just getting the thing done well. If you can handle the miles, stretching that trail to seven days just makes it harder on yourself for no good reason.
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taraross1mo ago
Wait, is that honestly why people drag it out, just to take in the scenery more? @ivan774 I get that, but man, packing extra food and gear for two more days of rough camping doesn't sound like savoring to me, it sounds like work.
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elliotm572mo ago
But what if someone actually needs seven days to do it right?
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