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I cut the John Muir Trail short at Red's Meadow and don't regret it at all
Everyone says you have to push through to finish the whole thing, but after 80 miles my knees were shot and the views felt the same. I spent three days fishing at Red's instead of grinding out the last section, and it was the best part of my trip. Has anyone else found that skipping a famous part of a route led to a better experience?
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cameronp472mo ago
Totally get that. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to stop and just enjoy where you are.
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keith_bennett2mo ago
That's a nice idea, but I've found if you stop too early, you often regret it later. The real trick is knowing the difference between being content and just being lazy.
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aaron7402mo ago
Ever think you'd be letting yourself down if you didn't finish something like that? I used to, for sure. But last year I turned back halfway up a mountain because the weather got bad, and honestly, sitting in the lodge with a hot drink watching the storm was way better than being miserable on the ridge. Your story about fishing at Red's just proves the goal should be a good trip, not a checklist.
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