My trail partner argued we should skip the John Muir Trail permit lottery and just wing it

He said the 'real adventure' is in the unplanned detours, but I think that's a quick way to get a hefty fine from a ranger. Where do you stand on strict itineraries versus total flexibility?

4 comments

4 Comments

annajenkins3mo ago

My buddy tried that "spontaneous" approach on the PCT a few years back. Got caught without a permit in a quota zone near Tuolumne. The ranger wrote him a ticket that cost more than his gear, and he had to hike out immediately. His great unplanned detour was a long, quiet drive home.

logan5253mo agoMost Upvoted

I actually used to think permits were just red tape until a friend got fined $250 near Donohue Pass. Hearing how fast that "spontaneous" trip ended changed my whole view. Now I see them as a basic part of trip planning, like checking the weather.

michaelgrant3mo ago

That's why I always overpack the permits.

morgan_king361mo agoTop Commenter

Wait, people actually think they can just wing it out there without permits? Yeah, I used to be that guy who figured it was all just paperwork, but after seeing a friend get turned around at a trailhead last summer, I changed my mind pretty quick.