Question about the High Sierra Trail vs. the John Muir Trail for a first timer

I had to pick between the High Sierra Trail's 72 mile point-to-point or the classic JMT section from Tuolumne Meadows to Whitney Portal last summer. I went with the HST because the permit was easier to get on short notice, and the scenery was unreal, especially the Great Western Divide. For someone with about 10 days, which route would you suggest for fewer crowds?

3 comments

3 Comments

diana_kim662mo ago

The JMT section you mentioned is actually closer to 60 miles, not the full trail. It's a fantastic choice, but the High Sierra Trail is the real winner for fewer people. You'll see maybe a dozen hikers a day past the first canyon, while the JMT corridor feels like a highway in comparison. That solitude on the Hamilton Lakes trail is totally worth the tougher logistics.

kim_ramirez32mo ago

Oh man, @diana_kim66, you're totally selling me on that High Sierra Trail. Honestly, the idea of the JMT being a hiker highway is my actual nightmare. I'd rather deal with a crazy shuttle plan than feel like I'm waiting in line for nature. A dozen people a day sounds like heaven compared to a constant parade. That kind of quiet is what you're really out there for, right? Tbh, you've got me looking up permit info now.

gibson.morgan2mo ago

Totally agree about the JMT feeling like a highway, that's the perfect way to put it. I did a section last summer and it was constant traffic, like passing people every twenty minutes. You're right that the quiet is the whole point, and that's why I switched to more off trail stuff. Dealing with a complicated shuttle is a fair trade for a whole day where the only sound is your own footsteps.