Tried the Sierra High Route after doing the JMT last summer and it kicked my butt in a good way

The JMT felt like a highway compared to the cross-country route finding on the High Route, so for anyone who wants real solitude and navigational challenges, has anyone else found the off-trail experience worth the extra map work?

3 comments

3 Comments

morgan_butler14d ago

Used to think people were crazy for going off trail for fun. Thought the JMT was the peak of Sierra hiking. But last fall I spent a week on a section of the High Route and it completely flipped my view. The solitude is unreal compared to the JMT crowds. The navigation is harder but it feels way more rewarding when you find your own way. Now I get why people spend the extra time with maps and compasses. Worth every bit of extra work for the quiet and the views you dont see from a trail.

kais6714d ago

Yeah @morgan_butler, you're right about most of that but the JMT is a 211 mile trail, not really something you hike in a week unless you're crushing huge miles.

hugo_jones11d ago

Wait, isn't this just hiking with extra steps though? Like, you could get the same "rewarding" feeling by just getting lost for an afternoon without all the map work.