Why does everyone rave about the JMT when the High Sierra Trail is way less crowded?

3 comments

3 Comments

I totally get where you're coming from about "way less crowded" because my buddy and I did the High Sierra Trail a few years back and barely saw anyone for days. We had to stop and wait for a bear to move off the trail near the Kern River, that was the wildest thing. For us, the solitude made the whole trip feel more special, like we had these huge views all to ourselves. I think the JMT gets so much hype because it's the classic through-hike that everyone hears about first, but your mileage may vary depending on what you're after. For my money, the High Sierra Trail gave me equally stunning scenery without the crowds, so I'd take that over the JMT any day, but that's just what worked for me.

wesley1813h ago

Kern River is no joke. That bear stop is insane, I can't believe you just waited it out. I would have been frozen solid, trying not to make eye contact. Most people don't realize how wild that stretch gets, it's not like the JMT where you trip over other hikers every few miles. Honestly, that kind of story alone makes me want to skip the JMT and head straight for the High Sierra Trail next time.

milesbailey41m ago

Man, that bear story is wild. I had a similar thing happen near Kaweah Gap, where this big black bear just stood his ground for like ten minutes. I was backing up slowly, heart pounding, and finally he just wandered off. But honestly that kind of stuff is what makes the High Sierra Trail feel real. I remember crossing the Kern River on that sketchy log bridge and thinking, there's no way people are dealing with this on some crowded JMT section. The views from Hamilton Lake, that turquoise water with the towering cliffs, I think that's way better than anything I've heard about on the JMT. You can actually hear the silence out there, no drone buzz or distant chatter. I think people hype the JMT because it's like a bucket list checklist thing, but they're missing out on the raw, empty version of the Sierra.