Unpopular Opinion: The JMT sucks

[TahoeJeff]

If wild animals worldwide had voices, I think they would say that there are one heck of a lot of human lives around.

I doubt insects would say that:

Recent figures indicate that there are more than 1.4 billion insects for each human on the planet

from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_ ... population

[TahoeJeff]

Other random Wiki numbers:

It is estimated that the total number of wild mammals in the world is about 130 billion.

There are an estimated 3,500,000,000,000 (3.5 trillion) fish in the ocean.

According to NASA in 2005, there were over 400 billion trees on our globe. However, more recently, in 2015, using better methods, the global tree count has been estimated at about 3 trillion.

Yep, super thread drift.

[rlown]

So the JMT will be under even more pressure when the trees and fish invade. got it Oh wait, the CDFW will stop the fish..

[Stanley Otter]

At least those who use the plural are not mistaking it for the possessive:

[rlown]

funny!

[sekihiker]

Sierra's? Really creative.

I've driven under this sign dozens of times in the past 30 years.

Someone in the police department has heard this argument.

The mountains on the patch, however, look more like the Tetons.

[MountainMinstrel]

At the risk of bringing this tread back on topic...I will be hiking the JMT this year. Why? First, my grandmother hiked it twice when I was just a kid (she died during a knee replacement surgery that she was doing so she could hike it again). Second, since I started backpacking in 2004 it has been a wish/goal of mine. Finally, I have a sabbatical this year so I will have the time necessary to do it in a way that will be enjoyable.

Will I find solitude on this hike? no. But I will find a bunch of people with similar goals and dreams that we will share, at least for a time, together. When I want solitude, I will head off trail right here in my backyard (Emigrant), but there are times when I enjoy sharing the beauty of God's creation with others. Both of those things are awesome.

[rightstar76]

MountainMinstrel, I'm sad to hear that happened to your grandmother when she was trying to get the surgery she needed to hike the John Muir Trail. A tragedy and a loss! I wish you peace and joy in your journey.

[rightstar76]

After reading MountainMinstrel's story, I've been thinking. Have we lost our way on the trail?

Have we been flattering ourselves for hiking lesser known trails? Stroking our egos because we "don't trash the place" like those "self-indulgent" JMT hikers? Have we unwittingly put a barrier between ourselves and other hikers due to our perceived level of enthusiasm and knowledge? Of purity? Sure, some hikers leave trash on the trail. Some are noisy and inconsiderate. There are crowds and smart phones. Selfies too. But there's also friendship, camaraderie, and kindness. And transcendence. The experience of being in a beautiful place with something bigger than us. JMT, HST, or any trail. Or no trail. It really doesn't matter. That's why we're here.

[freestone]

After reading MountainMinstrel's story, I've been thinking. Have we lost our way on the trail?

Have we been flattering ourselves for hiking lesser known trails? Stroking our egos because we "don't trash the place" like those "self-indulgent" JMT hikers? Have we unwittingly put a barrier between ourselves and other hikers due to our perceived level of enthusiasm and knowledge? Of purity? Sure, some hikers leave trash on the trail. Some are noisy and inconsiderate. There are crowds and smart phones. Selfies too. But there's also friendship, camaraderie, and kindness. And transcendence. The experience of being in a beautiful place with something bigger than us. JMT, HST, or any trail. Or no trail. It really doesn't matter. That's why we're here.

Right on Rightstar. I can only add that It's all been visited, loved and abused by generations before us and will continue to be after us.