![smile :)](./images/smilies/smile.gif)
Mav, I'm glad to see your comment about Kern Canyon, since I was roundly voted down for dissing the section of the HST that travels through the dust, mud and gravel up to lovely Junction Meadow (aka, Junction Dust Bowl). I also find the appeal of the concrete bathtub known as a hot springs a complete mystery, but I know others disagree.
We've previously detailed the horror of the Pine Creek trail, with its knee and ankle-breaking high steps and loose gravel. That and the HST through the Kern are two trails I will never do again without a gun pointed to my head.
One stretch that I hate is hard to avoid, though: In addition to the burnt out section of the JMT (which at least has an excuse, because it burned), I've always dreaded the stretch north of the Florence Lake junction, which switchbacks endlessly up a dry, sun-tormented and ugly slope. (I also dislike the stretch from Florence Lake to the junction.) But this route does lead to Marie Lake and many beautiful things.
I actually like Whitney, despite the cell phone crowd, but in the future I think I'll do it only via the mountaineer's route. I did enjoy climbing Muir on my HST trip this summer, though, so that would still be worth a detour.