Got lost on the JMT because I didn't listen to a hiker named Joe

Last summer near Muir Trail Ranch, this older guy Joe warned me not to take the high route over Selden Pass if the creek was high. I figured he was just being cautious and went anyway. Ended up knee-deep in freezing water for an hour trying to find the crossing. Joe was right, and I should have just waited a day like he said. Anyone else ignore good advice on a popular trail and regret it?

2 comments

2 Comments

clairem388d ago

Hard disagree on this one. Sometimes you have to trust your own judgment on the trail, even if it means getting a little wet. Joe might have been right about the creek, but you probably learned more from that mistake than you would have if you just waited. Getting lost or dealing with tough conditions is part of the experience and makes you a better hiker for the next time. Isn't that really the point of all this, pushing yourself and figuring things out on your own?

spencer_thomas47d ago

See i get that @clairem38, but for me it's more about keeping the group safe than proving something. One wrong call on a creek crossing can end the whole trip or worse.