Showerthought: I skipped the popular John Muir Trail section for a quieter route and it was a game changer

Everyone pushes the classic High Sierra section, so I planned a 5 day loop out of Bishop using the Piute Pass and Humphreys Basin instead. I saw maybe three other groups the whole time, and the views of Mount Humphreys were just as stunning. It made me question if the most famous routes are always the best, or just the most talked about. The solitude let me actually hear the place instead of just hiking through a crowd. Has anyone else had a better experience ditching a famous trail for a less crowded alternative nearby?

3 comments

3 Comments

kimr744d ago

That Piute Pass loop is a hidden gem. I did it last fall and the quiet up there is something you just can't buy. Makes you wonder what other famous trails have secret, empty versions right next door.

nancyn694d ago

Honestly, I used to be the person who only wanted to hike the big name trails everyone talks about. Tbh, reading what kimr74 said about that quiet loop really flipped a switch for me. It's like you're trading a crowded postcard view for a real feeling you can't get anywhere else. Ngl, now I'm always looking at the map for those little side trails next to the popular ones. That kind of peace is what I'm actually after.

rubyk264d ago

Totally agree about finding those quiet spots next to the famous trails. It feels like you're in on a secret that the crowds just walk right past. That kind of peace is the whole point of getting out there for me.

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