Had to choose between the John Muir Trail or the Wonderland Trail this summer...

I had two weeks in August and couldn't decide. The JMT is the classic, but the Wonderland loop around Rainier is supposed to be amazing. I picked the Wonderland Trail because the permit system seemed easier to deal with. It was beautiful, but the weather turned bad after three days... constant rain and fog so thick I couldn't see the mountain at all. Ended up cutting the trip short after 5 days because my gear just couldn't handle it. Anyone have a good plan B for when a big trip gets washed out like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan_thompson621mo ago

Five days of that weather would break anyone's spirit. I had a similar trip on the Timberline Trail where it rained for 72 hours straight, turned my tent site into a swamp. My plan B is always keeping a cheap motel booked for the last night as a bailout, then hitting every dive bar and greasy spoon in the nearest town. It turns a failed hike into a different kind of trip.

wyatt_chen861mo agoMost Upvoted

My buddy had his whole Colorado Trail thru-hike get shut down by early snow last September. He was so bummed until he drove down to New Mexico and spent a week hopping between hot springs and eating green chile everything. Said it saved the whole vacation. Maybe having a loose backup region in mind helps soften the blow? What did you end up doing with your extra time?