Rant: The Pacific Crest Trail 'popular' sections are way overhyped compared to the less crowded alternates

I did a 200 mile stretch of the PCT last summer and everyone said I had to hit the Sierra section near Yosemite. Total zoo. I mean, I get the views are nice but I spent half my time stepping around other hikers and waiting for campsites. Then I detoured onto the alternate route through the Emigrant Wilderness because a ranger suggested it (thanks, random ranger dude). Way better. Quieter, saw more wildlife, and honestly the scenery was just as good if not better. Am I crazy for thinking the famous thru-hiker corridors are more about hype than actual experience? Anyone else ditched the main route for an alternate and been happier?

2 comments

2 Comments

leor3719d ago

Read somewhere that the Emigrant Wilderness gets like a tenth the traffic of the main PCT corridor. That alone sold me on skipping the zoo.

beth_hunt17d ago

Wow, wait, so did the extra miles on that Emigrant alt actually take longer or was it about the same as fighting through the crowds? I keep hearing people say the alternates are shorter but somehow no one mentions the time difference.