Debate: Did that ranger on the JMT last summer save us or ruin the trip?

I was hiking the John Muir Trail near Thousand Island Lake when a ranger told our group we had to turn back due to a bear closure up ahead. Half of us wanted to push through anyway, the other half listened and rerouted on the spot. Does following the rules actually make for a better trip, or does sticking to your plan matter more?

2 comments

2 Comments

gracewebb1mo ago

Following the rules means a better trip" - I once had a ranger tell me to turn around on a hike because of a storm warning and I ignored it, ended up getting hailed on for two hours and lost my favorite hat. So yeah, sometimes listening works out better even when it feels wrong in the moment.

hernandez.finley1mo ago

Yeah, you're totally right about that. I had almost the exact same thing happen on the PCT last year, where a ranger warned us about a fire closure and we thought we knew better, only to get stuck in a smoky mess for two days and have to backtrack anyway. Sometimes just listening to the person who knows the area saves you a lot of headache and maybe even your favorite hat.