Showerthought: Didn't realize how much elevation gain the JMT really has until I mapped it out myself

I was planning a section of the John Muir Trail and I calculated the total vert for just the first 60 miles from Happy Isles to Red's Meadow. Over 14,000 feet of gain. That's basically climbing Everest from base camp twice in a week. My buddy says that's just part of the route and no big deal. But I'm looking at my training and wondering if I'm crazy to attempt it without more prep. Who's right here? Is the JMT's elevation actually that intense or am I overthinking it?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabethhayes1mo ago

Wait, are you sure that's right? I've done that section a couple times and it never felt that brutal. Maybe your map's counting all the little ups and downs between the big passes?

lane.cameron1mo ago

Yeah my buddy Mark actually did that same section last summer with a GPS watch and it showed way more elevation than he expected. @elizabethhayes is probably right though, he said the map was counting every little bump and not just the main climbs. He ended up finishing way later than he planned but swore the actual effort wasn't as bad as the numbers made it look.

lopez.simon27d ago

My GPS watch once told me I climbed Everest in a single afternoon hike. Turns out it was counting every time I tripped over a root as elevation gain.