Comparing the JMT northbound vs southbound, south won by a mile

I did the John Muir Trail twice in the last 4 years, once going north from Whitney and once south from Happy Isles. The northbound trip had me dealing with altitude sickness right at the start and then endless climbs in the first week. Going south, I hit the easier Sierra sections first, got my legs under me, and by the time I reached the big passes I was actually enjoying it. Plus the sunrise views from the south side of the passes are way better. Has anyone else done both directions and felt the same way, or am I just weird about my knee pain preference?

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sean78218d ago

Honestly, that sunrise detail is the thing that makes me want to try southbound next time. But did you notice any big difference in how your knees held up on the downhill stretches, since the passes hit you in the opposite order? Tbh, that feels like the real deciding factor for most people I know, not the views.