Shoutout to the ranger who told me to skip Rae Lakes Loop on the JMT last July

I was all set to hit the Rae Lakes Loop on the John Muir Trail last summer. Everyone online hyped it up as a must-do. But when I got to the ranger station at Road's End, the guy on duty said the trail was a mess. Too much snow still, lots of creek crossings that were waist deep and swift. He pointed me toward the Copper Creek Trail instead. That route was a beast with the elevation gain, but it was empty and the views were solid. I saved myself a ton of frustration and maybe a bad accident. Anyone else had a ranger talk them out of a popular trail and into a better one?

2 comments

2 Comments

williamb291mo ago

Rangers definitely know the real deal more than internet hype.

gavin69229d ago

Exactly. Scouts know the real story behind every player.