[pct-l] hiking the John Muir Trail

[Jeff]

I've hike the JMT, or parts of it, off and on since the late 1960s.  
What I've seen is there is a fall-off of people after Labor Day.  
However, I never felt that the trail was crowded - ever.  There was 
supposedly a bubble of hikers in the 70s when the counter-culture made 
backpacking cool.  I didn't notice it. 

Sure I'd see five or six or more groups of people hiking the opposite 
direction on the busiest of days, but I choose not to camp near them.  
If you get 100 yards off the trail, you have the Sierra to yourself.  
Most people don't camp more than 50' from the trail it seems... 

The worst I've seen was at Tyndall Creek - there were six or seven 
parties - 30 ore more people - camped there when I cruised in last 
summer in a rainstorm.  We didn't care, and set up above the crowds, 
much to some people's annoyance I think. 

Jeffrey Olson
Santa Rosa, CA

> I am planning on hiking the john muir trail some time between mid august and
> mid september. What is the best times to hike it. One factor for me would be
> to avoid the major crowds. I would like to hike it in 15 which would include
> 1 rest day. Thanks for your input
>
> zoli
>