Overheard a couple arguing about trail markers on the John Muir Trail

I was grabbing a coffee in Bishop after a trip and these two guys were going at it about whether the official JMT markers are too few or just right. One said he got turned around near Evolution Lake because a post was down, the other said if you rely on them you're not really backpacking. I mean, I get both sides, but it made me think about how much we trust signs versus our own prep. How do you all feel about marked trails versus more wild routes?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_anthony1mo ago

Total reliance on markers is just lazy. Real skill comes from reading the land and a map. If you need a sign every mile, maybe stick to city parks.

jesse843d ago

Real skill" gets real cold when the fog rolls in.

richardfox1mo ago

Saw a guy in the Whites last year who missed a turn because a cairn was down. He was glued to the blazes and walked right off the ridge.