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c/backpacking-routeshugo50hugo505d agoProlific Poster

Stuck between two mountain passes in the Sierras last week

I was on the JMT near Muir Trail Ranch and had to pick between going over Bear Ridge or dropping down to the San Joaquin River crossing. I chose the ridge route because I thought the views would be killer, but two hours in I hit a sketchy snowfield and had to backtrack. Anyone else ever pick the wrong fork and regret it halfway through?
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2 Comments
johnson.ryan
Man I used to always push for the higher route thinking it was the better call no matter what, but last year I took the river crossing on that exact same stretch and it was way smoother. The snowfield situation up there can be brutal even late in the season, you definitely made the right call to turn back. Now I always check recent snow reports or talk to rangers before deciding, shortcuts aren't worth the headache when you're already in the backcountry.
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thead44
thead445d ago
River crossing usually melts out faster than the snowfields, so that checks out @johnson.ryan.
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