Tried the classic JMT vs the Sierra High Route for a 7 day trip

Did the John Muir Trail section from Tuolumne to Reds Meadow last July, then tried the Sierra High Route alternative this year. The off-trail navigation on the High Route was way more work but the views and solitude were next level, zero crowds. Anyone have a favorite map app for cross-country stuff in the Sierras?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordant6917d ago

Sounds like you traded a walk in the park for a full time job with no pay. My idea of a vacation is not getting lost on purpose. I use the classic paper map and compass, mostly because my phone dies and I can't stand paying for another app. That off trail stuff is for people who enjoy suffering as a hobby. Glad you found the quiet though, that part I get.

park.wyatt17d ago

My buddy swears by Gaia GPS with the public lands overlay for the Sierras, he says the slope angle shading is a lifesaver off trail. I get what jordant69 is saying about paper maps, I always carry the Tom Harrison cartographics as a backup. The battery anxiety is real, but having the app to confirm your position on a tricky pass is worth the subscription for me.