Warning: the JMT's "easy" first day is a trap for new hikers

Everyone talks about Happy Isles to Tuolumne Meadows like it's a warm-up, but I did it last July and those 8 miles up to the Nevada Falls switchbacks wrecked my knees for the next 4 days. Am I the only one who thinks the altitude gain is worse than the descent on Donohue Pass later?

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2 Comments

stellat462mo ago

That first day is straight up brutal if you're carrying a full pack. Nobody warns you about the stairmaster effect of those switchbacks before you've even gotten your trail legs. Honestly the descent on Donohue felt like a reward compared to climbing out of the valley with a 40lb bag on your back.

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jana7692mo ago

Lighter pack means faster hiking, so maybe that heavy bag built character and endurance.

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