Found out the John Muir Trail has a 90% completion rate and my mind is blown

I was reading a trail report from the Pacific Crest Trail Association website last night, just planning a section hike for next spring. Buried in the footnotes was this stat that 9 out of 10 people who start the full JMT actually finish it. I always pictured it as this epic, grueling thing where half the people drop out. Now I'm sitting here looking at my gear, wondering if my own head is the biggest obstacle. Has anyone else had a trail surprise them like that, where the reality was way different from the legend?

3 comments

3 Comments

wendyk5620h ago

Wow, that is a surprising stat. I had the same feeling on the Wonderland Trail, where I built it up so much in my head I almost didn't go. Getting out there and just starting the first mile was the real fix for me.

susanm5612h ago

The Wonderland Trail is a 93 mile loop, not a simple out and back. That first mile you mention is on a very specific, crowded section near Longmire. The real mental shift for me happened around mile 17, deep in the woods after the tourist spots faded. That's where the trip actually begins.

the_alice19h ago

I get what you mean, wendyk56, about just starting that first mile. But for me, sometimes the build-up in my head is the fun part. Planning a big hike, looking at maps, that's half the joy. If I just rushed out the door, I'd miss the excitement of waiting for it. I've had trips feel flat because I didn't let myself get properly pumped up first. A little nervous energy means I care.