Colin's Question:
A friend and myself are coming over from Scotland to walk the John Muir Trail. We have planned on an average daily mileage of 14 miles, as we have both done a fair amount of walking before this and it seems a reasonable target. However, we do not know anyone who has traveled in this area before, so we are unfamiliar with the terrain. Fron your experience on the PCT, could you give us some info regarding this estimate?

—Colin

Karen's Answer:

	Karen Berger Meet Karen Previous Answers Hiking Forums

Hi Colin —

As you know, mileage depends on a lot of things: terrain, steepness, trail quality, heat, water availability, as well as your fitness and how much weight you are carrying in your pack. There's quite a bit of climbing and descending on the John Muir Trail because you go against the grain of the land. The trail varies between about 9,000 feet and 13,000 feet. On the JMT, snow is also a factor. This year, the current snow accumulations in the Sierra Nevada are a little higher than normal—which means slower going until it melts off sometime in July.

When I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (which is, in the Sierra, contiguous with the John Muir Trail), I averaged about 15 miles a day in June. We had an"average" snow year, which means that in mid-June, all the passes were snow-covered. Some hikers went considerably faster, although very few were able to do more than about 18 miles a day. But remember, "thru-hikers" have 700 miles of southern California's deserts and drylands under their boot soles, and they're in top physical shape. We were also acclimated to the elevations.

I've also hiked the JMT in July and in August, and was able to make slightly better mileage, but I have to admit that even when I was in great shape and the trail was clear, I found the trail's elevations and its long ups and downs difficult. Plus, with its incredible views and lakes and tarns, this is a trail to savor, not to rush through. I don't know what your current physical condition is, so it's hard to project how you'll do. My guess is that if you work out regularly, if you can keep your pack weight down, and if you're an experienced enough walker to know how to pace yourself, you should be able to do 14 miles a day. If not, I'd schedule some slow days for breaking in.

Karen