Two virtues of John Muir Trail backpackers are ones that some might see as contradictory. First, JMT hikers tend to be people of strong opinions. When you challenge yourself – and succeed – it makes sense that you would tend to see the process that produced success as the “right” way of doing things. Second, is the long tradition of “Hike Your Own Hike” honored by those of us who enjoy wandering around the wilderness. Hike Your Own Hike is more than a motto; it is a recognition that we are all out there with different skills and varying goals, all of which deserve respect.
As you work your way through your planning, you will likely encounter three recurring arguments. I’m not going to tell you what to do regarding any of these, but I would like to provide a little food for thought on each so you can make your own decision.
Boots or Trail Runners. May I quote from my book? Here we go:
“There are folks on the trail who will look with disgust at anyone wearing hiking boots as they float along (effortlessly, they tell me!) in their trail-runners. Conversely, the more traditional among us see only two types of trail-runner wearers: those who have seriously sprained their ankles, and those who are about to.”
I’m convinced that boots are the right choice for me. Of course, “me” is a 210 pound, 62-year-old hiker who carries a base-weight between 25 and 30 pounds. That means a soles-of-the-feet weight of over 250 pounds when I leave my last resupply with a week’s worth of food. When my wife and I go on our frequent day hikes, and I’m wearing a daypack of less than 8 pounds, I’m almost always in a pair of trail runners.
If you have less body weight, are younger, are in exceptional physical condition, or have your base-weight down to the low teens, trail runners may be a good choice.
Two final recommendations regardless: make sure that whatever footwear you choose fits and is durable. The fit requirement should be obvious, but you might be surprised at how fragile some trail runners or boots can be. I have a pair of Lowa Renegades with over 500 miles on them that are still going strong. Many years ago, on one of my first long-distance hikes, I wore a pair of Hi-Tecs that barely made it 100 miles. Don’t make a choice strictly by weight, or you may find your footwear falling apart at a quite inconvenient time.
Loops on Trekking Poles. Yep…this is a thing. The loops on your trekking poles are not there just to provide an easy way to hang them from a branch. They are an integral part of the system that takes pressure off your hands. The way I use my loops is to slip my hands through them, from the bottom, and then very lightly grip the handles. (See photo.) The length of the loop should be such that any pressure exerted on the hand is felt near the wrist, not the fingers. You should not have to squeeze the handles at all.
The advantages of this technique are less fatigued hands and much better fall protection. If you slip or trip, all the forward momentum is immediately absorbed by the wrist. There is no need to react by increasing the pressure of your grip on the handle. I’ve used this technique since buying my first set of trekking poles, and it has saved me from more falls than I can count.
There is a disadvantage, however, and it is not insignificant. By anchoring one end of the pole to your wrist, and the other end of the pole to the ground (as the point of pole sticks in), you are creating a tripping hazard practically on every single step. After years of hiking with the straps looped over my wrist, I have only done this once – but it was a nasty fall. It occurred just before I crossed the Piute Creek bridge, when my pack was the heaviest of the trip (I had just resupplied at MTR). I wasn’t paying close enough attention, and I got my right pole in front of me. If I was shorter, or my pack lighter, I might have managed to keep my balance, but my center of gravity quickly moved beyond the point of recovery and I went down hard.
Miraculously, I was unhurt. (Also, the hiker that witnessed my clumsiness from across the bridge was diplomatic enough to pretend he didn’t see it.)
Still, after my brush with disaster, I am a loop-on-the-wrists guy. I know some folks, however, who cut the loops off whenever they get new poles just so they aren’t tempted to use them.
Sleeping Bag or Quilt. I have tried both, and I am still undecided. I do not like to sleep cold, which was the problem I had when I used a quilt. I love the more blanket-like feel of the quilt, however. After experimenting I have come to this conclusion: if you want to be just as warm with a quilt as you are with a sleeping bag, you need to wear an extra layer in bed and have a better insulated sleeping pad. The extra layer and the better pad will likely use up nearly all the weight savings you accrued by carrying a quilt (instead of a sleeping bag), and it will probably be a more expensive sleep system.
That said, at least for me, I get a better night’s sleep using a quilt.
I hope this helps when you make your choices, and if you have a different opinion, let me know in the comments!
Good hiking, Ray
Hi Ray ….. Your book was a big part of my planning for my 2015 and 2017 JMT adventures as was your blog. As for the mini-controversies:
1. Put me in the trail runners column. I’m also in my early 60s and weigh in the 180s. My pack base weight is 17-18 pounds. Last year I did a NOBO JMT starting at Horseshoe Meadows and my pack weighed 42+ lbs with water and 8 days of food. I used Altra Lone Peak 3 trail runners one half size larger than my feet. In short, the best shoe I’ve ever used on the trail. Zero blisters, comfortable and fast-drying. I was concerned about durability, but besides the 225 miles on the JMT I have over 250 miles of city walking on them and they still have a few miles before I pitch them.
2. I never use the trekking pole loops while hiking. I do use them sometimes in camp when I’m rigging a gravity flow setup for my water filter for example.
3. I have a Western Mountaineering Megalite bag. I’ve started using it like a quilt unless it is very cold. When I unzip the Megalite completely and spread it out it works like a quilt and has a toebox. I toss and turn a lot and the bag is much more comfortable using it this way. ………….. Alfred N.
Thanks, Alfred. Great alternatives, all. I’m particularly intrigued with the Western Mountaineering Megalite bag. Sounds wonderful.
Ah…..you forgot one “controversy” I often hear. Last year on the Oregon section of the PCT (boring compared to the JMT and not recommended), I heard many conversations about stove vs no stove. While I prefer my dinner hot and tasty, I was lectured by self-proclaimed hard core through hikers on the virtues of cold beans and rice and the resulting space and weight savings. Blech! Give me my beef stroganoff and give it to my piping hot!
Great point, Ken. Believe it or not, I have done the JMT both ways! I recommend hot meals, at least in the evening, even if it is just boiling water and pouring it into pre-made meals. So much better experience!
Daughter got me started using the KEEN Targhee Mid Hiking boots as they have a wide toe base and fairly light. Very little break-in if any. I had to give up trail runners a few years back as my balls of my feet would hurt at the end of the day – even with a layer of bubble wrap as an additional in-sole. (it works). I’m 55 and have learned to survive by going pretty light (we each got 11 days of food in our Bearvaults last summer!) but I’m definitely need trekking poles with the loop around my wrist to recover on slippery granite & for setting up my tarp. The strap keeps my hand from sliding down. We are still using bags but the quilt is intriguing. My best piece of insurance for a safe hike is my SPOT.
Thanks for the comment, Darryl. I might need to check out those Keens you describe. I, too, have noted that Keens take very little break-in, but they also seem to be a bit less durable. Thanks, again.
Yay — someone points out the right way to use trekking poles! It’s not just some cosmetic difference. When I hold them the right way, I can ascend faster, and descend with much less stress on my knees and back. I don’t get a lot from them just walking on level ground (unless it’s slick), but there wasn’t much of that on my hikes.
I come down on your side of this, Eric, but I tried to do my best to honestly convey the opposite opinion. Thanks so much for the comment!
Great points, Ray! The only controversy I feel strongly about is the trekking pole loop one. I personally know three people who experienced the following separate injuries (one of which was on the JMT!) related to using trekking poles straps: a severe concussion, a broken nose, and knocked out front teeth. In each of these cases, the person simply tripped on the trail (either the trekking poles got caught on something, they tripped over the poles, or they just tripped) and then ended up stopping the fall with their face rather than with their hands because their hands were caught in their trekking pole straps. These happen to be most of the worst trail injuries I’ve been close to or witnessed, all related to trekking pole straps. I’ve also heard of similar things happening when people trip with their camera in their hand and naturally react to try to protect the camera. I’m all for hike your own hike and imagine the straps work out fine for most people, I just always like to make sure the people I hike with have a concrete understanding of the risk.
You are far from alone, Alicia, in your distaste for those loops! I have to admit that I was pretty dismissive of that opinion until it happened to me. Now I am much more careful, and find your position to be far more reasonable. Thanks for the comment!
Pole straps- I have read that you should take the straps off when going downhill. The only time that I have fallen with my poles was going downhill with my hands in the straps and it pitched me further forward.
The rest of the time, I use the straps – like a xc-skier – as Ray stated so that you hand is supported by the straps and it takes very little energy to carry/swing the pole forward.
Stoves- I think that we should carry them. Did you all note that the hiker that was found dead in 2016? (caught in bad weather – I think it was on Bishop Pass?), might have survived if he could have had some hot food to bring up his core temperature!
Sleeping bags – I do as the fellow above – open my bag all the way and use it like a quilt – when it is warm enough.
Happy Trails,
An “older” hiker who saunters down the trail.
Thanks for the comment, Linda. Another trekking-pole recommendation while descending is to lengthen your poles. I do that at the top of the passes. I did not near about the hiker in 2016, but I’m sure you are right – something hot could have made the difference.
Years ago when I first started using trekking poles, I came across Peter Cinch’s
site. Haven’t found anything better, esp. in terms of getting the most out of how to use them once you’ve got your hands in the loops properly. As Linda says, “like a x-country skier”.
http://medphys.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/gear/poles/poles1.html
Pete
Pete, this looks like a terrific website. Thanks so much for posting it!
Hi Ray,
Thanks for posting this info. I purchased the Trekking pole video that you recommended in your book. It was extremely helpful for me. I discovered that I was doing several things wrong with my poles. I have been practicing with them daily and they feel quite natural now, like an extension of my arms. I sure wouldn’t cut off the straps as they are an integral part. Glad to hear that your Lowa Renegades are holding up well too.
Thanks for the comment, John. That’s exactly how I feel as well, like they are an extension of my arms.
Ray, thanks for your book.
Hiked the JMT in 2016 and 2017. I used my WM Ultralight as a quilt for the the warmer nights. On a cold night I zip it up. I do get a better nights sleep when using it as a quilt. I use your trekking pole technique, took myself out twice when moving to fast and not paying attention. I hike on the AT in NJ and NH, would never hike without the poles on this trail.
Sorry to hear about the falls, James. As I said in the article, that has happened to me as well. Appreciate the kind words about the book and thanks for the comment!