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A ranger in Yosemite told me my 40-mile loop plan was 'a great way to get hurt' and suggested a 22-mile alternative. | Backpacking Routes - nhfree.com

leo_murphy•6mo ago

A ranger in Yosemite told me my 40-mile loop plan was 'a great way to get hurt' and suggested a 22-mile alternative.

I was dead set on doing the full High Sierra Camp loop last week, but the ranger at the permit office took one look at my plan and shook his head. He said with the snowmelt, the creek crossings on the back half were waist-deep and moving fast. He drew a different route on my map that cut out the worst of it but kept the best views. Has anyone else had a ranger talk them into a safer, shorter trip that actually turned out better?

3 comments

3 Comments

lunab976mo ago

Honestly, I get why they do that, but it feels like they always assume the worst case. Did you ask to see the actual creek reports or just take his word for it? Sometimes a waist deep crossing is just a cold, fun challenge if you know how to handle it. I planned a similar loop last fall and a ranger tried the same thing, but the conditions online were totally fine. Ended up doing my original plan and it was perfect. Makes you wonder if they're just trying to cut down on rescue calls, you know?

harper_owens6mo ago

Yeah my buddy had a ranger tell him a whole trail was washed out last spring. He checked three different hiking sites and the park's own camera feed, everything looked totally fine. He went anyway and the "washed out" section was just some mud you had to walk around. Felt like the guy was just reading from a script for new hikers. Makes it hard to trust the advice when you actually need it.

verafoster5mo ago

A news story I read a few years ago stuck with me about a hiker who ignored ranger advice and ended up needing a helicopter rescue. The rangers are not just guessing, they see the conditions firsthand every day and talk to the people who just came off the trail. That High Sierra Camp loop is no joke, especially early season with snowmelt running hard. A friend of mine did that exact modified route two summers ago and said the shorter trip was actually more rewarding because they had time to enjoy the meadows without rushing. Those creek crossings can turn bad fast if you misjudge the current, even if the water is only waist deep.