Heads up on the Rae Lakes Loop vs the JMT stretch through Sequoia

I did both last summer and the Rae Lakes Loop kicked my butt way worse because of those back-to-back passes above 11,000 feet with no gradual climb. Has anyone else found the shorter routes are actually harder than the long ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_elizabeth20d ago

Used to think the short loops were easier. No way. Rae Lakes humbled me fast. That back-to-back elevation just hits different. Guess the long trails let your body adjust more. Short routes are deceptive that way.

maryr4320d ago

Oh man, totally agree with you there. I did a short loop in the Smokies thinking it'd be a nice weekend trip and I was wrecked by day two, those steep climbs with no letup are brutal. Long trails are sneaky that way, they let you find a rhythm before the hard parts hit.

the_faith20d ago

Short loops trick you because there's zero time to find your rhythm before you're staring down something gnarly. The mental game is way different too - on a long trail you're in it for the long haul so you pace yourself naturally. Short routes make your brain go "oh this is just a quick thing, push hard" and then bam you're cooked. Plus the recovery is worse because you cram so much effort into a few days instead of spreading it out. Nobody talks about how the shorter trips mess with your sleep schedule more too - your body never fully adjusts to the altitude or the hiking rhythm before you're done. Long trails let you settle into a flow state where the miles almost feel easy compared to that constant spike of effort on a short loop.