The shortcut through Eagle Pass saved me 4 hours on the JMT

Everyone said to stick to the main trail past Thousand Island Lake, but I found this old use trail near Donahue Pass that cuts off that big loop. I tried it last August and it was rough but totally doable. Anyone else find a hidden shortcut that actually worked?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowan_ross16d ago

I went through Eagle Pass back in 2018 and it was sketchy as hell. The trail just vanishes in this one rocky section and I ended up sliding down a gravel slope on my ass for like 50 feet. Still saved me a solid 3 hours compared to the official route though. And that sunset over the Ritter Range from the pass was absolutely killer, probably one of the best views I've ever had on the JMT. The tradeoff was worth it for me but I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's not comfortable with route finding and loose terrain.

blake_kelly1916d ago

That 50 foot slide on gravel is exactly like trying to do home repairs without watching a tutorial first. You save time and feel badass for a minute, but the scrapes and bruises aren't worth it for someone who just wants it done right. There's definitely a sweet spot between "reckless shortcut" and "boring safe route" in hiking and pretty much everything else.

garcia.cameron16d ago

Wait, you actually sat down and slid 50 feet on loose gravel?