Читать книгу The John Muir Trail. Through the Californian Sierra Nevada онлайн

43 страница из 67

Breakfast in camp on the JMT

Those who do not have this time available can still experience this most wonderful of mountain wilderness areas without committing to the whole of the JMT. Many of the logistical problems of food replenishment do not exist if a shorter section of the trail is envisaged. Most American hikers, in fact, usually hike only three to five days in the wilderness on any one occasion, usually entering JMT country along a side-trail and returning to a nearby roadhead or town by another side-trail. There is sufficient information in this guidebook to allow walkers to do this (see Appendix 3 – Escape Routes).

In a Group or Alone?

The walker faces another important decision – whether to undertake the JMT as a member of a small group, with one other friend or spouse, or to go alone. There are benefits and disadvantages of either approach. Some authors and authorities strongly disapprove of walking alone, particularly in the wild and lonely areas of the world. Such disapproval arises mainly from the risk of accidents that could leave the solitary traveller unable to physically escape from the wilderness area or to summon assistance from others.