Picked the CDT over the PCT last summer and it nearly wrecked me

I had two months free and had to pick between the Colorado Trail and the John Muir Trail. Went with the Colorado Trail because I thought the elevation would be easier to handle. Big mistake. Day 4 I got hit with a storm near Leadville and had to hunker down for 12 hours. Lost two days total. The JMT probably would have been more predictable but at least I'd have been warmer. Anyone else choose a route based on weather assumptions and regret it?

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kelly96811h ago

Got caught in that same storm zone near Leadville last year actually. I used to think the CDT was way more hardcore and impressive than the other long trails but honestly after that trip I totally changed my mind. The weather up there is no joke and it can ruin your whole plan real quick. Definitely made me respect the JMT's predictability a lot more lol.