Used to think switchbacks were a waste of time until I did that steep slope at Yosemite

Ngl I always skipped switchbacks and went straight up the hill to save time. After hiking the Mist Trail in six hours with a 40lb pack my knees felt wrecked for three days. Anyone else learn the hard way that switchbacks actually save your joints?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_susan10d ago

oh man, the Mist Trail with a 40lb pack? that's brutal. i did that exact same thing last summer on my way up Half Dome, thought i was being clever and taking the "shortcut" straight up the granite. ended up sliding on some loose gravel and twisted my ankle real bad. now i actually look forward to switchbacks because they break up the steep parts and give your lungs a second to catch up. plus i swear my knees last way longer on those long descents when i take the switchbacks instead of bombing straight down.

ray_mitchell10d ago

Thirty miles out of Yosemite Valley I saw a guy try to bomb down the Mist Trail like that and he ended up with a knee that sounded like rice krispies for the rest of the trip. I hear you on the ankle thing though @the_susan, loose gravel is a nightmare. But for me switchbacks are just more miles pounding the same joints over and over, plus it makes the hike take way longer than it needs to. I'd rather take the shorter steeper route and deal with the burn than spend an extra hour winding around. Different strokes for different folks I guess, whatever keeps you from getting hurt is the right call for you.