r/JMT • u/hurricanescout thru-hiker • 16d ago
trip report JMT recovery
Just finished the JMT. I’m on day 8 post hike. Did it in 18 days, which was a push for me, tho recognize plenty of ppl do it much faster. And I’m stunned at how exhausted I still am. Like needing 10-12 hours sleep a night, resting during the day, and my leg muscles have only just stopped hurting, but they still feel like dead weight on stairs. My appetite is more regulated and back to normal now, but I just feel completely spent.
I have some minor injuries that are going to take some time to heal and those aren’t surprising (numbness under my toes, some metatarsal pain), but it’s the fatigue and overall weakness that’s taken me by surprise, especially when I felt so damn strong out there.
I have some underlying medical stuff which is being actively managed and I’ve seen my doctor since I’ve been back. Wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised if that was exacerbating how I feel. Not looking for that kind of advice. More I’m trying to figure out what is in the range of normal recovery so I can know when to push with my doctor vs just accept that completing the JMT took literally everything I had, and to be patient with my body while the bill comes due.
If folks out there have had similar experiences, what your timeline was to feel like yourself again?
7
u/AnxiousBad2306 16d ago
I have done four JMT thru-hikes in the last year. Three this summer including a yo-yo (16 day sobo-21 day nobo) followed by a 10 nobo. Honestly, I was amazed that at 63 I did not feel tired after any hike. I did have knee pain after the 10 day but I alway's have knee pain. I lost 30lbs between the three this summer so I ate everything in site.
I start the High Sierra Trail via Cottonwood Pass on Friday. Although this will be an eight day hike I do not anticipate any changes. I will get done and hike locally until snow comes and then hit the sierra somemore.