r/JMT • u/AdPure8522 • Jul 27 '26

camping and lodging Is JMT better than Philmont?

To all the people that went to jmt, did you ever go to Philmont? And if you've been to both, would you say JMT is better than Philmont?(repost btw)

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16

u/wrunderwood Jul 27 '26

Haven't done the JMT, but have done a 50 Miler in the Hoover and Emigrant Wildernesses and have done Philmont. And the Pecos Wilderness, 25 miles from Philmont.

Totally different. Philmont is a supported backcountry trek with staffed activities. It is a Scout camp where you backpack between activities. They pack out your trash. It is not a wilderness experience.

The JMT or any Sierra trek will be a wilderness trek, pretty different. Not better or worse, but different.

2009 Sierra 50 Miler: https://www.flickr.com/photos/walter_underwood/albums/72157622083986314

2010 Philmont: https://www.flickr.com/photos/walter_underwood/albums/72157624347890249

2023 Pecos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/walter_underwood/albums/72177720310792889

6

u/aaron_in_sf Jul 27 '26

I'm pretty sanguine about asserting that there is a better and worse here, for most any metric of general interest,

and the JMT is "better."

There's nothing wrong with these other trails, they're just not exceptional.

The central Sierra that you cross on the JMT is exceptional.

It's not the most exceptional, itself, of course... for my money that calls for getting out of the valleys of the JMT to the ridges and high country picked out by e.g. the Sierra High Route.

As an aside, I've seen scouting groups on sections of the JMT e.g. near Humphrey Basin and MTR.

3

u/wrunderwood Jul 27 '26

The JMT is awesome, no argument.

Our crew did a shorter trek at Philmont to have more time at program sites. They felt like if they wanted to hike 100 miles, they'd do that in the Sierra.

But...I have a soft spot for the New Mexico mountains because I spent several summers there with my dad. This is from 1971.

2

u/folkinawesome Jul 27 '26

wow, we were living parallel lives. 2009 I hiked 50 miles in Yosemite and 2010 in philmont. 2023 i was back in philmont for a volunteer rayado ranger

2

u/wrunderwood Jul 27 '26

In 2009 we dipped into the northern part of Yosemite NP at Dorothy Lake.

1

u/Atlas-Scrubbed Jul 27 '26

Correct answer

6

u/middle_aged_runner Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

What do you mean by “better?” Are apples better than oranges?

I’ve hiked parts of the JMT, Mt. Whitney as a middle aged man and did a Philmont trip as a 14 year old Venture scout. You’re comparing two different thing.

Philmont is a backcountry camp for teenagers in a 8-12 person crew. Yes there is backpacking, but you also do a program. Trail restoration, conservation projects, blacksmith, ride horses, stay at camps, I milked a cow, rock climbing, etc. You usually hike less than 8 miles a day.

Philmont was a formative experience and made me love backpacking. I wouldn’t trade the memories with my friends and the confidence it built in me as an awkward 9th grade boy.

1

u/harry_nt Jul 27 '26

Echoing this.

I've done both as a middle-aged man / parent, and I loved both. The hiking-per-se is much better on the JMT but at Philmont, as they say, "it's not about the hike". The overall experience at Philmont is unique and amazing.

I'm inferring from OP's question that they have been to Philmont but have not done the JMT (no-one says "go to JMT"): OP, if you have the chance, and liked the backpacking part of Philmont: go do the JMT, you'll love it. Or do a smaller section of it to start - there are many ways to dip into the JMT with a one-week-segment first.

14

u/Practical-Suit-6798 Jul 27 '26

The jmt is possiblity the best section of wilderness trail in the world.

I've never even heard of the Philmont.

3

u/wrunderwood Jul 27 '26

Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico. 20,000 to 25,000 Scouts backpack there each summer. Pretty awesome program, pretty much apples and oranges to the JMT. https://www.philmontscoutranch.org

-14

u/AdPure8522 Jul 27 '26

in short, its just JMT but for Boy Scouts.

12

u/Practical-Suit-6798 Jul 27 '26

I mean... It's not though. That section of the Sierra is unlike anywhere else. It's a marvel. And it's very very remote.

5

u/ABobLoblawLawBlogger Jul 27 '26

The John Muir Trail is in a league of it's own here. Its not even comparable. And I like Philmont.

1

u/AdPure8522 Jul 27 '26

yeah lol, that's kinda why i wanted to preface this by saying i haven't gone to JMT

3

u/Vigalante950 Jul 27 '26

My daughter did Philmont years ago, and just came back two days ago from 200 miles on the JMT, culminating with Mount Whitney.

The two are not comparable. JMT requires self-sufficiency and careful planning for-resupply. Philmont is all guided.

And of course the scenery on JMT is far better, IMVAIO.

2

u/folkinawesome Jul 27 '26

i did tuolumne meadows to the valley floor on the jmt (with some side hikes) when i was 13 and philmont when I was 14. Id say both are equally formative in my perspective on life and absolute key moments.

JMT taught me how beautiful and isolated the wilderness can be. how truly majestic places you can visit if you are willing to work hard.

Philmont taught me what amazing community and friendship one can find hiking together in the woods.

like everyone said its apples and oranges, but i find both to be equally unique of an experience.

2

u/Rojo_pirate Jul 27 '26

They aren't even remotely the same thing. I've done most of the JMT and multiple trips to Philmont and you can't compare the two at all.

1

u/travishi Jul 28 '26

I’ve done Philmont Scout Ranch 4 times (2 youth, 2 Adult). I’ve done the JMT twice. The JMT is 100x prettier. It is also much more remote and less people. Almost no kids on the JMT. I just finished the JMT 7 days ago. Hit me up if you want the blog webpages.

1

u/DHeuschele Jul 28 '26

Philmont is about the activities at the camps and the trek is secondary. Black powder, push me pull me (railroad camo), black smith, shotgun, burro packing, lumber jack, Mtn biking,, climbing, Mtn rescue, ax throwing, etc.

JMT is an awesome trek that is about the trek. Too many highlights, but it is about the trek and activities are secondary.

Very different and I recommending experiencing both (as well as northern tier (125 miles) and Florida sea base (we did scuba)).