My buddy hiked it last July and said the only real crowd was at the spots everyone talks about, the rest was fine. Trails get "too busy" for me when you can't find a spot to pee without a stranger watching, which honestly never happens out there. Five seasons of waiting just sounds like he built it up too big in his head.

Did the guy actually blow you off on purpose though? @bennett.evan I get wanting stuff in writing but most shops wont put a real diagnosis on paper after 10 seconds of listening, they just hand you the bill and move on. Sounds like the dude was lazy or rushed, but calling it a scam feels like a stretch to me.

Ha! Same thing happened to me with a $5 poncho from a gas station in Bishop that held up way better than my fancy rain jacket. Sometimes cheap and simple just WORKS when the weather gets nasty.