Which lens for group hiking trip?

I am going on a group hiking trip over the weekend. I usually have a 24-70/2.8 along, but are thinking of taking the 70-200/2.8. It will be a either or thing as I don't want to haul two lenses in my backpack. Pictures will be of people and mountains (and people with mountains). Did anybody took the 70-200 on a similar trip and regretted it (or loved it?). Can you share your experience.

If it were me, I would take both but if I had to choose only one, it would be the 24-70 especially if people are going to be the prime subjects. Zooming with your feet is a bit tough on a side of a mountain. You can always take the 24-70 and 2x converter if you want a bit more range.

I second the 24-70! Best carry on lens ever. Go to lens for trips etc with limited space for me

I ended up taking the 24-70 and put it to good use. This is the analysis of the keepers with a substantial number of pictures clearly below 70.

Photo from drmaxx's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (990624)

drmaxx wrote in post #18907148
This would not have been possible with the 70-200 :

Gallery photo (hosted):
posted by drmaxx originally in forum: Canon Digital Cameras

Didn't you asked about hiking in the mountains in OP?
What this picture has to do with hiking in the mountains?

I did took 70-200 to the hiking in mountains and no regrets .

kf095 wrote in post #18909681
What this picture has to do with hiking in the mountains?

The alps are historically strongly linked with summer farming and ranching. In late spring the farmers drive their cows up into the mountains and making cheese is the main way to preserve the produced milk. All the cheese in the picture is produced in the mountains we hiked and on the way down we visited the maturing cellar. Hiking in the alps is not just wilderness - but also a culture trip as the alps are very much a cultural landscape.

I think folks make the assumption that hiking in the mountains means hiking, while in mountains and not visiting factories which happen to be in the mountains. Photographically, they both have very different needs.