c/backpacking-routes

Took a hammock instead of a tent on the Appalachian Trail last month...

I figured I'd save weight but ended up sleeping on the ground under a tarp for three nights because every decent tree spot was already taken, so I guess I learned that popularity of the route matters more than gear choice.

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keith_rivera19•8d ago

Warning: my paper map trick almost got me lost in the Smokies

I used to rely on just GPS on my phone for route planning. Last fall on the AT near Clingmans Dome, my battery died 4 miles from the nearest shelter. Now I always carry a waterproof paper map AND a compass, and I practice using them before each trip. Has anyone else found a backup routing method that actually works when electronics fail?

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stellachen•9d ago

Took a shortcut on the Salkantay trek and almost got lost for 3 hours

I followed a faint side trail near the Salkantay Pass thinking it would shave off a mile, but it dead-ended on a cliff with no view markers. Has anyone else tried skipping sections of that route and ended up way off track?

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terryk10•9d ago

Hiked the same 8-mile loop in Shenandoah three years apart and the difference was wild

First time in 2021 the trail was almost empty, saw maybe 5 people total. This past October I went back and it was packed, passed 30 groups before I even hit the summit. What changed in that area to draw so many more hikers, or am I just unlucky with timing now?

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cameronn62•14d ago

Tried the popular Lost Coast Trail route last summer and the inland alternate was way better

Did the Lost Coast in June. Everyone hypes the beach walk but the inland trail through the King Range had way less wind and no sand in everything. Still got the views without fighting 30 mph gusts all day. Anyone else skip the coast sections on purpose?

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lucasjackson•16d ago

Met a guy on the JMT who taught me how to read water crossings properly

I was hiking the John Muir Trail last August and ran into this older dude named Rick at a camp near Evolution Creek. He saw me staring at the crossing looking nervous and just laughed. He walked me right up to the bank and showed me how to spot the darker sections of water where it's shallower and the current is slower. Said most people panic and try to cross where the water looks smoothest, but that's actually where it's deepest and most dangerous. He also showed me how to use my trekking poles at a wider angle for better balance. I ended up crossing that creek about 15 times over the next week with zero issues. Has anyone else picked up a random skill from a stranger on the trail that totally changed how you do something?

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jordan903•17d ago

Had to choose between the ridge trail or the creek bed bypass on day 3 of my Smokies trip

So I'm hiking up to Mount LeConte last month and I hit this fork where the main ridge trail was all exposed with no shade but the creek bed bypass looked like it would add 2 extra miles. I went with the creek route because it was like 85 degrees and I was already sweating through my shirt. Big mistake. That bypass turned into a boulder scramble where I had to jump between wet rocks for over an hour. My ankle rolled twice and I slipped into the water up to my knee on the third jump. I made it but it took way longer than expected and I got to the shelter after dark. The ridge trail would've been brutal sun wise but probably faster and safer. Has anyone else picked the wrong fork and regretted it halfway through?

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shane_fisher37•21d ago

Lost the trail on the Art Loeb for 4 hours near the Pilot Mountain overlook

I was hiking the Art Loeb trail in Pisgah National Forest last spring and missed a turn near the Pilot Mountain overlook. One minute the blazes were clear, the next I was bushwhacking down a drainage. Pulled out my phone but had zero signal. Ended up using a compass I always carry to head east until I hit the parkway. That detour added 4 miles and I ran out of water with a mile to go. Has anyone else had to navigate off a compass on a trail with bad marking?

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sanchez.pat•21d ago

Picked the JMT over the PCT alternate through the Sierra's last summer...

I chose the full John Muir Trail instead of the shorter Piute Pass route because I wanted to see Evolution Valley, and honestly the extra 4 days of climbing was worth it for those lakes, but has anyone else done both and regretted the extra mileage?

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cameronjenkins•22d ago

My hiking pole snapped on the Black Mountain trail near Asheville last Saturday

I was about 3 miles into a 12 mile loop when the lower section of my old Leki pole just gave out going downhill, and I had to finish the whole hike limping along with a single pole and a stick I found on the ground has anyone else had a major piece of gear fail mid-route?

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cole994•22d ago

Nearly got caught in a flash flood on the Hoh River Trail last fall

Was three miles in when the rain started hammering and some guy coming back said the river was already rising fast, so I turned around and now I always check the weather radar before any rainforest hike, anyone else had a close call like that?

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riley_miller25•23d ago

Hot take: the AT shelter system is overrated after 3 nights of bad luck

I always heard everyone rave about staying in shelters on the Appalachian Trail, but after three straight nights with snorers and a mouse crawling over my face, I'm not sold. Tbh, my hammock setup was way more comfortable and I slept like a rock the rest of the trip. Anyone else ditch the shelters for good or am I missing something?

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felix_williams71•24d ago

That guy who told me to skip the water filter on the JMT was dead wrong

Met a grizzled hiker at the Whitney Portal store last June who swore he'd never used a filter in 20 years... spent three days in Bishop with giardia after drinking straight from a creek near Muir Trail Ranch. Has anyone else gotten sick from trusting 'local knowledge' on a popular route?

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mason.brian•24d ago

Noticed something weird on the Lost Coast Trail last month

I hiked the Lost Coast Trail in California last month and saw something that stuck with me. Almost every group I passed was carrying way too much water, like 4 to 6 liters each for a 2 day stretch. There are reliable streams every couple miles in the spring, so you really only need a filter and a couple liters. I counted 12 people on the trail and maybe 3 of them had a proper filter. The rest were lugging heavy bottles and dumping out extras at camp. Anyone else see this kind of overpacking on coastal routes where water is easy to find?

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mason.brian•25d ago

Got caught in a freak hailstorm on the Pacific Crest Trail near Tahoe

I was about 12 miles past Echo Lake on a 5 day solo hike when the sky went from blue to dark gray in like 20 minutes. No shelter nearby, just open granite and sparse pines. The hail started coming down hard, pea sized at first then bigger, and I had zero cover. I threw my pack over my head and ran for a cluster of trees, but the branches were too thin to block anything. Ended up crouching under my tarp for 45 minutes while it pounded my shoulders and legs. My sleeping bag got soaked through a gap in my pack cover, and I had to stop early to dry everything out at a camp spot. Has anyone else had a weather situation blow up that fast on a well known section of trail?

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richard_anderson•27d ago

Always thought I could just wing it with a paper map until a trip in the White Mountains...

Got turned around for three hours trying to find a trail junction that was clearly marked on my phone's GPS map. The paper one I brought was from 2008 and didn't show the reroute. Anyone have a go-to app or GPS unit they trust more than old maps?

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terryk10•28d ago

Spent 3 hours trying to find the actual trailhead for the Skyline Loop in the North Cascades

GPS kept pointing to a washed-out logging road, finally found the real start behind a ranger station 2 miles away. Anyone know a better offline map app for the PNW backcountry?

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scott.jana•28d ago

I thought the 'no campfires' rule on the Lost Coast Trail was overkill

Did the 25 mile stretch last fall and was annoyed we couldn't have a fire at the beach campsites. But after seeing the huge driftwood piles and how dry everything gets, it made total sense. Plus, the stars were way better without smoke. Anyone else have a trail rule they doubted that turned out to be a good call?

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john650•29d ago

Found a way to skip the worst part of the Wonderland Trail

I did the full loop around Rainier last August and the climb out of Indian Bar up to Panhandle Gap is just brutal, especially with a full pack. Everyone says to camp at Summerland and do it early, but those sites book up fast. My trick was to push past Summerland to a small, unnamed spot I found on the map about a mile before the gap. It's just a flat patch off the trail, not a real camp. I got there around 7 PM, set up my tent, and had zero people around. Next morning, I hit the gap by 6 AM with fresh legs and had the whole sunrise view to myself. It cut the hardest climb into two much easier days. Has anyone else found a good unofficial spot to break up that section?

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chen.adam•1mo ago

Spent $40 on a printed map set for the Wind River Range and it was worth every penny

I was doing a 5-day loop near Cirque of the Towers last summer and my phone died on day two. The paper maps from Beartooth Publishing had all the off-trail passes and water sources clearly marked, which saved me a huge headache. Has anyone else had a similar experience with a specific map brand on a long trip?

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felix_williams71•1mo ago

Tbh, getting caught in a whiteout on the High Sierra Trail near Guitar Lake made me ditch my old 'just pack a fleece' rule for good.

Honestly, I was soaked and shivering for hours before a ranger found me, so now I always bring a proper waterproof shell and an extra thermal layer, even if the forecast looks clear.

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sageadams•1mo ago

Vent: My GPS died on the Lost Coast Trail and I spent 4 hours trying to find the right creek crossing

Honestly, the map showed a clear spot to cross Bear Creek, but the spring runoff made it a total mess. I kept walking up and down the bank looking for a safe spot, which wasted most of a day. Has anyone else had a crossing there take way longer than it should?

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viola_ward•1mo ago

I used to plan my route around the guidebook's 'must see' spots, but a ranger in Glacier told me to check the park's real-time trail conditions page first.

Now I always check the official site for closures and water reports before I even look at a map, because last August I almost hiked 10 miles to a campsite that was shut down due to a bear incident, so what's your go-to source for current trail info?

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victor_jones99•1mo ago

I planned my entire trip around a 20 mile day, but my buddy's pack was half the weight of mine.

He showed me his gear list and I realized I'd been carrying a full camp chair and 4 pounds of extra clothes. Do you think a heavy pack is just part of the experience, or is going ultralight the only smart way?

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graydavis•1mo ago

My tent pole snapped on the Lost Coast Trail last month.

It was the main support, right as the wind picked up near Punta Gorda. I used a section of my trekking pole and some heavy duty tape for a field repair. Anyone have a good source for replacement carbon fiber poles for a 2019 Big Agnes model?

3 comments