c/backpacking-routes

Fog on the Smokies trail messed up my whole plan

Hit the Twin Creeks loop last Saturday and the fog came in so thick I couldn't see the next blaze at all, then my phone GPS kept losing signal under that canopy. I ended up doing an extra 4 miles on the wrong ridge before I backtracked to a creek crossing I recognized. Has anyone else had to bail on a route because of visibility like that, or do you just carry a paper map no matter what?

The PCT stretch near Kennedy Meadows looked totally different after 6 years

I hiked that section in 2018 and again this spring. The old burn scar grew back so thick with manzanita it changed the trail's whole feel, and the creek crossing shifted about 30 yards downstream. Anyone else notice big terrain changes when they redo a route they know well?

Crossed 500 trail miles last weekend, nobody warned me about this

I hit 500 miles on the Benton MacKaye Trail near Springer Mountain and my feet somehow feel worse than they did at mile 100, blisters in spots I never knew existed. My buddy who's done the AT said this is normal but I'm second guessing my boot fit after switching to trail runners 200 miles ago. Has anyone else had a milestone that made them rethink their whole setup, or is this just part of the grind?

Picked the John Muir Trail over the PCT section hike, and I'm still second guessing it

I had two weeks in September and had to choose between doing the JMT from Reds Meadow to Whitney or just knocking out 100 miles of the PCT near Crater Lake. I went with the JMT because I figured the scenery would be better, but the permit hassle and the crowds at the campsites near Muir Pass were worse than I expected. Has anyone else made a similar call and regretted skipping the less popular route?

The old PCT section near Wrightwood I used to skip is now my favorite

Three years ago I started doing the stretch from Baden-Powell to Wrightwood as a day hike just to avoid the elevation gain. Last month I finally took the full two night trip through it with my cousin, and we hit the trailhead at 6am on a Saturday. The switchbacks were brutal in the heat but the views of the high desert around 9,000 feet made up for it. My knees complained the whole way down, but I keep thinking about that ridge line and already booked a permit for April. Anyone else find that the routes you dreaded turned out to be hidden gems?

Wasn't ready for that creek crossing near Bishop, took 5 hours to detour

Headed up the North Lake loop last weekend and the map showed a simple ford at Piute Creek. Water was way higher than expected, current was no joke after all that melt. Tried to find a crossing upstream for an hour, almost lost my footing twice. Ended up backtracking to a bridge that added like 5 hours to the day. Anyone else get burned by trusting old route reports on creek levels in early summer? How do you check conditions before you head out?

Bought a $340 ultralight tent, then ditched it for a $45 tarp setup

I kept blowing money on fancy shelters because the forums said so. One rainy night in the Smokies with a tarp and trekking poles changed my mind, my pack is 2 pounds lighter now. Anyone else dump the expensive gear after a trip where the cheap option just worked?

Bighorn Trail in August vs October, the water source flip was dramatic

I did the Bighorn Trail in the Bighorn Mountains back in August and the creeks were roaring, no problem finding water. Went back last October for a quick 3 day loop and those same crossings were bone dry, I carried 6 liters past one stretch. The difference was the late summer drought we had, it just sucked every shallow source dry. Has anyone else seen a route change that fast between seasons, or did I just get unlucky with the weather?

Doubted the water filter spreadsheet, now I plan trips around it

I thought tracking every stream crossing was overkill until last fall on the John Muir Trail. The spreadsheet flagged a dry stretch near Reds Meadow that I would have missed, and it saved me 6 miles of backtracking. Anyone else keep route notes this detailed or just wing it on the trail?

Bought the fancy ultralight tent, ended up carrying a tarp anyway

I dropped $380 on a Dyneema shelter before a 6 day loop in Glacier and it leaked at every seam in the rain. Ended up sleeping under a $12 blue tarp I picked up at a gas station in Kalispell, which worked fine. Has anyone else had high end gear just fail when it actually mattered, or am I the only one who should've tested it at home first?

Stumbled on the actual mileage for the Wonderland Trail and now I question every guidebook

I was planning a July loop of the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier and checked the official NPS map. It lists 93 miles, but every trail guide I have says 96. I measured my own GPS tracks from a buddy who did it last year and he logged 94.7 miles. Which number do you trust when you're packing food for a week, the park service or the guidebooks?

Finally finished the JMT section near Reds Meadow, pacing totally clicked

I'd been grinding through the Sierra with a 12 mile per day plan and kept hitting walls by 2pm. Last week around mile 14 past Reds Meadow, I just slowed down, took an hour lunch, and did the afternoon climb at like half my normal speed. Ended up covering 18 total that day and felt way less wrecked. The switch from 'distance goal' to 'time on trail' made the whole approach easier. Anyone else found a pacing trick that changed their daily mileage?

That $600 ultralight shelter was a total waste on the PCT

Last year I dropped $600 on a fancy cuben fiber tarp tent setup after reading all the hype on here about saving weight. By day 12 near Kennedy Meadows I was done with it. The thing flapped all night in any wind over 10 mph, condensation dripped on my face every morning, and I ended up sleeping under a tarp I rigged from my rain fly more than half the trip. A friend with a $120 two-wall tent from Big 5 had zero problems and slept better than me the whole trail. I get that gram counting matters for some folks, but this thing cost me real money and real sleep. Has anyone else ditched the expensive ultralight gear mid-trip and gone back to something heavier but actually functional?

Ditched my paper map for a GPS app after getting lost near Glacier

I used to swear by paper maps on every trip, thought GPS was for people who couldn't read terrain. Last summer I hit the Highline Trail in Glacier and took a wrong turn at a cairn, ended up 3 miles off route before I noticed. My buddy pulled out his phone with a downloaded topo app, showed me exactly where I'd drifted and how to cut back via a side trail. Took me 2 hours to get back on track, but that was the moment I realized paper maps don't show your dot moving. Now I still carry the paper as backup, but I navigate with the app and it's saved me from two more sketchy splits since. Anyone else made the switch after a close call, or do you stay old school on purpose?

Hiked the JMT in 2010 and again last year, the trail felt completely different

Back in 2010 I did the John Muir Trail from Yosemite to Whitney and saw maybe 10 other people total over 3 weeks. Last summer I went again and there were groups at every campsite, had to reserve spots at Reds Meadow way ahead of time. I get that more folks want to get out there, but the quiet solitude I remember is just gone now. Anybody else notice a specific trail change like that over a decade?

Wasted $280 on a fancy water filter I didn't need for the Pacific Crest Trail last summer

I carried that heavy thing for 200 miles before a guy at a resupply told me the streams up there are so clean you can just use Aquamira drops for $12, so has anyone else lugged gear for days that you could have swapped out way earlier?

I hit 500 trail miles this summer and now I get why people obsess over gear weight

I wrapped up my season in the Sierra last weekend and my GPS watch said exactly 501.2 miles since May. That number hit me hard because I never thought I was that serious about backpacking. I used to carry a 45 pound pack full of comfort items like a camp chair and extra clothes. After 500 miles every ounce really does matter because your body just wears down over time. I swapped my old tent for a tarp setup and saved 3 pounds right there. Now I check every single item and ask if I actually need it because one heavy trip can ruin a whole weekend. Has anyone else had a specific mileage number change how you pack for trips?

Debate: should you pack freeze-dried meals or fresh food on long routes?

I got roasted on the PCT last year by a guy who said my fresh food was just dead weight after day three. Now I’m all-in on Mountain House, but I miss real veggies. Which side do you lean on for a 5-day stretch?

Switched my pack weight method after a trip in the Sierras

For years I just threw stuff in my pack and hoped for the best. Last summer on a 5 day route near Yosemite, I weighed my bag at the trailhead and it was 52 pounds. Halfway up a pass I realized I was miserable. I sat down, dumped everything out, and only kept items under 8 ounces each. I cut 14 pounds that morning by leaving behind extra clothes and a big camp chair. Now I weigh every single item on a small scale before I leave the house. Has anyone else had a wake up call about pack weight mid trip?

Debate: Marked trails vs. compass-only navigation on established routes

I used to think following marked trails was the only way to go, but after doing the Kungsleden in Sweden last summer, I met a guy who swore by compass-only navigation even on established paths. He argued it makes you more aware of the terrain and less dependent on maintenance crews. I gotta admit, after trying it for a 20-mile stretch near Abisko, I felt more connected to the route. Which side do you lean on for longer backpacking trips, following the blazes or trusting your own bearings?

Hit 500 miles on the Pacific Northwest Trail and my phone told me I'd taken 1.2 million steps

Shoutout to the guy who told me to ditch my water filter for iodine tablets on the PCT

I was dead set against iodine. Thought it tasted like pool water and figured filters were the only legit option. Then a thru-hiker at a hostel in Seiad Valley showed me how much weight I was carrying for a 5 day stretch. 3 pounds vs maybe 5 ounces for a bottle of tablets. Took them on a 3 day practice run near Mount Whitney and yeah the taste is rough but I saved so much space. Anyone else make the switch and just deal with the flavor?

Just checked the water weight for a 3 day trip and it shocked me

I was planning a route through the Uinta Mountains and sat down with my gear list. Figured I'd pack 3 liters for a day's hiking. But I looked up the actual weight of water and did the math. 3 liters is over 6 pounds. For a 3 day trip that's nearly 20 pounds just for drinking. That's without cooking or washing. I saw a stat from the USGS that says the average person needs about a gallon a day in hot weather. So I was looking at carrying dinner and shelter but also basically a small child's weight in water. Made me rethink my whole route and where I can refill. How do you guys handle water weight on long stretches without resupply?

That old guy at the REI told me to skip the water purifier tablets and just drink straight from the creek.

Honestly, I thought he was messing with me. It was my first solo trip on the Long Trail in Vermont, about 3 days in. He said the water up there is so clean you don't need anything, just find a fast moving part. So I gave it a try and filled my bottle right from a stream near a shelter. Two days later I was stuck in my tent with the worst cramps and nausea I've ever had, had to cut the trip short by 4 days. Never again am I taking advice from some random dude in the parking lot. Has anyone else ever fallen for that kind of bad advice from a stranger?

Picked the CDT over the PCT last summer and it nearly wrecked me

I had two months free and had to pick between the Colorado Trail and the John Muir Trail. Went with the Colorado Trail because I thought the elevation would be easier to handle. Big mistake. Day 4 I got hit with a storm near Leadville and had to hunker down for 12 hours. Lost two days total. The JMT probably would have been more predictable but at least I'd have been warmer. Anyone else choose a route based on weather assumptions and regret it?