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A switch from the John Muir Trail to the Wind River High Route changed my whole idea of a good trip
I did the John Muir Trail last summer, and while it was beautiful, it felt like being in a line of people sometimes. You camp where everyone else does, you see the same views. This year I tried the Wind River High Route in Wyoming, which is mostly off trail. The difference was huge. Instead of a set path, you pick your way over passes and around lakes, using a map and your own eyes. I saw maybe five other people in a week. It was harder for sure, my pack felt heavy on day three, but it felt like a real adventure, not just a long walk. Has anyone else moved from big name trails to these less marked routes and felt the same way?
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logan6322mo ago
Yeah, that's the move. I did a popular trail out east once and felt like I was in a nature-themed conga line. Got off on some random side path just to breathe and it was instantly better.
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nguyen.dylan2mo ago
Read an article about "solitude hiking" becoming a thing for that exact reason. They said the side trails often have better views anyway.
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