Hit 500 trail miles in 2024 and it totally changed how I see my local routes

I've been backpacking around the Pacific Northwest for about 6 years now, mostly sticking to the same 20 mile loops near Mount Rainier. This year I decided to actually track every single mile I hiked using my phone's GPS app. By October I hit 500 miles, which shocked me because I never thought I was out there that much. That number made me realize how many good routes I've been ignoring within a 2 hour drive of my house. I started exploring smaller state parks and national forest trails I used to skip because they weren't 'epic' enough. Turns out some of those 8 mile day hikes have better views and way fewer crowds than the big name stuff. Has anyone else tracked their mileage for a full season and found a hidden gem nearby you'd overlooked?

2 comments

2 Comments

holly_price18h ago

Hitting 500 made me realize my GPS app lies about elevation gain sometimes.

wright.jesse18h ago

Try Strava instead. It's more accurate for elevation.