Tried the Wind River High Route vs the standard CDT section last summer

I spent 8 days on the Wind River route and it was all off trail navigation and real alpine travel, while the CDT felt like a groomed park path. The difference was having to actually think about every step and route find instead of just following a clear line. Anyone else feel like some named trails are getting too tame for what they call backpacking?

3 comments

3 Comments

rivere521mo ago

Totally get what you mean about the groomed park path feeling. My buddy did a section of the AT and said it was like that. Then he tried a route in the Sierra off the JMT. He spent an hour just picking his way down one boulder field, said his brain was fried from looking for cairns and not twisting an ankle. He came back saying he finally understood real route finding.

clairee881mo ago

My cousin had a similar moment bushwhacking in the Olympics, just constant micro-choices on where to put your feet.

oliver_fisher1mo agoMost Upvoted

But that's the fun part, honestly.