Showerthought: I finally get why out-and-back routes exist
I used to skip any route that was out-and-back, thinking it was a waste of time. Then I did the High Lake Trail in Oregon last fall. On the way back, I spotted a bear cub I totally missed on the hike up. It made me realize that going both ways lets you see the trail from a new angle. Now I look for routes with out-and-back sections to catch details I might overlook. It's made my trips way more interesting, lol. Who knew hiking the same path twice could be so rewarding?