c/backpacking-routes

I thought old trail maps were useless until one saved me on the PCT

I always figured newer GPS data was all you needed, but last summer near the Sierra section I hit a spot where my phone battery died and the app kept glitching. I had bought a paper map from 2016 at a ranger station just for backup and laughed about it. Three days in, a stream crossing was totally different than what my digital route showed because of a washout. That old map had a faint dotted line around a ridge that turned out to be a safe bypass a local had marked by hand. It got me through a 4 mile detour that saved me from hiking into a closed area. Now I always carry at least one paper map no matter how good my phone is. Has anyone else found weird shortcuts on older trail guides that newer routes miss?

Chat with a thru-hiker outside Flagstaff completely changed how I pack my bag

I was fixing a strap on my old Gregory pack at a gas station and this guy who just finished the Arizona Trail stopped to help. He told me he ditched his cook system after the first week and just ate cold food to save weight. Made me wonder how many other 'essentials' I'm carrying that I actually never use. How do you figure out what's really worth the weight on a longer route?

Finally finished the Pacific Crest Trail section from Donner Pass to Highway 5 after three failed attempts over the years...

The difference this time was swapping my 60L pack for a 45L and cutting my base weight from 28 pounds to 19, and I actually had energy for the last 10 miles instead of limping in after dark.

Tried taking the Blue Ridge Parkway section between Asheville and Roanoke in early March for the solitude, but ended up stuck in a surprise snowstorm at 4,000 feet for 3 days instead.

What happened is my water filter froze solid on night two and I had to melt snow in my cook pot over a tiny camp stove for 8 hours just to stay hydrated, and now I'm wondering if anyone else has a trick for keeping gear from freezing when you're caught off guard by weather that wasn't in the forecast?

The zipper on my old REI backpack finally gave out after 15 years

I was three days into a week-long loop on the Uinta Highline Trail last August when the main compartment zipper on my old REI pack just split apart near the top. Had to rig it with paracord and carabiners to keep everything inside for the rest of the trip, which worked but was a pain every time I needed something. Anyone else had a favorite piece of gear fail on them mid-route and have to jury-rig it on the fly?

PSA: I wasted $400 on a GPS device for the Appalachian Trail

I bought a Garmin inReach Mini 2 for a 10-day hike on the AT last spring, thinking I needed the satellite texting and SOS. Turns out I barely used it - my phone with offline maps worked fine for navigation, and I only sent two check-in messages the whole trip. The subscription fees added up too, costing me $15 a month for a service I didn't need. Has anyone else regretted spending big on gear that just sat in their pack?

Hit 500 miles on the PCT this year and it totally changed my mind about section hiking

Wasted $180 on a portable water filter that clogged on day two of the PCT

I finally saved up for that fancy squeeze filter everyone raves about. First stream I used it on in the Sierras, it clogged so bad I couldn't even get a liter out before the flow dropped to a trickle. Backflushing did nothing, the sediment was too fine. I ended up using iodine tablets the rest of that trip and they tasted awful. Has anyone else had a high-end filter fail on them right when it mattered?

That $60 water filter I bought for the JMT in 2017 is still going strong

I dropped cash on a Katadyn BeFree right before the John Muir Trail trip and honestly thought it was overkill. Filtered 200+ gallons from that trip alone and it never clogged once. Meanwhile my buddy's cheap Sawyer mini froze on day 3 and cracked. Anyone else have gear that just refuses to die after years of abuse?

Just found a creek crossing shortcut on the Appalachian Trail near Roanoke that saved me 4 miles

Last month I was hiking through Virginia and a local pointed out this unmarked bypass around a big ridge, and I swear it cut out more than an hour of climbing, has anyone else stumbled onto a route like that that actually worked out?

Got roasted by a thru-hiker for my bear bag hang and now I do it different

Last summer on the John Muir Trail a guy in his 60s watched me toss a line over a branch and just laughed. He said my bag was way too close to the trunk and any bear could just climb up and grab it. He showed me the PCT method with a longer stick to get the rope further out on the branch. Has anyone else had their setup totally picked apart by someone with more experience on the trail?

Used to just eyeball water crossings like an idiot till a river in Colorado swept my pack downstream last June.

Now I actually take 5 minutes to scout for a safe spot and keep my dry bag sealed tight, anyone else learn that lesson the hard way?

Debate: paper maps vs GPS for the John Muir Trail

I used to swear by paper maps for 10 years until I got caught in a storm last summer on the JMT and my phone GPS saved me 3 hours of guesswork, but my buddy still says phones die and paper never fails, which side makes more sense for a 10 day route like that?

Why nobody talks about switching from a framed pack to a frameless one on the AT

I carried a 65 liter Osprey for my first 300 miles on the Appalachian Trail and my hips were bruised for weeks. Finally swapped to a 40 liter frameless pack near Harper's Ferry after a guy at a shelter showed me how to pack it right. Now I'm only carrying about 18 pounds total and my shoulders feel way better. Has anyone else made that switch and just can't go back to a frame?

Just stumbled on a stat about the Pacific Crest Trail that blew my mind

I was reading some old trail logs from the PCT last night and found out that less than 1 in 4 people who start a thru-hike actually finish the whole thing. That's a 23% completion rate for the full 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. It makes starting a 3 day section hike in the Sierras feel a lot more doable. Anyone else get surprised by stats like this when planning routes?

Almost got stranded on the Rae Lakes Loop after a storm washed out the creek crossing

I was at the first big crossing below Glen Pass and the water was already over my waist at 7am, and if I hadn't turned back right then I would have been stuck on the wrong side for days, has anyone else dealt with sudden creek swell on the Sierra high routes?

Spent 4 hours on trail in Olympic National Park before realizing my trekking pole locks were loose the whole time

I was adjusting my pace every mile thinking the terrain was just weird, but after finally stopping to check, tightening those twist locks took 30 seconds and totally fixed my stride, has anyone else wasted a whole day hiking with a stupid fixable issue like that?

Heads up on the Rae Lakes Loop vs the JMT stretch through Sequoia

I did both last summer and the Rae Lakes Loop kicked my butt way worse because of those back-to-back passes above 11,000 feet with no gradual climb. Has anyone else found the shorter routes are actually harder than the long ones?

Found a shortcut on the Pacific Crest Trail near Seiad Valley that saved me 4 miles

Last summer I was hiking the PCT and got to Seiad Valley, which is this tiny spot in California. I had been following the official route on my map, but a local guy at the general store told me about a old fire road that cuts off a big loop. He said it takes you straight up to the ridge and meets back up with the main trail after about 2 miles. I was skeptical because I usually stick to the marked path, but my feet were killing me so I tried it. Turns out he was right the road was overgrown but easy to follow and I saved maybe 4 miles of switchbacks. The views were actually better too because you come out above the tree line faster. Has anyone else found good unofficial shortcuts on long trails that are worth taking?

Met a thru-hiker on the Lone Star Trail who changed my gear list

I was hiking a section near Conroe last spring and ran into this guy who had been on the trail for 3 months straight. He told me he ditched his tent for a simple tarp and bivvy setup after the first week, saving like 2 pounds. We sat on a log for 20 minutes while he showed me how he rigs it with just trekking poles. Has anyone else tried a minimalist shelter like that for longer routes?

I hit 50 nights on the trail this year and it's not what I thought it would be

I mean, everyone talks about hitting big numbers like it's this huge life-changing thing, but honestly, after my 50th night out near the Sawtooths, I just felt tired. I was so focused on the count that I rushed a few trips just to get there, and I missed the quiet moments. Maybe it's just me, but I think the goal should be about the quality of the hike, not the number of nights. Has anyone else felt let down by a big milestone they were chasing?

Am I the only one who thinks the JMT is getting too crowded?

Three years ago on the John Muir Trail, I had long stretches to myself. Last week, I counted over 40 people at the Reds Meadow resupply in a single hour. Is it better to share these iconic routes or should we push for more permit limits to keep the wild feeling?

My dad's old hiking buddy told me to 'always follow the creek upstream' on a lost trail

I was planning a 4-day loop in the Gila and he said it with a straight face, like it was gospel. Has anyone actually tried that, or is it a surefire way to end up bushwhacking through a canyon?

Shoutout to the Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas

I had to pick between doing the full 26-mile loop clockwise or counter-clockwise last fall, and I went clockwise to tackle the tougher climbs first thing in the morning. It worked out great because I got the hardest part done with fresh legs and saved the river crossings for the afternoon when it was warmer. Anyone have a strong preference for which way they hike that loop?

I was sure the Wind River High Route would be too much for me...

I always thought those off-trail routes were for real experts, not someone like me who just does a few trips a year. But last August, I tried the first 40 miles of it starting from Big Sandy, and the navigation was way more straightforward than I expected with a good map. The views from Texas Pass were absolutely insane and made the scramble totally worth it. Has anyone else been surprised by a route they thought was out of their league?