My last hike on the Appalachian Trail had me thinking about how crowded it's gotten.

I mean, back in the day you could go miles without seeing another soul, but now it's like a highway sometimes.

4 comments

4 Comments

That bit about it feeling like a campground hits home. I had a similar shock on a local trail here that used to be my quiet escape. Last summer I went to my usual spot by the creek, the one I told jordan511 about once, and a whole influencer photo shoot was happening right in the middle of the path! It totally wrecked the vibe. Makes you wonder if any place is truly quiet anymore. I've started looking at maps for way more off beat areas now, even if the hike is harder.

zara_wilson1mo ago

Try the old logging roads, @evafoster. They're usually empty.

mitchell.thomas9d ago

An influencer shoot blocking the actual trail? That's next level rude. They really set up right in the middle of the path? No wonder you're hunting for those off-grid spots now.

jordan5111mo ago

Man, a buddy of mine had that same thing happen last fall. He picked a spot that was always empty for his tent, and he woke up surrounded by like five other groups. He said it felt more like a campground than the middle of the woods. It kinda took away that feeling of being out in the wild, you know? He hasn't gone back to that section since.