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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?
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the_vera3h ago
Vera stayed calm with a bear nearby? (Impressed, @brookem14)
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rosem743h ago
You hit on something big about how our focus changes. I had that happen on a long canyon hike years ago. I was so tired on the way back that I was just staring at my feet. That's when I noticed these tiny fossil shells in the rock that I completely missed when I was full of energy and looking at the big views ahead. It taught me that being tired or walking the other way forces you to see a different layer of the place. Now I almost enjoy that worn out return trip because it feels like a whole new trail.
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brookem144h ago
Wait, you saw a bear cub on the way back? That's wild to me. I would have been so focused on getting away from that area I wouldn't have seen anything. I guess your point about seeing things from a new angle is really true, but that's a huge detail to miss on the first pass. It really shows how much our focus changes depending on which way we're headed. I might have to give these kinds of trails another look, but maybe without the bear part.
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