c/backpacking-routes

Water crossing on the JMT took me 5 hours longer than planned

I planned for the usual creek fords but hit a spot near Evolution Creek where the runoff was way higher than the guidebooks said. I kept trying to find a safe crossing and ended up backtracking almost 2 miles. Took me from 9 AM to 2 PM just to get across. Next time I'm checking snowpack reports before I leave, not just the trail apps. Has anyone else had a river crossing blow up their daily mileage like that?

Muir Trail or JMT segment, I picked the shorter loop and saved my knees

Last summer I planned 10 days on the John Muir Trail but my buddy convinced me to do a 60 mile loop near Rae Lakes instead. I was worried about missing the classic trail, but we saw way fewer people and the fishing was insane. My knees felt fine the whole way, while my other friend who did the full JMT came back limping. Has anyone else swapped a famous route for a less known loop and ended up happier?

It took 12 years and a flooded tent to realize my rain fly setup was backwards

I always pitched the fly tight and low, thought that was the whole game. Got caught in a downpour near Moab last spring and woke up in a puddle inside my vestibule. Turns out I needed to loosen the corners and let air flow under the edges, not seal it all up. Condensation was the real enemy, not the rain coming in. Who else figured out a basic camping habit they'd been messing up for way too long?

Spent 45 minutes untangling my bear bag line because I tied it wrong at Yosemite

Turns out the whole reason my line kept slipping was that I was using a clove hitch instead of a proper tautline knot, and I only figured it out after a ranger walked by and laughed, has anyone else wasted a ridiculous amount of time on something this simple out there?

Used to doubt paper maps, now I carry one on every trip

Back in 2019 I did the Lost Coast trail in California and my phone died on day 2. I had the route saved but no backup, ended up backtracking 4 miles to a ranger station. After that I bought a decent topo map for like $12 and practiced with it on a few weekend hikes near Tahoe. Took maybe 3 trips to really get comfy with contour lines and pace counting. Now I bring one even on short overnights, just in case. Any of you still carry paper or am I the only old head left?

Salt Lake City trail map lied to me and I paid for it with a 12 mile detour

The marker showed a creek crossing at mile 4 but it was dry bedrock with a 60 foot drop, so I backtracked to the highway and hitched into town at 9pm, anyone else trust those county PDFs more than the actual ground?

That $60 water filter I bought in Flagstaff almost killed my trip

Last month I did a 4 day stretch on the Arizona Trail. I grabbed one of those cheaper squeeze filters at a gear shop in Flagstaff because my usual one broke. First day it clogged on some silty creek water and I spent 3 hours trying to backflush it. Ended up boiling water over a fire for 2 days just to stay safe. Next time I'm spending the extra $40 for a gravity setup or at least testing it before I hit the trail. Anyone else get burned by a new filter they didn't try first?

Trail angel near Cascade Locks gave me a lesson in pack weight

Last August I was hiking the PCT section around Cascade Locks and my shoulders were killing me. This older guy at a camp spot saw me struggling to lift my 45 pound pack and just laughed, said 'you're carrying your fears, not your gear.' He showed me his setup, everything weighed under 18 pounds including a three day food bag. He let me hold his titanium pot and I felt stupid for packing that cast iron skillet I never used. Has anyone else had a random stranger completely change how they pack?

A hiker in Glacier told me to trash my trail snacks, best advice ever

He spotted me munching a granola bar at Many Glacier and said 'bears can smell that from a mile, granola AND your wrapper stay on you all day,' so I swapped to a sealed ziplock with jerky for the Highline Trail, anyone else changed their food routine after a stranger scared you straight?

Mount Whitney via the Mountaineers Route vs the main trail, which gamble pays off?

Last July I had two days for a Whitney summit and flip-flopped until the parking lot. I chose the Mountaineers Route for the challenge, but the loose scree and route-finding ate 2 extra hours, almost missing my permit window. The main trail is boring but reliable, while the Mountaineers Route is thrilling but risky in afternoon lightning. For someone who values certainty over adrenaline, is the classic trail the smarter pick every time, or do you folks have a rule for when the extra risk is worth it?

Ditched paper maps for GPS after a night in the Smokies

I used to swear by paper maps, thought GPS was for people who couldn't read contours. Then last fall I got caught in fog on the AT near Clingmans Dome, visibility dropped to like 20 feet and my map was useless for pinpointing where the trail split. Pulled out my phone with the Gaia app, found the junction in 2 minutes, and got to the shelter by dark. It took that one scary night to flip my opinion, now I carry both but trust the screen first. Anyone else have a moment that killed their old-school habit?

Desert route in October made me dump my water filter

Trail reroute near Glacier changed my whole trip plan

Last August I hiked the Highline Trail out of Many Glacier and the new switchback section added 2 miles compared to the old route marked on my 2019 map. The reroute was due to a landslide that took out the old cliff section, and it pushed my campsite arrival from 4 PM to after dark. Has anyone else dealt with outdated maps on popular routes that got rerouted without much notice?

Old trail markers vanished near Mount Adams, GPS saved the day

Last weekend I hiked the loop past Mount Adams and noticed the painted blazes on the rocks are almost gone. The Forest Service must have stopped repainting them a few years back, and now you have to guess where the path bends near the second creek crossing. My map got soaked in a sudden shower around mile 4, so I pulled out my phone and thankfully had the route saved offline. It added maybe 20 minutes of backtracking near that old beaver pond, which I never had to deal with back in the 90s. The trail itself is still fine, just the markings are fading, and I wonder if they plan to replace them with something more permanent. Has anyone else run into this on other long-distance trails in the region?

The rainy day I finally trusted my gut near the Snoqualmie Pass

Back in April, I was doing the Pacific Crest Trail section from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass, and the forecast said drizzle, but by noon it was a proper downpour with visibility down to maybe 50 feet. I pulled off to a side trail that didn't match my map, but the ground felt solid and the trees gave good cover, so I set up camp there instead of pushing the extra 4 miles as planned. The next morning I found out that the regular route had a washed-out bridge, so I want to ask, how do you all decide when to stick to the plan versus when to make a call like that?

My water filter cracked at 11,000 feet on the JMT last week...

I was filtering water from a creek near Guitar Lake when the pump handle just snapped off in my hand. Had to boil everything for the last two days... anyone else carry a backup filter for high elevation trips?

My tent pole snapped on the first night of the JMT last July

Was 8 miles into a 14 day solo hike and one of the aluminum poles just cracked in half. Used duct tape and a trekking pole to prop it up for the rest of the trip, but it was super annoying. Anyone have a brand of poles that actually held up in windy conditions?

Stop ignoring the switchback count on steep climbs

I keep seeing people post routes that cut straight up a 40 degree slope instead of taking the marked switchbacks. Last Saturday on the Mount Whitney trail, I passed three groups who were sliding on loose gravel and kicking rocks down on hikers below. Meanwhile, I took the 22 switchback section and got to the summit just 10 minutes slower but with way less risk. Why do so many people think stomping a straight line up is faster when it just tears up the trail and your calves?

Had a brutal 50 mile stretch on the Pacific Crest Trail near Etna last August

I was 5 days in with blisters forming and hit a section where all the water sources were dried up after a hot spell. Had to carry 6 liters for 18 miles and the weight wrecked my knees on the downhill. Anyone else hit a dry stretch that forced you to rethink your water carry strategy?

I always thought the John Muir Trail was overhyped until I did the section from Yosemite to Devil's Postpile last July

The water crossings alone changed my mind, especially that knee-deep one near the Island Pass junction where I slipped on a rock and ended up with my boots soaked for two days straight anyone else have a section of trail that totally flipped their opinion?

TIL the Pacific Crest Trail has over 1,000 miles without reliable water

I was planning a section hike for next summer. Started looking at the PCT water report. Turns out from the Sierra to the border it's like a desert. Over 1,000 miles where you gotta carry 6 liters or more. Found that stat on the PCTA website. Blew my mind. Anyone else get surprised by water carries on long trails?

Vent: That ranger in Yosemite told me not to take the shortcut down Cloud's Rest, and I should've listened

He warned me the 1 mile alternate was steep loose scree with no trail markings, but I thought I could save an hour and ended up sliding 30 feet down a rock chute and busting my ankle, does anyone else ignore advice from park staff and regret it instantly?

That $450 ultralight tent was a total waste of my money

I bought the Hyperlite Ultamid 2 last spring after everyone in the forums swore it was the best thing since sliced bread. Took it on a 5 day trip on the John Muir Trail and the condensation was so bad I woke up soaked three mornings in a row. For that price I expected something that at least breathes, but it was like sleeping in a plastic bag. Has anyone else found a decent alternative that doesn't cost a fortune and actually works in humid conditions?

Got chased by a wild boar on the Ozark Trail last month

I was hiking the Blair Ridge section near the Middle Fork of the Black River around 4 PM. Came around a bend and surprised a mother boar with her babies. She snorted once and then charged straight at me. I dropped my trekking pole and scrambled up this low-hanging oak tree branch like I was 12 again. Sat up there for 20 minutes while she circled below grunting and snorting. Eventually she wandered off with her piglets. When I climbed down my legs were shaking so bad I had to sit for another 10 minutes before I could walk. My friend still laughs about the video I tried to take where it's just shaky footage of leaves and me breathing heavy. Has anyone else had a close call with wildlife that made you question your life choices?

Went back to the PCT near Donner Pass last weekend and found something wild

I hiked the same 3 mile stretch I did five years ago and the trail markers were completely different. They replaced the old wooden posts with these metal ones that blend right into the trees. Caught me off guard because I was relying on memory and took a wrong turn twice. Has anyone else run into trail markers getting swapped out on a familiar route?