c/backpacking-routes

Just hit 1,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail section near my town and I'm kind of annoyed

I didn't even realize I was close until I logged all my weekend trips from the last three summers in Oregon. That's a lot of driving to trailheads and dealing with the same muddy stretch around Mount Hood every spring. Has anyone else passed a big number and felt more tired than proud?

Hit 500 trail miles in 2024 and it totally changed how I see my local routes

I've been backpacking around the Pacific Northwest for about 6 years now, mostly sticking to the same 20 mile loops near Mount Rainier. This year I decided to actually track every single mile I hiked using my phone's GPS app. By October I hit 500 miles, which shocked me because I never thought I was out there that much. That number made me realize how many good routes I've been ignoring within a 2 hour drive of my house. I started exploring smaller state parks and national forest trails I used to skip because they weren't 'epic' enough. Turns out some of those 8 mile day hikes have better views and way fewer crowds than the big name stuff. Has anyone else tracked their mileage for a full season and found a hidden gem nearby you'd overlooked?

Hit 100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail and it changed my mind about resupplies

I was dead set on carrying 6 days of food at a time, thought I'd save money and time. Then I hit mile 100 near Idyllwild and realized I was hauling way too much weight for no reason. My pack was 38 pounds and my knees were screaming. Now I just do 3 day stretches and hit towns like Warner Springs instead.

Redownloaded an old GPS file from 2016 and my 'epic route' was basically 4 miles on a fire road

I was cleaning out some old files on my laptop last night and found a GPX track from a trip I did in the Sierras almost 9 years ago. In my head I remembered this super technical, off-trail bushwhack through the John Muir Wilderness. So I pulled it up on Gaia GPS to relive the glory. Turns out it was just a flat fire road along a creek for 4 miles, then a short scramble up a boulder field. I was so embarrassed but also kind of laughing. Has anyone else dug up an old route and realized your memory totally exaggerated it?

The one water source planning mistake I see people make on the JMT

Honestly, I keep seeing folks on the John Muir Trail trying to carry 4 liters of water at once through the drier sections near Reds Meadow. That's just extra weight you don't need if you actually check the water reports before you go. I've done the trail twice and the key is to filter at every stream crossing you see, not just when you think you'll need it. Has anyone else found a better way to handle the dry stretches between Silver Pass and Devils Postpile?

A guy on the Salkantay trail told me my pack was way too heavy and he was right

I was maybe 3 hours into day one near Mollepata, already feeling the altitude and my shoulders screaming. This older dude from Oregon just walks up and asks what I'm carrying. I said like 45 pounds maybe. He said no way, you're probably closer to 55. I got defensive at first but then he offered to help me sort stuff on a rock. Almost half my bag was just 'what if' clothes and a tent that weighed like 8 pounds alone. He pointed out I had three pairs of pants for a 5 day hike. Ended up leaving a bunch of stuff with a hostel in Aguas Calientes. Hiked the rest with maybe 30 pounds including water. Whole trip changed. Has anyone else had a stranger's advice completely rearrange their packing?

Talked to a thru-hiker on the JMT who said most people quit by mile 30 because of blisters, and it made me rethink packing two pairs of socks instead of one.

She showed me the duct tape and moleskin she wraps around her heels before even starting, and now I wonder how many trips I could have saved if I'd just done that from the beginning instead of waiting until I was already bleeding - has anyone else got a pre-hike foot prep routine they swear by?

Found out the Pacific Crest Trail has a 45% completion rate and it kind of blew my mind

I was reading the PCTA's annual survey report last night and saw that stat, made me wonder how many people actually prepare for things like the Sierra snowpack before they start.

The time I got caught in a monsoon on the Four Pass Loop and it changed how I pack

Last July I was hiking the Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop near Aspen and got hit by a sudden storm above 12,000 feet. My rain jacket was buried at the bottom of my pack because I thought the forecast looked clear. I was soaked and shivering for 2 hours before I could get to treeline. So here's the debate: do you keep your rain gear accessible even on sunny days, or do you trust the forecast and save the space?

Unpopular opinion: paper maps beat GPS for route planning in remote areas

I used to rely 100% on my phone for trails, but after losing signal for 4 hours on the Rae Lakes Loop last summer, I switched back to topo maps and felt way more aware of the terrain. Which do you trust more when you're miles from any cell tower?

Just found out the Appalachian Trail has over 250 shelters and I thought it was way less

I was reading thru the ATC guide last night and saw that number, blew my mind since I always figured there were maybe 100 scattered along the whole 2,190 miles, has anyone else been surprised by how well set up that trail actually is?

Debate: Should you trust GPS routes or stick to paper maps on long trails?

I was hiking the Appalachian Trail in Virginia last fall and my GPS died halfway through a stretch, then I realized I had zero clue where I was without that little screen. On the flip side, a guy I met swore by paper maps and never got lost once. Which side do you land on when you're out there?

Debate: Should you share your secret spots or keep them locked down?

Met a guy on the Pacific Crest Trail near Crater Lake last summer. He told me he never posts his campsites online because he found his favorite spot trashed after a blogger shared it. But I argued that keeping quiet hurts the community, new hikers need tips to stay safe. He said a good route takes years to figure out and blasting it on social media ruins the experience. I get both sides but lean toward sharing with respect, like low impact practices. What do you do with your hidden gems, hold out or pass them along?

Found a stat that blew my mind about trail crowding

I was reading through some National Park Service data last night for fun and found out that over 3 million people hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2023. Not thru-hikers, just day hikers on sections. That number shocked me because I always thought it was mostly thru-hikers out there. I looked it up on the ATC website after a buddy mentioned how busy the trail near Harpers Ferry felt last summer. It made me wonder if the popular sections are getting too packed for a good experience. Has anyone else noticed a big jump in traffic on their local sections in the last few years?

Rant: Everyone raves about the Appalachian Trail but I think it's overrated

Hot take: the PCT is overrated and too crowded now

Last summer I was camped near a creek outside Kennedy Meadows and this thru-hiker named Dave came over to my fire. He told me he was doing his third PCT hike and hated how it felt like a highway now with 50 people a day passing through. Said he was switching to the Continental Divide Trail next year because you can actually go a week without seeing anyone. Anyone else feel like the popular routes are getting ruined by social media hype?

Got caught in a lightning storm on the John Muir Trail near Muir Pass last August

I was about 2 miles south of Muir Pass around 11,500 feet when the sky turned dark fast and the hail started. No trees up there, just rocks and exposure, so I dropped my pack and sat on my sleeping pad with my knees up to reduce my profile. The storm lasted about 45 minutes and I counted 8 seconds between flash and boom at the closest point. Has anyone else had to squat through a storm above treeline like that?

Backpacked the Wonderland Trail 10 years apart and it felt like two different places

I did the Wonderland Trail around Rainier back in 2013 and then again last summer. The trail crews have done a TON of work on the river crossings and boardwalks over that decade, but I also noticed way more people camped at the designated sites even on weeknights. Has anyone else noticed a big shift in how crowded certain sections got?

Hiked the Pemi Loop last weekend and realized the Franconia Ridge section is way more exposed than any map makes it look

I knew it was open above treeline but between the wind gusting at 40mph and the trail narrowing to maybe two feet wide with drops on both sides, I spent a solid 2 hours just focused on every single step instead of enjoying the view - has anyone else been caught off guard by how sketchy that ridge actually feels in person?

Got soaked on the AT last week and my map turned into mush

I was about 10 miles past the Springer Mountain shelter when a freak storm hit, and my paper map basically disintegrated in my hands. Had to backtrack using my phone's GPS which was at 15% battery - barely made it to Neels Gap before dark. Anybody else carry a backup map after a close call like that?

That guy on the Colorado Trail who told me I was 'doing it wrong'

I was 40 miles into a solo hike on the Collegiate Loop last September, taking a break to filter water by a creek, when this older dude in full ultralight gear walks up and tells me my pack is 'overloaded for this terrain.' He then spent 10 minutes listing everything I should ditch, even pointing at my tent like it was a crime. Has anyone else had some random stranger try to rewrite your whole route plan mid-trail?

Backcountry route choice: follow the ridge or drop into the valley on the Pacific Crest Trail?

I had this big choice last summer on the PCT in Oregon near Mount Jefferson. The ridge route looked faster on the map but had exposed sections with no water, while the valley trail was longer but had creeks and shade. I went with the ridge because I wanted the views, and honestly it was amazing but I ran out of water with 5 miles to go. Has anyone else gambled on a ridge route and regretted it or loved it?

Pro tip: Water crossing route I found for the John Muir Trail saved me 3 hours

I was trying to cross Evolution Creek last month and the normal ford was way too deep after all that snow melt. Found a log jam about half a mile downstream that let me walk right across without getting wet. Anyone else have a go-to dry crossing for that section?

Tried walking the Sierra High Route in June instead of August, big mistake on snow crossings

I figured going earlier would mean fewer crowds and cooler temps. But I hit a stretch near the Sawtooth Ridge where the snow was still waist deep in places. Took me 3 extra hours to go maybe 4 miles because I kept postholing and had to backtrack. What I learned is that the snowpack in the Sierra can stick around way longer than the guidebooks say. Has anyone else gotten burned by timing on a high altitude route?

Why nobody talks about how much trail weight kills your knees on day 3

I was doing the Rae Lakes Loop in Sequoia last summer. By mile 18 my knees were screaming. I blamed age, bad boots, whatever. Then I met this older guy at a backcountry camp. He was 65 and carrying a 22 lb pack. Total. I was at 38 lbs. He just said 'your knees are telling you something.' That night I emptied my pack. Threw out half my 'just in case' gear. Next day was night and day different. Now I weigh everything before I go. Anyone else have that moment where you realized your pack was way too heavy for the terrain?