c/backpacking-routes

My hiking pole snapped in half on the Pacific Crest Trail near Crater Lake

I was about 12 miles into a 20 mile day on the PCT in Oregon last month when my trusty old aluminum pole just gave out with a loud crack on a rocky descent. It snapped right below the grip, so I had to hobble down the trail using a broken stick I found for balance. Finished the last 8 miles looking like a total goof with a tree branch in one hand and a useless pole in the other. Anyone else had gear fail at the worst possible moment?

Picked the high route over the river trail on the Appalachian in Virginia last week

Had to decide between the roller coaster hills or the Shenandoah river crossing near Front Royal. I went with the hills because I wanted the views. Big mistake, my knees are still screaming after 15 miles of constant ups and downs. Anyone else regret skipping the flatter option?

Finally finished the JMT after 3 years of planning

I started dreaming about the John Muir Trail back in 2021, and last week I actually walked out of Whitney Portal with blisters and a goofy grin. The whole thing took 21 days and I messed up my food resupply at Muir Trail Ranch (packed way too many Snickers, not enough dinners). Anybody else struggle with food weight estimates on long routes like this?

Always carried a heavy 65L pack until I tried a 40L for 3 days

I used to think bigger packs were better for comfort, but last month I borrowed a friend's 40L Osprey for a 3 day trip on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. I packed way less stuff, ditched the extra camp chair and heavy stove, and my shoulders felt great the whole time. The 65L I normally carry just encourages me to bring junk I never use. Saw a guy with a 70L pack struggling on a steep climb and realized I used to be that person. Anyone else downsized their pack size and felt the difference?

Why does nobody talk about how brutal the Superstition Ridgeline is in June?

I always heard people rave about it as a epic Arizona hike but after doing 8 miles with 3 liters of water last summer I think anyone calling it legit must be skipping the exposed granite sections or going in February, has anyone else nearly tapped out on that traverse?

Spent 3 hours picking the wrong campsite on the Pacific Crest Trail

I was hiking near Mount Hood last summer and kept reading about this spot by a creek, figured it'd be perfect... turns out the map I was using hadn't been updated since 2015 and the creek was totally dry. Took me almost 4 hours to backtrack and find a decent flat spot with actual water. Has anyone else wasted a full afternoon on outdated route info?

That 8 year old backpacking route in the Sierras I used to love is barely passable now.

I hiked the Rae Lakes Loop again last month after skipping it since 2016, and the trail was washed out in at least six sections from all the storms, has anyone else seen their old favorite routes change that fast?

I finally switched my backpacking route planning style after a failed trip in Colorado

Last month I was planning a 4 day trip in the San Juan Mountains near Durango. I had this habit of just using downloaded GPS tracks from random blogs and calling it good. But that route had me crossing a creek at 4pm that was way too high from afternoon snowmelt. I had to backtrack 3 miles back to camp soaking wet and cold. That night I talked to a guy at a campsite who showed me his paper maps with waypoints he marked himself after checking satellite imagery. He also pulled up recent trip reports from a forum just like this one. I was convinced right there. Now I spend 2 hours before any trip cross referencing at least 3 sources and I always bring a physical map as backup. Does anyone else run into issues trusting GPS tracks from strangers online?

Backpacker in Yosemite told me to ditch my trekking poles for river crossings

I had shin splints for three days after crossing the Merced River with poles strapped to my pack because I slipped on a rock, so should I just use a single hiking stick instead for balance?

That old guy on the PCT who told me I was doing it all wrong

I was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail near Tuolumne Meadows when this guy probably in his 60s just stopped me and said my pack was too high. He said I'd have shoulder pain by day three and he was right lol. He showed me how to drop the hip belt lower and adjust the load lifters, and honestly it changed how I hike forever. Has anyone else run into a random stranger who totally flipped your gear setup?

Took a shortcut on the JMT because a guy at REI swore it was faster

Met a hiker in Lone Pine who told me to skip the trail up to Muir Pass and go cross-country over the ridge instead. That detour added 3 miles of loose scree climbing and I lost half a day getting back on route. Anybody else get burned by advice from a random stranger at a gear shop?

Warning: That $40 pair of gaiters from the discount bin at REI ripped on day 2 of the JMT

Just realized I've been planning routes all wrong for Denali

I kept looking at distance and elevation gain like I do for any other trip. But after 3 days on the Kahiltna Glacier last summer, it hit me that terrain type matters way more than miles. Everyone talks about how many miles per day they do, but nobody talks about how slow you go on a glacier with a 60 pound pack. I watched a group of experienced hikers burn out trying to do 8 miles in a day on soft snow. Has anyone else found that route planning needs a whole different set of rules for snow versus dirt?

Realized I was using my trekking poles all wrong on the Colorado Trail

Met a guy on the Pacific Crest Trail who carried a 60 liter pack with only 15 pounds in it

Hot take on the Appalachian Trail white blaze obsession

Everyone acts like you have to follow every single white blaze. I did a section near Harpers Ferry last fall. 14 miles of trail that zigzagged up the same ridge three times. I took the fire road straight down the mountain. Saved 4 hours. White blazers act like I committed a crime. Has anyone else just skipped the blazes and made their own call?

Hit 500 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail and it finally clicked

I passed the 500 mile mark last week on a section near Mount Whitney. I knew I was making progress but seeing that number on my GPS made me stop and think. It took me 23 days of hard walking to get there, with a pack that started at 38 pounds. How many of you actually track your mileage on longer routes, or do you just go by days out?

PSA: A retired PCT hiker told me to skip the bear canister on the JMT last year. Almost got fine in Yosemite.

He said rangers never check and it saves 2 pounds. I took his advice and a ranger checked my food bag at the Happy Isles trailhead. Anyone else get burned by old-timer advice on a popular route?

Was dead set against using a water filter on trail until I got giardia near Yosemite

I used to think boiling water was fine and filters were just extra weight. After three days of pure misery puking my guts out by Half Dome last fall, I dropped $40 on a Sawyer Squeeze and never looked back. Anyone else stubbornly skip the filter until something bad happened?

Found a cool stat about trail maintenance on the PCT

I was reading a report from the Pacific Crest Trail Association and found out that volunteers put in over 60,000 hours of trail work in 2023 alone. That blew my mind because I always figured most of it was done by paid crews or the Forest Service. Has anyone else stumbled on surprising numbers about how trails get maintained?

Found a shortcut on the Pacific Crest Trail that saved me 3 miles and a ton of elevation

I was hiking through the Sierra Nevada section near Kennedy Meadows last summer and kept seeing these faint side trails off the main PCT. Turns out some locals had flagged a route that cut around a huge switchback, dropping my day from 12 miles to 9. Has anyone else found random unofficial trails that actually worked out better than the official path?

Hot take: Sticking to the Pacific Crest Trail guidebook cost me a bad night near Kennedy Meadows

Everyone online swears by the Yogi guide for the PCT, but following it exactly told me to push for 22 miles to a specific campsite. I ended up hiking in the dark after 9 PM, nearly twisted my ankle on a loose rock, and the site was completely packed with other hikers. Who else has had a guidebook lead them straight into a mess instead of a good spot?

A fellow hiker told me I was carrying too much water and she was right

Last summer on the Eagle Creek Trail in Oregon, I had a 4-liter bladder plus two extra bottles. Another backpacker stopped me and said I was hauling way too much weight. She pointed out I could refill at streams every 2 to 3 miles, so I cut down to just a 2-liter bladder and a Sawyer filter. Dropped over 4 pounds off my pack immediately. My knees and back thanked me by the end of that 12-mile day. Has anyone else gotten a simple tip like that from a stranger on the trail?

Got caught in a surprise storm on the John Muir Trail near Muir Pass

I was hiking through Evolution Valley when the sky turned black in about 20 minutes. Had to throw up my tarp shelter behind a boulder and wait 2 hours for hail to pass. Has anyone else dealt with sudden weather shifts on exposed sections of the JMT?

Tried a shortcut through bishop pass and nearly got stuck overnight

I figured I could save 3 hours by cutting across a sketchy snowfield on Bishop Pass last weekend instead of taking the switchbacks down... but the snow was way softer than I thought and I postholed up to my waist four times before I gave up and backtracked. My legs were completely shot by the time I got back to the trail, and I barely made it to camp before dark. Has anyone else gotten burned by a shortcut that looked fine on the map but turned into a nightmare on the ground?