c/backpacking-routes

The old guy at Cascade Pass gave me the best shortcut advice I've ever ignored

Stopped to chat with a retired ranger near the switchbacks at mile 6 and he told me to skip Sahale Arm entirely and take the unmarked cattle trail down the east ridge, and even though I didn't listen and hit 4 miles of loose scree instead, I still think about that route every time I'm planning a trip up there has anyone actually tried that scramble?

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logan263•4d ago

My trail buddy's map critique made me quit relying on GPS

Last summer on the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier, my friend pointed out that I was staring at my phone every half mile and missing the actual scenery. She said, 'You're hiking the app, not the mountain.' I switched to paper maps and a compass for the last 40 miles, and turns out I noticed more landmarks, water sources, and even a better campsite near mile 62 that the GPS never showed. Has anyone else had someone call them out for overusing tech on trail, and did you stick with the old-school method or go back?

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harper_singh18•5d ago

Three days of fog on the Art Loeb, zero views, still worth it

Did the Art Loeb southbound last October and we had thick fog from Shining Rock to the Parkway, couldn't see 30 feet for three straight days. The weird part was how quiet it got, like the whole forest was muffled, and the trail markers really carried the route. Has anyone else done a ridge line in bad visibility and felt more focused than on a clear day?

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james_davis16•6d ago

That $140 ultralight tent lasted one night before the zipper gave out

Last summer I hit the Colorado Trail near Durango with a new ultralight tent I ordered online. It weighed just over two pounds, and the reviews raved about it, so I dropped $140. First night out at around 11,000 feet, the main zipper started catching. By 2 AM the pulls had split apart, and I had to rig the fly with spare cord just to keep the door shut. The wind came up and the whole thing collapsed until I propped it with my trekking poles. I finished the two-week trip but slept half the nights under a tarp I bought in Silverton for $18. The tent company offered a warranty replacement, but shipping back was $25 and they wanted a receipt photo, which was buried in an old phone. Has anyone else had a lightweight tent fail this fast, or did I just pick a bad budget brand? What do you trust for high alpine routes now?

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wendyk63•6d ago

Switched from campground hopping to one base camp and it worked way better

Did 6 days in the Trinity Alps last month. First 3 nights I moved camp every day like I always do, carrying the full pack and losing hours each morning. Then I set up one base near the Stuart Fork trailhead and did day loops with just a light pack. Cover way more ground, saw 4 more lakes, and slept better since I wasn't exhausted. My knees didn't hurt near as bad either, which surprised me. Anybody else find base camping beats a thru hike when you've got limited time but want to explore a bigger area?

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the_sean•7d ago

GPS offline maps are not a backup plan, they're the plan

Got caught on the Eagle Creek trail in Oregon last summer when my phone died at mile 6. I had paper maps but no compass skills. Now I carry a $40 backup power bank and actually practiced reading the map before hitting the trail. Anyone else rely on dead weight paper maps they never use?

c/backpacking-routes

The old guy at Cascade Pass gave me the best shortcut advice I've ever ignored

My trail buddy's map critique made me quit relying on GPS

Three days of fog on the Art Loeb, zero views, still worth it

That $140 ultralight tent lasted one night before the zipper gave out

Switched from campground hopping to one base camp and it worked way better

GPS offline maps are not a backup plan, they're the plan

The $75 water filter I almost skipped saved my Sierra trip

The hiker who gave me a power bar on the PCT after I ran out of water

Map app vs paper map on the JMT, paper won by a mile

Water filter shortcut saved my trip in the Smokies last fall

Water filter trick finally got me past the silty stretch near Glacier

Took me 4 trips to finally figure out water crossings

Gave up paper maps for GPS after getting lost 3 times in the Smokies

Just realized the AT in Virginia is all false summits and I'm done pretending otherwise

Bill from the trailhead forum was right about the JMT exit strategy

The Teton Crest Trail is better south to north, here's why

The John Muir Trail crowds pushed me to the Collegiate Loop

Trail maps used to be paper and pencil, now I stare at a phone

I finally stopped carrying 9 pounds of water on the JMT

TIL that elevation profile apps lie about that last 2 miles

My old 3-pound tent vs. my new 2-person bivy, one rainy night changed it all

That $60 water filter I skipped almost ruined a Sierra trip

Lost my compass near Glacier and now I bring two

Paper maps vs GPS, I flipped after a lost night on the PCT

The bear canister that turned into a bowling ball on the PCT