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A trail runner on the Eagle Creek loop called my pack setup dumb, and it fixed my shoulders
I was 6 miles in near Tunnel Falls last month and this guy passed me going the other way. He stopped, looked at my straps, and said "your load's sitting back, you're gonna fry your shoulders by Cascade Locks." I blew him off at first but my shoulders were already screaming.
Turns out I had my sleeping bag strapped way down low and back instead of up top and close to my spine. Swapped it around at camp that night and the next day felt like a different pack. Also moved my water bottles to my hip belt instead of the side pockets.
Now I do a quick check before every hike and it takes like 30 seconds. Anyone else get called out on the trail and actually change something? What was it?
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the_sandra12d ago
Man, this reminds me of a trip on the Timberline Trail where some older lady told me my boots were laced all wrong and I totally brushed her off too. She said I had the top part too loose so my heel was sliding around. I ignored it for two more days and ended up with these huge blisters on both heels that made the last stretch miserable. Finally sat down at Ramona Falls and re-laced them the way she said, heel lock and all that, and it was night and day. I felt so dumb for not just trying it right there on the spot when she told me. Now I always double check my lacing before a big climb and I've saved my feet more than once. Funny how a random stranger can spot what you've been doing wrong for years and it takes like ten seconds to fix.
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