c/backpacking-routes

PSA: That 80 dollar water filter I bought almost got me sick on the JMT

Spent 80 bucks on a lightweight squeeze filter before my John Muir Trail trip. Clogged up on day three from silty water and I spent an hour trying to backflush it. Anyone else ditch those for tablets or a heavier pump?

That river crossing shortcut cost me $300 in gear

I tried to save 2 miles on the Lost Coast Trail by following a dry creek bed down to the beach instead of staying on the main route. Big mistake. The creek turned into a waterfall about 50 feet down and I had to scramble back up loose rocks, slipping twice. My tent got torn on a sharp stone, my sleeping pad punctured, and I lost a trekking pole somewhere in the canyon. That was a $300 mistake minimum, not counting the $60 I paid for a replacement pack liner at the outfitter in Ferndale. Has anyone else taken a "shortcut" that totally backfired like this?

California coastal trail vs Pacific Crest - big difference in water carries

Did the Lost Coast section last summer and then a stretch of the PCT near Seiad Valley this spring. Totally different game. On the coast you can filter every few miles so you carry maybe a liter. On the PCT I had to haul 6 liters for a dry 18 mile stretch. Felt like packing bricks. Has anyone else found the water planning makes or breaks a route choice?

Wasted $150 on a fancy water filter that broke after 3 trips

I bought that expensive squeeze filter thinking it would last forever. On the third trip in the Smokies, the O-ring split and I had to boil creek water for the last two days. Should have just gotten the basic Sawyer from the start. Has anyone else had a pricey piece of gear fail on them at the worst time?

Had a total turnaround on bushcraft-style routes after doing the AT in Georgia

I used to think lightweight ultralight gear was the only way to go, but hiking a 14 mile stretch with just a tarp and a ferro rod changed my mind completely. Saw how much more self reliant I felt when I didn't have a stove or tent, just a knife and some cordage. Anyone else ditch the fancy gear for a more primitive approach on their last trip?

Paid $40 for a 'waterproof' map of the Appalachian Trail

Got completely soaked in a light drizzle near Roan Mountain last week and the ink literally ran off the paper like a bad watercolor. Has anyone else had a map turn into a pile of mush on them?

That guy at REI told me I needed waterproof boots for the Inca Trail and he was wrong.

Back in 2019 I did the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Some sales person at REI insisted I get Gore-Tex boots because of rain. Wore them for 4 days and my feet were soaked anyway from sweat. The rest of my group had cheap trail runners and they dried out fast. Has anyone else had better luck with non-waterproof shoes on wet hikes?

Picked the John Muir Trail over the Pacific Crest Trail for a 10 day stretch last August

I had 10 days off and couldn't decide between doing a long section of the PCT in NorCal or a full JMT section from Reds Meadow to Whitney Portal. Went with the JMT because permits were easier to get on short notice. The stretch through Evolution Valley was worth it but the altitude near Muir Pass kicked my ass way more than I expected. Did I miss out by skipping the PCT that time? Anyone else had to choose between those two and regret it?

Chose the Smokies over the Sierras for a 5 day solo trip back in 2014 and honestly I still wonder if I picked wrong when I see photos of the High Sierra camps.

I went with the Smokies because it was closer and cheaper but the trail was way more crowded than I expected, has anyone else picked convenience over a dream route and regretted it or was it just me?

I finally tried that 'go slow to go fast' advice on a 40 mile stretch of the AT

Some guy at a shelter in Virginia kept telling me to drop my pace from 4 mph to 2 mph on steep terrain. I thought he was just slow and wanted company. But after twisting my ankle near Hawksbill Gap I finally slowed down and skipped the next 3 days of pain meds. Has anyone else seen real results from pacing yourself like that?

PSA: My boot sole delaminated halfway up Mount Whitney last month

I was about 2 miles from the summit when I felt something flapping under my foot. Looked down and the entire rubber sole was peeling off from the toe. I had to finish the hike with my boot taped together using emergency repair kit strips and a shoelace. Anyone else carry backup glue or tape for trail repairs now?

Got told the PCT is "overrated" by a guy who had only done weekend trips in the Sierras

Ran into this older guy at a gear shop in Bend last Saturday. He was telling me the PCT is just a crowded social trail now and he'd rather do his own thing. I asked him how many thru-hikes he'd done and he said none, just a few 3 day trips. Felt like he was missing the whole point of how a long trail changes you. Has anyone else run into people who trash talk routes they've never actually done the full length of?

Met a guy on the PCT near Crater Lake who changed my whole packing list

Last summer I was hiking the Oregon section and camped next to this older fella who had the lightest pack I've ever seen. He told me he ditched his tent for a simple tarp and groundsheet years ago and never looked back. Showed me how he set it up in under 2 minutes using only trekking poles. Got me thinking - what's the one thing you guys carry that you're pretty sure you could leave behind?

Warning: Don't fall for cheap backpacking tent deals online

I saw a $40 tent on sale and thought I was saving big, but it ripped apart my first night in the Smokies last fall. Lost the tent and had to hike 4 miles back to the car in rain because the poles snapped in a light wind. Anyone else waste cash on a deal that just wasn't worth it?

Took a shortcut on the Sierra High Route near Bishop and it backfired badly

I thought I could cut off 3 miles by following a side creek drainage instead of going over the pass. Ended up bushwhacking through alder thickets for 2 hours and had to turn back. Anybody else try to save time on that stretch and just make things worse?

Appreciation post: that trail angel near the Sierra Crest

I was hiking the JMT last summer and ran out of water 3 miles from the next source. This older guy named Pete pulled out his extra filter and said, 'That's why I always carry a backup.' I still pack a spare filter on every trip now.

Okay, the West Coast Trail water access debate is real

I hiked the southern half of the West Coast Trail last August and kept hitting creek crossings where the water was either totally dry or a muddy trickle. Meanwhile, other campers were filtering from big standing pools and didn't see the issue. So which is better for a route like that, packing in your own water or relying on what you find and treating it?

Nearly got lost in the Smokies because of a dead phone battery

Last Saturday I was hiking Gregory Bald in the Smokies and my phone died around 3pm. I had the GPX file saved but my battery went from 40% to zero in like ten minutes. I had to pull out my old paper map and compass and try to remember how to triangulate my position from a ridge. Took me nearly two hours to find the right trail down. Has anyone else had to bust out the paper maps because tech failed them mid-route?

Used to plan every mile on a topo map before a trip, now I just download a GPX file and go

What changed for you-did you ditch the paper maps for good or still pull one out when the trail gets sketchy?

Vent: I keep seeing people mess up the High Sierra Trail mileage and it drives me nuts

Okay, so I just got back from the High Sierra Trail and I've been reading trip reports online. A LOT of people are saying it's a flat 72 miles from Crescent Meadow to the top of Whitney. That is just NOT true if you're actually backpacking the whole route. The official trail is 72 miles, but that's just to the summit trail junction. You have to add the 11 miles from there to the Whitney summit AND back down to Whitney Portal to finish. That's 94 miles minimum, not counting any side trips. I planned for 72 on my first try years ago and had to cut my food short, which was a huge mistake. It matters because if you're packing for 6 days thinking it's 72, you're going to be really hungry or have to rush. I learned this the hard way after my own bad trip and now I always check the NPS site for the real numbers. Has anyone else seen this kind of mileage mix-up on other big trails?

Hot take: The John Muir Trail is overrated and I met a guy in Yosemite who proved it

I was at the Tuolumne Meadows permit office last August and this older guy, Mark, saw me looking at the JMT map. He said, 'You want real views without the 200-person line for Whitney? Go over Bishop Pass instead, you'll see three alpine lakes in the first 8 miles and maybe two other people.' I tried his route and it was insane, way better than fighting the crowds. Anyone else have a local tip that totally changed a famous trail for them?

I finally looked at my yearly trail miles and the number shocked me

I hit 850 miles across 12 different routes this year, which is way more than I ever thought I could do. It made me realize I was focusing too much on single big trips instead of all the smaller weekend hikes adding up. Anyone else surprised by their total distance when they added it all together?

TIL the actual mileage of the John Muir Trail is different than I always thought

I was planning a trip and reading the official NPS page for the trail. It clearly states the total distance is 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney. For years, I'd heard and repeated the round number of 220 miles from other hikers and blogs. That 9-mile difference might not sound like much, but it changes my daily mileage targets and food carry calculations. Has anyone else had their planning thrown off by a common piece of trail info being wrong?

A ranger in Yosemite told me my pack was too heavy and I finally listened

My map reading mistake in the Sawtooths cost me a whole afternoon

I misread the contour lines near Thompson Peak and ended up bushwhacking for 3 hours before finding the actual trail. Has anyone else had a similar navigation hiccup in that range?