c/backpacking-routes

Used to swear by my super ultralight tent until a freak storm in the Sierras showed me why a heavier one wins

My backpacking stove died 8 miles into a 3 day trip on the Appalachian Trail last month

I got to the shelter near Rockfish Gap around 6 PM, went to boil water for dinner, and the little valve on my cheap pocket stove just stopped holding pressure. No flame, just a sad hiss. Had to cold soak my instant mashed potatoes for 45 minutes which tasted awful. Anybody got a stove brand that hasn't let them down in the middle of nowhere?

Picked the PCT over the CDT in 2019 and still think about that choice

Back in 2019 I had to decide between hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail. I only had about 4 months off work so I went with the PCT because I figured the water situation would be easier to deal with. Honestly the desert section kicked my butt harder than I expected, like carrying 6 liters out of Tehachapi was no joke. But those nights in the Sierra with the full moon reflecting off the snow made it worth every painful step. Anyone else flip flop between long trails and regret NOT picking the other one?

Blew $75 on a 'waterproof' map case that leaked on day two of the JMT

I was so excited for my John Muir Trail hike last summer that I bought this fancy map case from a popular outdoor gear brand. It was supposed to be fully waterproof and keep my maps dry through rain and river crossings. Second day in, we hit a steady drizzle near Tuolumne Meadows and by lunch water had seeped right in. My hand drawn route notes were completely smeared and the map itself started falling apart. Total waste of 75 bucks, I could have just gotten a heavy duty ziplock bag for 50 cents and been fine. Now I just laminate my maps or use clear packing tape over the key spots. Has anyone else had a waterproof case fail on them out on the trail?

Overheard a guy at the trailhead say something that changed how I pack

I was loading up my car last Saturday at the Pinhoti Trailhead near Heflin, Alabama when I caught this older fella telling his friend "you carry your fears, not your gear." At first I thought it was just some corny hiking slogan, but then I started thinking about my own pack which is always way too heavy. I realized I bring a backup water filter, an extra stove, and like 3 lighters because I'm scared of something failing. Meanwhile he had this tiny pack and said he's done 800 miles on the AT with just a sawyer squeeze and a Bic. Made me wonder how much of my 45 pound load is just me being anxious about things that rarely happen. Has anyone else ever weighed their pack and found half of it was just backup stuff you never touched?

Which way do you go on the CDT says the AT vs. PCT debate

So I had to pick between the Colorado Trail and the Wind River High Route last summer. I went with the Wind Rivers because I wanted more remote stuff and less people. The trail was brutal though, 12 days of scrambling and no real path for 40 miles. Did I make the wrong call or should I have stuck with the Colorado Trail for its better markings and resupply points? What's your take on rugged routes vs. well trodden ones?

Tried the Wind River High Route last August and ended up bailing after three days of relentless hail storms

I figured the route would be fine with standard rain gear, but that constant sideways hail turned my map into mush and made navigation nearly impossible, so now I'm wondering if anyone has a go-to waterproof map case or backup strategy for alpine routes prone to sudden weather shifts?

Almost froze my toes off on the Highline Trail in Glacier last September

I took the Highline Trail near Logan Pass thinking I'd be fine with just a light jacket and some snacks. Around mile 5 a snow squall rolled in out of nowhere and dropped the temp by 20 degrees in ten minutes. My hands went numb trying to dig a dry bag out of my pack. Has anyone else gotten caught in a sudden weather shift on a popular route and had to turn back?

I finally picked the ultralight frameless pack over the framed one for the JMT

Last summer I was deciding between a Zpacks Arc Haul and a Gossamer Gear G4-20 for the John Muir Trail. Everyone said framed is better for long carries, but I went with the G4-20 because it was cheaper and I wanted to see if the hype was real. Turns out, with my base weight around 9 pounds, the frameless pack was fine even with 5 days of food. No sore shoulders, just had to pack it right. Has anyone else switched to frameless for a long trail and regretted it?

Took a wrong turn on the Long Trail in Vermont and ended up bushwhacking 2 miles off route before I realized my GPS had died 3 hours ago

I was scrambling over deadfall in the rain for about 45 minutes before I pulled out my paper map and compass, spotted a ridge line that matched, and managed to cut back to the trail just before dark with only a ripped jacket and bruised ego - has anyone else had a GPS fail on them mid-trip?

Quick appreciation for the Smoky Mountains - the quiet spots hit different

I hiked the less crowded Gregory Bald trail in the Smokies last weekend and there was a moment around mile 4 where I could actually hear the leaves rustling without any noise from other hikers, has anyone else found a specific stretch of trail that just feels completely untouched?

That GPS beacon I bought almost got me lost in the Smokies

I dropped $180 on a fancy personal locator beacon before my solo trip through the Smokies last fall. Thought it would be my safety net if things went sideways. First night out, the thing wouldn't get a satellite lock no matter where I set it up. Spent almost two hours messing with it under the trees while the light was fading. Ended up just relying on my old paper map and compass like I should have from the start. The beacon worked fine when I got to an open ridge the next day, but what good is that when you're down in a hollow? Has anyone else had a GPS device fail them at the worst time?

Vent: That supposedly easy 18-mile loop in Colorado turned into a 3-day nightmare

Last month I tried that 'beginner-friendly' Lost Creek Wilderness loop near Bailey. The guide said 18 miles and moderate terrain, but I hit snow patches in July and lost the trail twice. I ended up bushwhacking through willow thickets for like 4 hours, and my feet were soaked through my boots the whole time. Has anyone else gotten tricked by a trail that was way harder than the reviews said?

Debate: Should you plan every campsite or just wing it on long trails?

Did the JMT last month and had every site booked, but my buddy did the same trail a week later with no reservations and found spots fine. The ranger at Reds Meadow said half the permits cancel anyway, so are we overplanning or setting ourselves up for trouble?

That buddy who swore by sleeping on a closed cell foam pad changed my backcountry trip

My friend Mike told me last summer that closed cell foam pads are better than inflatables for cold weather camping in the Sierra Nevada at 10,000 feet. I ignored him and brought my inflatable, woke up shivering at 3am because the ground sucked all my heat. Anyone else have a piece of gear advice they wish they listened to earlier?

Walked 14 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail in cheap sneakers and lost both big toenails to blisters

Had to hobble the last 4 miles into Snoqualmie Pass and pay $40 for blister pads that did nothing because I thought proper boots were overrated, has anyone else learned this lesson the hard way?

Found a shortcut on the Appalachian Trail last month that saved me 3 miles

I was hiking the A.T. near the Grayson Highlands in Virginia and kept missing the side trail to a shelter... so I asked a thru-hiker who pointed out a blue-blazed path that cut off a huge loop. It went through a rhododendron thicket and ended up popping me right back on track after half a mile. Saved me about 3 miles and a lot of uphill. Anyone else find those hidden connector trails that the maps just don't show well?

Found a shortcut through the Smokies that shaved 6 miles off the AT

Been taking the standard route for years until a guy in Gatlinburg showed me a side trail near Newfound Gap that cuts straight to Icewater Spring Shelter, does anyone know if that path holds up after heavy rain?

I finally stopped ignoring the advice about lighter packs

Last month a guy on the JMT told me my pack was way too heavy for a 5 day trip. I had like 45 pounds in there because I brought a ton of extra clothes and a big camp chair. He said I should just use a sit pad and cut my clothes in half. So I swapped everything last weekend on a 3 day loop in the Smokies and dropped down to 28 pounds. My legs felt so much better at the end of each day that I'm never going back to the old way. Has anyone else tried a frameless pack after switching from a framed one?

Can we talk about the time I got lost on the Pacific Crest Trail near Donner Pass

I was hiking the PCT last August and took a wrong turn around Donner Pass... ended up following a use trail that faded into nothing after about half a mile. My GPS was dead and I had to backtrack 2 hours with no water left because I didn't fill up at the last creek. That day taught me to always carry a paper map and mark waypoints on my phone before heading out. Has anyone else gotten totally turned around in that section?

The day I realized I was packing my pack completely backwards for years

I was six miles into the Smokies on the Laurel Falls trail last spring when my lower back started screaming. I stopped to adjust my hip belt for the tenth time and a guy in his 60s just came up and asked if he could look at my setup. He pointed out I had all my heavy gear like my tent and cook kit crammed at the very bottom of my pack instead of up near my shoulders. I had been hiking with the weight hanging off me wrong for like four years and never knew. Anyone else have a random stranger totally change how you do something basic?

That dude on the JMT who told me to skip the bear canister was full of it

Met a self proclaimed expert at a Red's Meadow campstore who said just hang your food 15ft up and you'll be fine, so I left my canister at home. Day 3 near Thousand Island Lake I woke up to a fat black bear dragging my entire Ursack 50 yards through the brush. Anyone else ever trust bad advice from a random stranger on trail and regret it?

Rant: Tried skipping a switchback on the Highline Trail and it backfired hard

Thought I found a shortcut through some brush near the 3 mile marker to cut 20 minutes off my hike. Ended up losing the trail completely for an hour and had to bushwhack back down a steep ridge. Has anyone else tried a "shortcut" that turned into a nightmare on a popular route?

Read a forum thread about the Hayduke Trail last night

Someone mentioned doing a 30 mile stretch in Utah without seeing a single person for 4 days. I've been nervous about solo trips but that honestly made me want to try it. Has anyone here done a section of that route alone?

Some guy on trail told me I was killing my knees with my stride

Last summer on the John Muir Trail around mile 60 I stopped at a creek to filter water and this older dude just casually said hey you're landing on your heel too hard every step. I was like thanks I didn't ask but he kept talking and showed me how to shorten my stride and land more midfoot. I was pretty annoyed at first because I thought I knew what I was doing after years of hiking. Tried it for the next two days and my knees stopped aching and my pace actually picked up a little. Changed my whole approach to downhill sections now and I feel bad I almost snapped at him. Has anyone else gotten random unsolicited trail advice that actually turned out to be super helpful?