c/backpacking-routes

Unpopular opinion: The Pacific Crest Trail is way too crowded now

Hiked a 50-mile section near Crater Lake last July. Saw at least 40 people a day. Felt more like a city sidewalk than a wilderness route. Everyone talks about how great the PCT is but nobody mentions the crowds. Has anyone found a less popular alternative in the Pacific Northwest for long-distance backpacking?

Found a shorter route on the Lost Coast after 3 tries

I kept getting stuck at the tide sections near Sea Lion Gulch until I started going an hour before low tide instead of at it. The sand was way firmer and I shaved off 2 miles of scrambling over rocks. Anyone else found better timing on coastal hikes?

Spent 4 hours trying to dry my tent fly in a hostel drying room that was barely warm

I finally gave up and hung it from a ceiling fan in the dorm, which got me kicked out at 2 AM, has anyone else just packed up a wet tent and dealt with the mold later?

Got stranded 7 miles from my car when my inflatable pad blew out in Big Bend

Ngl I thought I'd be fine sleeping on the ground with just a bivy sack for one night. Second night near the South Rim trail the temp dropped to 38 and my deflated pad had me freezing against the rocks every time I rolled over. Ended up hiking back before sunrise with no sleep and a jacked up back. Has anyone else had gear fail mid trip and just had to tough it out?

Guidebook said take the northern fork - that was a lie

I hiked the Lost Coast Trail in California last summer. Got this fancy guidebook from REI. Said the northern fork at mile 12 was shorter and had better views. Took it. Big mistake. The trail disappeared after two miles. Had to scramble over wet rocks for three hours with a 40 pound pack. Tide almost cut me off twice. Finally found the main trail again near dark. That northern fork added like 6 miles. Guidebook author must have hiked it in dry weather. Anyone else find a guidebook route that was just flat out wrong?

Had to pick between the High Divide Loop and the Hoh River Trail for a 3 day trip last month

I was headed out to Olympic National Park and couldn't decide. High Divide Loop gives you those insane views of the Olympics from above, but the Hoh River Trail takes you into the rainforest with all that moss and giant trees. I went with the Hoh because my buddy said the wildflowers on High Divide were done for the season. Best choice I made. Saw a elk just standing in the river about 2 miles in, and the silence between the tree cover was something else. Anyone else ever regretted picking one route over the other?

Just found out the John Muir Trail has over 800 switchbacks total and I'm not sure I can handle that many

I was reading the trail stats on the PCTA website yesterday and that number blew my mind, has anyone tackled it and survived the endless zigzagging?

I used to think lightweight backpacking was just for rich people who hate comfort

For like 3 years I refused to spend more than $50 on a sleeping bag and carried a 45 pound pack on purpose because I thought ultralight gear was a scam lol. Then last summer I did the John Muir Trail and borrowed my buddy's $300 quilt and a frameless pack. I figured I'd be miserable but honestly after day 2 my shoulders stopped hurting and I wasn't dreading the next climb. The real kicker was when I weighed my old pack at the end - 38 pounds vs his 18 pound setup with pretty much the same stuff. Now I'm slowly upgrading piece by piece but I'm never going back to carrying a brick. Anyone else have that moment where you realized heavy gear just isn't worth it even if it's cheaper?

I finally caught myself doing that old classic water crossing mistake

After 15 years of backpacking the Appalachian Trail, I realized I'd been crossing creeks with my boots on and then complaining about wet feet for the rest of the day. A guy in his 60s at a shelter near Springer Mountain just calmly said 'you know you can take those off, right?' and it hit me like a brick. Anyone else stick to bad habits way longer than they should?

Old timer at REI told me water filtration was overkill for the Sierras

He said the streams were clean enough without a filter and I gave it a try on a 4 day trip last August. Got giardia by day 3 and spent 2 weeks recovering. Has anyone else run into bad advice from so called experts?

Warning: tried the Superior Hiking Trail last October and got wrecked by the lack of water sources

I did a 5 day solo stretch near Lutsen last month and thought I'd be fine filtering from streams. Turns out half the creeks were bone dry and I ended up carrying 6 liters for a 10 mile section. Anyone else run into this on the SHT or just me?

Three years ago I hiked the AT and still can't get over how bad the trail markers were in Maine

Last month I finally went back to try the 100 Mile Wilderness again after swearing it off in 2021. I spent two full days in the rain near Monson because I kept missing the damn blazes on those wet trees. Who thought painting white marks on damp bark was a good idea? Has anyone else had to backtrack for hours because of faded trail markers?

Finally stopped rolling my sleeping bag the same way my dad taught me

I was on Lost Coast Trail two summers ago and my buddy just stuffed his bag in a compression sack. He was packed up in 5 minutes while I was still fighting with mine for 20. Has anyone else ditched the military roll for just cramming it in?

Talking to a ranger in Yosemite made me question my whole route planning approach

She said 'most folks just follow the same three trails, but the real quiet is a mile off any of them.' I've been sticking to the big names for ages, but maybe it's time to look at the map differently. Anyone have a favorite 'almost there' spot they found by just turning off?

Overheard a couple at the trailhead arguing about a 'secret' route in the Tetons

They were going on about this off-trail pass that cuts a full day off the Teton Crest Trail, but the guy said it was 'for experts only' and his friend looked totally lost. It made me think, who decides what's a 'real' route versus some risky shortcut? I've seen so many blogs push these 'hidden gems' without any safety notes. Has anyone else found a suggested route that just felt irresponsible to share?

Honestly, I heard a group at the trailhead trash the entire Colorado Trail

They called it 'overcrowded and boring' after only doing the first 20 miles near Denver. Tbh, that's like judging a whole book by its cover. Has anyone else had a great experience on a less-traveled section of that route?

Update: I tried both the John Muir Trail and the Colorado Trail last summer, and one was a clear winner for me.

I did the JMT over 21 days in July and the CT in 28 days starting in August. The scenery on the JMT is unreal, no question, but the sheer number of people and the permit hassle really wore me down. I felt like I was in a line half the time. The Colorado Trail had way more solitude after the first 100 miles, and the trail towns like Salida were way more hiker-friendly. The ability to just start walking without a lottery win made the whole trip feel more free. For a long distance hike, the vibe and logistics of the CT made the experience way better for me. Anyone else done both and have a strong preference on which trail gives a better overall experience?

Update: The trail to Lake Serene in Washington was way more crowded than I expected for a Tuesday.

We saw maybe 50 people on a 7 mile out and back, which felt like a lot for a weekday. Anyone else notice popular routes getting busier on off days too?

Just hit 500 miles on my boots and the soles are still good

I bought these Salomon Quest 4D boots for a trip on the John Muir Trail three years ago. I've used them on maybe a dozen trips since, including a muddy week in the Smokies. I checked the mileage on my hiking app today and it said 503 total. I was fully ready to drop $200 on new ones this season, but the tread looks fine and there's no separation. Has anyone else gotten way more miles out of a pair than they expected? I'm wondering if I should just keep going or if that's pushing my luck.

A quick warning about those 'shortcut' trail maps

I was planning a three day loop in the Sawtooths and bought a set of detailed maps from a new company online for about $35. The maps looked great, but when I got on the ground, a key connector trail marked as 'clear' was completely overgrown and had been for years. I had to backtrack nearly five miles, which wasted a whole afternoon of hiking and meant I missed my planned campsite. Has anyone else had this happen with a specific map maker? I want to know which ones are actually reliable.

My buddy in Denver said to skip the switchbacks on the Mount Zirkel loop, and I should have listened

Just hit 500 miles on the Colorado Trail and it feels different

I was checking my trail journal last night and added up all my section hikes over the past three years. The total came to 500 miles exactly, which kind of shocked me (I never kept track before). It's not about finishing the whole thing in one go, but seeing that number made all those separate trips feel like one big project. Has anyone else had a mileage total surprise them and change how you see a long trail?

Got caught in a surprise snowstorm on the John Muir Trail last October

I was near Evolution Lake and the weather turned fast, dropping about six inches in a few hours. It made me completely rethink my late-season gear list and how I check forecasts. What's your go-to move when a route throws a major weather curveball at you?

Just realized my route planning was all wrong after a comment at the trailhead

Last month on the Lost Coast Trail, another hiker saw my map and said 'You're doing it in 3 days? That's a 30 mile beach walk with heavy sand, you'll be wrecked.' I had planned 10 miles a day like my usual mountain hikes. I changed it to 4 days right there, adding a night at Randall Creek. It made the whole trip way more enjoyable, not a slog. Has anyone else had a similar reality check about daily mileage on a specific terrain?

I finally understood my pack felt awful because I was ignoring my hip belt

On the third day of a trip in the White Mountains, a friend pointed out my hip belt was sitting on my actual hips, not my iliac crest. I'd been carrying all the weight on my shoulders for years. Anyone have tips for dialing in that sweet spot?