c/backpacking-routes

Backpacker in the Sierras told me my water filter was overkill for short trips

I used to haul my 3-pound ceramic filter setup on every weekend hike, even when I knew there were streams every few miles. A guy named Dave at a campsite near Yosemite said I was just carrying extra weight for no reason and showed me his tiny UV pen that weighs maybe 2 ounces. Has anyone else switched to lighter water treatment and regretted it when something failed in the backcountry?

Had a talk with a retired ranger at Glacier last month that made me rethink my whole packing list

I was stopped at a backcountry permit office in West Glacier waiting for a walk-up slot. This old ranger, must have been 70-something, saw me stuffing a 65-liter pack full of gear like I was prepping for a month on Everest. He just laughed and said 'you know I did the Highline Trail in 1982 with a 20-pound frameless pack and a wool blanket.' At first I thought he was just one of those 'back in my day' guys. But he pulled out photos from his truck showing himself and his wife doing 50-mile loops with nothing but dried beans and a tarp. It hit me different because I realized I was carrying 15 pounds of 'what if' gear that I never touch. I dropped my pack weight from 38 pounds to 26 on my next trip out and honestly didn't miss a thing. Has anyone else had an old timer totally change how you see your gear loadout?

Tried that shortcut trail on Mount Whitney and ended up in a creek

Last summer I decided to take what looked like a direct route off the main switchback near Lone Pine Lake. I figured it would cut 2 miles off the day, but after 30 minutes I hit a marshy area that just got worse. Next thing I know, I'm knee deep in ice cold runoff trying to balance on a wet log. Learned that those 'shortcuts' on the map aren't always smart, especially when the snowmelt is still heavy. Has anyone else taken a bad detour that made the trip way harder?

Learned the hard way about water crossings on the High Sierra Trail last summer

I figured a creek crossing was just a creek crossing until I hit Whitney Creek in July. The water was waist high and moving fast, totally different from the calm stream it was on the map. Two hours later my sleeping bag was soaked because I didn't pack a dry bag for my quilt. Has anyone else had a river crossing catch them off guard like that?

Got completely turned around on the Tonto Trail last spring and it was a mess

I was hiking the Tonto Trail near Grandview Point around mile 8 when the trail just disappeared into a wash from some flash flooding. I spent 45 minutes bushwhacking through catclaw trying to find the cairns again, and my GPS was useless because the batteries died in the heat. Ended up backtracking almost 2 miles before I spotted the cut-off I missed. Has anyone else had trouble with that section washing out after heavy rain?

Overheard a guy at REI say he only carries a bivy sack on the PCT now

I was getting some fuel canisters last weekend and this older guy was telling the cashier he ditched his tent after Washington on his 2023 thru hike. Said he sleeps way better under the stars anyway and saves almost two pounds of pack weight. Made me think about my own setup which has way too much extra stuff I never use. I've been carrying a three person tent for solo trips for years now. Has anyone else actually tried downsizing to a bivy or tarp on a long route and stuck with it?

Some guy on the JMT told me to stop overpacking layers

Last summer on the John Muir Trail I had this 45 liter pack stuffed to the brim. Third day in I ran into this older hiker at a pass who asked why I was carrying so much. He pointed out I had three mid layers for a forecast that never dipped below 40. I dropped two of them at the next resupply and my shoulders felt way better the whole second half. Anybody else get called out for carrying too much stuff?

PSA: Watch your water sources near Silver Creek Pass

Last summer I was hiking the northern loop of the High Divide Trail and stopped to filter water at Silver Creek. A guy named Dave who was camped nearby came over and warned me that a bear had been dragging deer carcasses upstream about 200 yards. He pointed out the murky water and said he saw the tracks himself that morning. Has anyone else run into sketchy water spots like that on popular routes?

Spent 3 hours reading a map wrong because I forgot my glasses at the car

Last weekend on the Ozark Trail I took what I thought was a shortcut on the map. Turned out I was reading the contour lines completely backwards because I left my reading glasses in the glovebox. I hiked an extra 4 miles in the wrong direction before I pulled out my phone to check GPS. The whole detour cost me about 90 minutes of daylight and I had to finish the last mile by headlamp. Has anyone else had a dumb navigation fail that just made you feel silly for hours?

PCT vs. Colorado Trail: one clearly wins for a thru-hike beginner

I did the Colorado Trail in 2022 and the PCT in 2023. For someone who hasn't done a long distance hike before, the CT is the better choice. It's 486 miles vs. 2,650 miles, so you can finish it in 4-5 weeks instead of 5 months. The resupply points are closer together too, like every 3-4 days max. Way less planning and you get real mountains and alpine scenery the whole way. Anyone else find the smaller trails more rewarding than the big name ones?

Pro tip: stop relying on paper maps for water sources in the desert

I used to just follow my old NatGeo maps for water on the Hayduke Trail, but after a dry spring in 2023, I almost ran out two days from Lake Powell. Now I check satellite imagery from the last month and call the local ranger station the morning I leave. Anyone else had a near miss from outdated info?

Picked the PCT over the CDT for my first thru-hike and it changed my plans completely

That time a guy on the JMT told me to ditch my bear canister for an Ursack

I used to swear by hard bear canisters and thought anyone using a bag was asking for trouble. Then a thru-hiker in Yosemite pointed out my can was 3 pounds and taking up half my pack space for a 10-day stretch. Switched to an Ursack last summer on the Wind River High Route and honestly didn't have any issues with bears or rodents getting into it. Anyone else had a bad experience with a soft bag that changed your mind?

Hit 500 trail miles this year and it snuck up on me

I was just checking my GPS app last night after a quick 8 mile loop on the Appalachian up near Bear Mountain and saw my total for 2024 hit 502 miles. That's way more than I've ever done in a single year before, I barely even noticed because I just kept doing shorter hikes on weekends. Has anyone else had a milestone sneak up like that where you didn't even realize you were racking up serious distance?

Small win: finally got my pack weight under 20 pounds for a 3 day trip

I've been trying for almost a year to slim down my gear. Last weekend I did the Eagle Creek loop in Indiana and my base weight was 19.7 pounds. That's down from 28 pounds when I started. Swapping out my old tent for a tarp setup and ditching the camp chair made the biggest difference. My back felt way better at the end of day two. What piece of gear did you cut that made the biggest drop in your pack weight?

Why does nobody talk about trail erosion on the PCT near Mount Whitney?

I hiked a section of the PCT last month near Mount Whitney and the trail was way worse than I expected. There were these deep ruts from last year's rain that made it feel like walking in a ditch for 2 miles. I had to hop off to the side a bunch and that just messes up the plants even more. Has anyone else noticed sections like this getting worse on popular routes?

My buddy's comment about resupply weight made me rethink my whole Sierra trip

He said 'you're carrying three pounds of food per day but only eating two, that's a week of dead weight' and I realized I've been overpacking snacks for years just to avoid running out. Anyone else adjust their daily calorie goal after hearing something like that?

Nearly got stranded on the Hoh River Trail after a log crossing washed out

I was 8 miles in on the Hoh River Trail in Olympic National Park last October when a log bridge I used on the way in was gone after a sudden rain swell. Spent 2 hours scrambling upriver through thick brush to find a safe spot to cross, and my feet were soaked for the rest of the trip. Any tips for checking trail conditions before heading into a remote area with creek crossings?

The PCT stretch near Crater Lake went from dreamy to dangerous in 3 seasons

I hiked that section 2 years ago and it was gorgeous with clear water sources and solid trail markers. Came back last month and half the trail was washed out from those big storms, plus two creeks I counted on were totally dry. Seems like the 2022 wildfires changed the drainage up there and nobody updated the guides. Has anyone else seen a popular route degrade this fast where the maps just don't match reality anymore?

Ran into an old thru-hiker at a gas station who told me I was overplanning my PCT resupply

He said just mail yourself a box of instant mashed potatoes and peanut butter every 200 miles and stop worrying about town stops, which honestly made me rethink my whole spreadsheet approach after 3 years of armchair planning, has anyone else done the minimalist resupply thing and actually survived?

Spent $180 on a Garmin inReach Mini and honestly think it’s overkill for weekend hikes

Hot take: the JMT is way overrated compared to the Sierra High Route

I did the John Muir Trail last August and honestly, I was bored by the time I hit Muir Pass. Too many people, too much following the same dusty trail for miles. Has anyone else found the Sierra High Route gives you better views and actual solitude, or am I just being a snob about it?

That steep climb on the John Muir Trail near Muir Pass taught me a lesson

I was on the JMT last summer around mile 80, right before Muir Pass. The trail got super rocky and I was pushing hard to make it before dark. I had my pack loaded down with 45 pounds of gear and food, way more than I needed. After 12 miles that day, my knees were shot and I could barely walk the next morning. I ended up taking a zero day at a camp near Evolution Lake just to recover. Now I never pack more than 30 pounds base weight, no matter the trip length. What do you do when you realize your gear list is too heavy mid-route?

I think the AT is way overrated for beginners, actually

I keep seeing people push the Appalachian Trail as the perfect first long hike, but I think that's wrong. I met a guy named Dave at a hostel near Springer Mountain back in March who had never backpacked before and was so overwhelmed by the crowds and the constant mud that he quit after 3 days. The trail is so packed in peak season you can't even find a tent site after 5 PM, and the shelters are full of people snoring and fighting. Why do we keep telling new folks to start with the most popular trail when something like the Ozark Trail or the Colorado Trail gives you way more space and less pressure? Has anyone else seen a beginner burn out because of the AT hype?

Rant: That guy at REI who told me to skip the rain cover for my pack

Some dude in the gear section said a trash compactor bag inside is all you need, so I tried it on the John Muir Trail last month... after 3 days of steady drizzle my sleeping bag was damp and my clothes smelled like wet dog. Has anyone else had a liner fail them like that on a long trip?