c/backpacking-routes

Spent $40 on a printed map set for the Wind River Range and it was worth every penny

I was doing a 5-day loop near Cirque of the Towers last summer and my phone died on day two. The paper maps from Beartooth Publishing had all the off-trail passes and water sources clearly marked, which saved me a huge headache. Has anyone else had a similar experience with a specific map brand on a long trip?

Tbh, getting caught in a whiteout on the High Sierra Trail near Guitar Lake made me ditch my old 'just pack a fleece' rule for good.

Honestly, I was soaked and shivering for hours before a ranger found me, so now I always bring a proper waterproof shell and an extra thermal layer, even if the forecast looks clear.

Vent: My GPS died on the Lost Coast Trail and I spent 4 hours trying to find the right creek crossing

Honestly, the map showed a clear spot to cross Bear Creek, but the spring runoff made it a total mess. I kept walking up and down the bank looking for a safe spot, which wasted most of a day. Has anyone else had a crossing there take way longer than it should?

I used to plan my route around the guidebook's 'must see' spots, but a ranger in Glacier told me to check the park's real-time trail conditions page first.

Now I always check the official site for closures and water reports before I even look at a map, because last August I almost hiked 10 miles to a campsite that was shut down due to a bear incident, so what's your go-to source for current trail info?

I planned my entire trip around a 20 mile day, but my buddy's pack was half the weight of mine.

He showed me his gear list and I realized I'd been carrying a full camp chair and 4 pounds of extra clothes. Do you think a heavy pack is just part of the experience, or is going ultralight the only smart way?

My tent pole snapped on the Lost Coast Trail last month.

It was the main support, right as the wind picked up near Punta Gorda. I used a section of my trekking pole and some heavy duty tape for a field repair. Anyone have a good source for replacement carbon fiber poles for a 2019 Big Agnes model?

Serious question, has anyone else hiked the full 18-mile loop in the Gila Wilderness lately?

I was out there last month and the trail markings on the Middle Fork section were pretty much gone, washed out or something. Made route finding a real chore for about three miles. How are conditions on the other forks now, or should I just plan to bring a GPS next time?

I always thought the Teton Crest Trail was too crowded to be worth it, but a sunrise at Lake Solitude last month changed my mind.

I got to the lake at 5:30 AM after starting from Death Canyon at 3 AM, and having that whole view to myself for an hour made me realize the crowds are just a daytime thing you can easily avoid. Has anyone else found a way to beat the crowds on a famous route?

Shoutout to a ranger I met at the Cloud Peak Wilderness

I was set on doing the full 45-mile loop in four days, but she asked if I'd ever just sat by a lake for a whole afternoon. Said she'd done the route eight times and her favorite memories were from the days she didn't move camp. Has anyone else planned a big mileage trip and then cut it way back?

My uncle told me to skip the switchbacks on the Timberline Trail

He said cutting straight up the slope near Ramona Falls would save an hour. I tried it last August and ended up slipping on loose scree, tearing my pack, and adding two hours to my day. Anyone have a bad piece of trail advice they wish they hadn't followed?

Just realized I wasted $40 on a 'shortcut' trail map that was completely wrong

It sent me on a washed-out path near the Three Sisters Wilderness, costing me half a day of hiking. Anyone know a reliable, free map source for that area?

Appreciation post: The 45-minute map fold in a Wyoming windstorm

Trying to refold my paper map on the Teton Crest Trail with 30 mph gusts turned into a full-on slapstick routine, complete with me chasing it down a meadow. Anyone have a foolproof method for windy map reading?

Getting caught in a surprise snowstorm on the High Sierra Trail last June taught me to always pack a bivy sack, even on a supposed summer trip.

I was near Hamilton Lake when the temperature dropped 40 degrees in an hour, forcing me to hunker down in my emergency shelter for a full night until I could safely move again, so what's the most unexpected weather you've ever had to deal with on a trail?

Got caught in a surprise storm on the Teton Crest Trail last August

Honestly, I was about 15 miles in near Hurricane Pass when the sky just opened up. I had checked the forecast that morning but it changed fast. My old rain jacket soaked through in maybe 20 minutes and I got seriously cold. I had to bail down a side trail to a lower camp I hadn't planned on. Now I always pack a heavier duty shell and check a satellite weather app twice a day on trail. Has anyone else had a forecast totally fail them in the mountains?

Found out the John Muir Trail has a 90% completion rate and my mind is blown

I was reading a trail report from the Pacific Crest Trail Association website last night, just planning a section hike for next spring. Buried in the footnotes was this stat that 9 out of 10 people who start the full JMT actually finish it. I always pictured it as this epic, grueling thing where half the people drop out. Now I'm sitting here looking at my gear, wondering if my own head is the biggest obstacle. Has anyone else had a trail surprise them like that, where the reality was way different from the legend?

Took me 4 hours to find a decent water source on the Teton Crest Trail last summer. What's your worst water hunt story?

PSA: Getting a permit for the Enchantments took me three years of trying

I kept missing the lottery window or getting a bad date. Finally got a spot for next August after setting five phone reminders. Anyone else have a route they've been trying to book forever?

I got turned around on the PCT near Sisters because I was just following my buddy's GPS track.

Now I always check the actual map and compass for the next turn before I start hiking each morning, does anyone else have a simple routine to avoid that kind of drift?

Vent: My buddy said to skip the water filter on the Lost Coast Trail, and I almost got really sick

Switched my planned route in the Wind River Range at the last minute

I was set on the popular Cirque of the Towers loop but a ranger in Pinedale told me it was 'crowded like a city park' that week, so I took his advice and went for the less-traveled Deep Lake approach instead. Had the whole alpine basin to myself for two nights, which was way better than fighting for a campsite. Anyone have a favorite quiet alternative to a classic crowded trail?

My friend in Bend swore the 28-mile Three Sisters loop was too much for a weekend, but we did it in 48 hours with time to spare.

We started at 6 AM Saturday, took the Obsidian Trail shortcut he said to avoid, and were back at the car by 5 PM Sunday, which totally changed how I plan trips now, so what's a route someone told you was impossible that you actually crushed?

Spent $80 on a 'bear-proof' food canister that a raccoon opened in 5 minutes

It was a major brand, and the little bandit just rolled it down a hill until the lid popped... anyone have a better method that doesn't involve a bank vault?

Can we talk about the false summit on the Mount Whitney Trail?

I've seen three separate groups this season turn around at the 'Notch' thinking they'd reached the summit, only to miss the real peak by over a mile. It's a huge, flat ridge that looks like the top from below, but the actual summit is further along the trail. I watched a group celebrate, take photos, and head back down near Trail Crest last month. Has anyone else had to redirect people who made this mistake?

Rant: My tent zipper failed on the Lost Coast Trail last week

The main door zipper on my 3-year-old tent just gave out halfway through the hike. It was raining hard near Shelter Cove and I had to use a bunch of binder clips from my repair kit to keep the door shut. Everyone says modern tent zippers are reliable, but mine failed under normal use. Has anyone else had a major tent failure like this on a remote trail?

Pro tip: I saved a full day on the Teton Crest Trail by using a specific creek crossing I found on an old map.

I was trying to avoid the crowded Paintbrush Divide route last August and found a faded note on a 1990s topo map about a stable logjam across Death Canyon Creek, which cut off about 7 miles of backtracking and got me to Alaska Basin by lunchtime, so has anyone else found a legit shortcut that isn't on AllTrails?