Can we talk about how I used to plan every foot of a trail on maps vs now just showing up with a general idea?

I spent hours marking waypoints and calculating mileage for years, but after a trip in the Smokies last fall where my phone died and I had to rely on blazes and common sense, I started wondering if all that prep was just a security blanket - does anyone else find that loose planning actually makes the hike more enjoyable or am I just getting lazy?

3 comments

3 Comments

victor_jones9929d ago

Overthinking this a bit aren't you? Planning is mostly just common sense, not some deep psychological thing. If you know your route and carry a backup battery, your phone dying shouldn't be a big deal. I've done both extremes and honestly the difference isn't that huge. The real problem is people who show up with zero idea and then get lost or run out of daylight. That's not freedom, that's just reckless. So if you want to cut back on planning, fine, but don't act like it's some profound life lesson. It's just hiking.

sandraflores29d ago

People really do love turning a simple walk into a TED talk...

alice_hart27d ago

He's not wrong. People get way too philosophical about putting snacks in a backpack.