Stuck between two routes on the Appalachian Trail and picked the wrong one

Last fall I had to choose between the 10-mile Grayson Highlands loop and the 12-mile Mount Rogers out-and-back near Damascus, Virginia. I went with the loop because it seemed shorter and I was running late, but I forgot how exposed those balds get in October when the wind picks up. Around mile 6 I was basically crawling over boulders while gusting 30 mph wind tried to push me off the trail. The other route stays in the trees the whole way and would have been way more sheltered. Has anyone else made a bad call based on thinking shorter equals easier?

2 comments

2 Comments

wells.karen7h ago

Would you have really saved that much time though if the exposed loop only took you 10 miles versus 12? Sometimes a shorter distance can still wear you out faster than a longer one that's easier terrain. Sounds like you got a good story out of it at least, which is more than you'd get from another boring hike through the trees.

ward.jamie4h ago

Whoa, hold on. Everyone's talking about distance and wind, but nobody's mentioned the cell service factor. On that exposed loop you're probably getting bars half the time, which means you can call for a ride or check the weather if things go sideways. On that tree-covered out-and-back you'd be totally blind and silent if you twisted an ankle or the temps dropped faster than expected. I've made the same trade off before and sometimes the "dumb" choice is the smarter safety net.