The way I used to plan routes vs now is driving me nuts

I used to just grab a map and pick a trail in the Sierras near Bishop, no planning beyond that. Now I spend like 3 hours on CalTopo checking water sources, elevation profiles, and campsites before I even leave the house. It takes the fun out of it when I'm stressing about satellite images. Anyone else miss just winging it on a backpacking trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

finleym4320d ago

Doesn't it feel like everything these days has gotten that way? I remember when you'd just call a friend to see if they wanted to grab dinner, now you have to check three different apps to see what's open, look at their menu online, and read reviews before you even pick a place. Same thing with planning a simple weekend trip. We have all this information at our fingertips and it makes us feel like we have to use it, like we're being irresponsible if we don't check every single detail. But there was something good about just going, trusting your gut, and dealing with whatever came up. It made the whole experience feel more like an adventure and less like a checklist.

the_nathan19d ago

Yeah but the real downside nobody mentions is you end up with all this gear you bought because of those detailed route plans. I got a whole shelf of specialized stuff for trips I planned out perfectly and never actually took.