c/backpacking-routes

The loop around Lonesome Lake changed so much in 2 years I barely recognized it

I hiked the Lonesome Lake trail in the White Mountains back in 2022 and it was a nice moderate route with clear views of the Franconia Ridge. Last weekend I went back and the whole approach to the lake is different now. A beaver dam flooded about a quarter mile of the trail so you have to scramble up this side slope to get around it. The old wooden boardwalk they had is completely underwater and rotting. Plus the campsite near the lake had way more tent platforms than I remember, like 8 instead of 4. I guess the maintenance budget got cut or something in that time. Has anyone else seen a trail transform that fast from just weather and animal activity?

1 comments

lily511•1d ago

Debate: Push through a bad weather day or bail out early? Here's my story

I was on the JMT near Muir Pass last July, and around mile 80 the forecast said thunderstorms by 3pm. I had 6 miles to go to a safe camp, but the clouds were already rolling in dark. My buddy wanted to keep pushing, but I argued we should hunker down under a rock overhang and wait it out. He said we'd lose time and risk getting stuck overnight. We ended up splitting up, him going ahead and me waiting. He got hit by hail for 20 minutes and barely made it to the pass, while I waited 2 hours then cruised in dry. Which side do you lean on when conditions get sketchy? Has anyone else had a decision like this go bad either way?

1 comments

brian_ward55•7d ago

Ran into a guy on the JMT who changed how I pack my bear can

Last summer near Muir Trail Ranch, a ranger told me I was cramming my BV500 wrong. He showed me to layer stuff vertically instead of just shoving it all in. Now I can fit three extra days of food without leaving the lid cracked.

1 comments

barnes.jamie•8d ago

Debate: Should backpackers stick to established trails or is bushwhacking fair game?

Last month on the AT near Roan Mountain I ran into a guy who swore by off-trail routes to avoid crowds. But three years ago I got lost for 6 hours bushwhacking in the Smokies and had to use my emergency beacon. I get that popular trails get trashed, but going off-route can mess up fragile ecosystems. What's your take on where the line should be drawn?

1 comments

wesley873•9d ago

Got my hammock tangled in a tree branch at 50 feet up and spent 45 minutes trying to fish it out with a trekking pole before realizing I could just cut the line

The knot was so bad I actually yelled at a squirrel that stopped to watch me, and now I'm wondering if anyone else has a better trick for untangling gear from high branches?

1 comments

ben_lopez25•9d ago

DAE think the PCT water report is overhyped until you actually hit a dry stretch?

I planned a 50 mile section in Southern California last month thinking I could wing it with just a few caches I marked myself. Got to a spot where every listed water source was bone dry and had to hike 8 extra miles to a campground pump. Am I the only one who underestimated how crucial those crowd sourced reports really are?

1 comments

the_kevin•9d ago

Just realized tying knots on a wet tarp takes 3 times longer than I thought

Last weekend I was setting up camp in the rain and spent what felt like forever trying to get my ridgeline tight. The cord kept slipping and my fingers were numb. Ended up taking me close to 45 minutes just to get the tarp up over my tent. That's usually a 10 minute job. Anyone else struggle with wet rope or am I just bad at knots?

1 comments

michaelrodriguez•11d ago

Took a detour on the Ice Age Trail and found a hidden creek crossing

I was hiking the Ice Age Trail section near Cross Plains, Wisconsin last weekend and decided to skip the marked route for a bit. Ended up following this tiny side path that led to a shallow creek with these flat rocks you could hop across, totally not on any map I saw. It added maybe 2 miles but the whole area was way quieter and prettier than the main trail. Has anyone else found random unmarked spots like that on established routes?

c/backpacking-routes

The loop around Lonesome Lake changed so much in 2 years I barely recognized it

Debate: Push through a bad weather day or bail out early? Here's my story

Ran into a guy on the JMT who changed how I pack my bear can

Debate: Should backpackers stick to established trails or is bushwhacking fair game?

Got my hammock tangled in a tree branch at 50 feet up and spent 45 minutes trying to fish it out with a trekking pole before realizing I could just cut the line

DAE think the PCT water report is overhyped until you actually hit a dry stretch?

Just realized tying knots on a wet tarp takes 3 times longer than I thought

Took a detour on the Ice Age Trail and found a hidden creek crossing

That creek crossing in Yosemite last June changed how I pack

Spent $180 on a lightweight tent footprint and it ripped first trip

Broke my ankle strap on the PCT last month and it almost ended my trip

Got tired of muddy boots ruining every trip, tried a simple tarp trick.

Almost got stuck on the High Sierra Trail last July because I trusted Apple Maps

Took a wrong turn on the PCT and ended up in someone's backyard BBQ

I finally stopped filtering creek water after that old guide in the Sierras swore it was fine

I spent 3 years carrying a water filter I barely used on the AT

Shoutout to the worst day I ever had on the Long Trail in Vermont

Chatted with a guy on the Pacific Crest Trail last month who totally changed my gear approach

Spent 4 hours fixing a water crossing on the PCT last summer

Was real skeptical about using trekking poles for 10 years, now I get it

My water filter busted mid-trail and I drank straight from a creek

I finally had a perfect hiking day last weekend on the Appalachian Trail near Roanoke

Just realized my water filter failed halfway up Mount Whitney

Debate: Is it better to plan every mile or go with the flow on a thru-hike?

TIL I could get water from a cactus on the PCT