c/backpacking-routes

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

I was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail near Donner Pass last August and missed a switchback. Thirty minutes later I walked straight into a family reunion happening in a backyard. The dad was flipping burgers and just handed me one without even asking. I stood there eating a burger with my backpack on while a kid asked if I was a cryptid. Turned out the trail was rerouted due to a washout and I missed the sign. Has anyone else ever accidentally stumbled into a non-trail situation on a route?

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

Three days into the Rae Lakes Loop I ran out of tablets and drank straight from the stream, and I did not get sick at all, so has anyone else ditched their filter on a well-known route and regretted it later?

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

I hiked about 400 miles of the Appalachian Trail before I realized I was wasting time and energy. I had this heavy pump filter that took forever to use, so I'd skip treating water from streams and just carry more from shelters. Then a guy at a campsite in Virginia showed me his simple squeeze bag setup. He filtered a liter in maybe 30 seconds flat while I was still pumping away. I switched to a Sawyer Squeeze the next week and cut my water break time in half. The kicker is I could have asked someone sooner but I thought my way was fine. Has anyone else had a gear habit that took way too long to break?

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

Day 4 near Killington was brutal. Rained nonstop for 14 hours and I slipped crossing a stream, soaking my sleeping bag completely. Had to hike 12 miles to a shelter with everything wet and heavy. Has anyone else had a day that made them almost quit a route mid trip?

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

He was about 60, carrying a beat-up Jansport and a tarp, and said he'd hiked over 2,000 miles without ever buying a fancy sleeping pad. Told me 'you don't need a 4-pound tent, you just need to not care about being comfortable for a few nights.' Made me wonder - how bare-bones have you gone on a route and still had a good time?

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

I was hiking the John Muir Trail section near Evolution Creek and the normal crossing was way too high from snowmelt. Took me 2 hours just scouting up and down the bank for a safer spot. Then another 2 hours trying to keep my gear dry while crossing on a fallen log. By the time I got across it was almost dark and I had to set up camp in a hurry. Anyone else ever waste half a day on a single creek crossing?

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

I always thought trekking poles were just extra weight for people who didn't know how to balance right, but after a 14 mile day on the Superior Hiking Trail with a 40 pound pack, my knees were screaming at me. A buddy handed me his spare poles for the last 3 miles and I swear it felt like I was walking on air going downhill. Has anyone else had a gear thing they avoided forever that turned out to be a total game changer?

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

Was hiking the Laurel Highlands Trail last Saturday. Three miles from the next shelter. My Sawyer filter cracked right at the O-ring. Water started dripping everywhere. Had no backup. So I just cupped my hands and drank from a clear looking stream. Got lucky no giardia. Anyone else trust their luck when gear fails out there?

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

After months of rain and muddy boots, last Saturday gave me 14 miles of dry trail, 65 degree temps, and zero bugs (which never happens in Virginia in June). The ridge walk along Tinker Cliffs had visibility for miles and I only passed 3 other people the whole day. Has anyone else had one of those rare days where everything just clicks on the trail?

Just realized my water filter failed halfway up Mount Whitney

I was about 8 miles in on the Mount Whitney trail, at around 12,000 feet, when I tried to pump water from a stream and got nothing but air. My Katadyn filter had frozen overnight in my pack because I forgot to sleep with it. I ended up having to boil water using my camp stove for the next 3 hours, which slowed me down so much I almost had to turn back. Has anyone else dealt with a frozen filter at high altitude and found a quick fix on the trail?

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

I keep seeing people on the PCT forums argue that you need to book campsites weeks ahead, but then I met a guy near Crater Lake who just picked a direction and camped wherever he ended up. He got through fine without any reservations and said the spontaneity made the trip better. Which approach actually works better for long routes like the PCT or the AT?

TIL I could get water from a cactus on the PCT

Was hiking the desert section near Idyllwild last month and ran low on water. Grabbed my knife and hacked into a barrel cactus just to see if it worked. Got maybe a cup of gritty liquid - is there a better way to do this without ruining the plant?

Dropped $45 on a pair of trail gaiters and they saved my trip on the Appalachian Trail

I was hiking the AT section near Roan Mountain last month and hit a muddy stretch that went on for miles. My boots were soaked through after the first hour and I was getting blisters like crazy. Those cheap gaiters kept the mud and gravel out long enough for me to finish the day without stopping. Has anyone else had luck with budget gear holding up better than you expected?

Had a perfect 3-day stretch on the Pacific Crest Trail near Etna then hit a monsoon that soaked everything I owned

First half of the week was smooth sailing with clear skies and gentle terrain, but the next 48 hours turned into a slog through mud and wet gear that had me questioning why I even left home - has anyone else dealt with a route that flipped from amazing to awful that fast?

Just realized the Appalachian Trail has gotten way busier since I started hiking it

I was looking up some old stats online last night and found out that in 2015, only about 3,000 people attempted a thru-hike of the AT. Last year that number was over 6,000. That's double in less than 10 years. I remember back in the early 2010s you could go days without seeing another hiker on the trail. Now you gotta plan around shelter crowds and permits in some sections. Anyone else notice the vibe shift on long trails or am I just getting old and grumpy?

Am I the only one who thinks the PCT is way overhyped for beginners?

I did 200 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail last summer near the Sierra section and honestly, my pack weight ballooned to 35 pounds by day 3 because of all the extra gear for river crossings and bear cans. Everyone online says it's the ultimate starter thru-hike, but that stretch around Tuolumne Meadows broke my boot sole and I had to hitch into Bridgeport for repairs. Has anyone else found the trail harder than the forums let on?

Bought a $40 hammock off Amazon and it ripped on day 3 of the Pacific Crest Trail near Mount Whitney

I was 12 miles from the nearest road when the stitching gave out and I hit the ground hard enough to bruise my tailbone, has anyone else had cheap gear fail at the worst possible moment?

Overheard a guy at the trailhead say he paces himself by checking his heart rate every 15 minutes

Swapped to the AT after hating the Pinhoti's water situation

I was dead set on finishing the Pinhoti Trail this fall, but after 3 days of dry creek beds and packing 4 liters at a time I gave up. The Appalachian Trail in Georgia has way more reliable water sources (like every 3-5 miles instead of 8+), and the shelters are a nice bonus. Anyone else bail on a route mid-trip because of water access?

Wasted $80 on that fancy water filter that clogged after one trip

Bought one of those squeeze bag filters from a big brand. First weekend out on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, it slowed to a trickle by day two. Had to borrow my buddy's old school pump filter the rest of the trip. Anyone else had bad luck with those bag style filters?

Switched my campsite planning after a rainy night in the Smokies

I used to just pick any flat spot near water on the map for my overnight stops. Last August I camped at Backcountry Site 18 near Fontana Lake in the Smokies and the rain came down hard all night. The trail runoff flooded my tent because I was too close to a low drain path. Now I always check the elevation and slope on a topo map before picking a site. Anybody else have a bad weather camping spot story that made you change your route plans?

Finally figured out how to read topo maps right after 10 trips

I used to just follow the trail markers and hope for the best on my backpacking trips. After getting lost for two hours near a stream in the Smokies last spring, I decided it was time to learn. I bought a cheap compass and a topo map of the area I hike most in western North Carolina. Now I spend 15 minutes before each trip plotting my route with contour lines and landmarks. The biggest change is I identify where the water sources actually are instead of guessing. It also helps me plan my daily mileage better because I can see the elevation gains early. Has anyone else found a trick that made route planning way easier for them?

Overheard a thru-hiker at a Georgia diner say he ditched his tent halfway on the Appalachian Trail

He said he switched to a $40 emergency bivvy after 300 miles and claimed it saved his back, has anyone else tried skipping shelter weight that drastic?

Switching from paper maps to Gaia GPS felt like cheating at first

Honestly, for years I'd plan every route by tracing with a pencil on a topo map, but after getting lost on a 14-mile day in the Smokies last October, I finally downloaded Gaia and it's night and day. Has anyone else struggled with trusting digital tools over paper, or is it just me?

Hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2022 and 2024... saw a scary difference in the shelters

Honestly, I did a thru-hike back in 2022 and then a shorter section hike last month around the Smokies. The amount of mouse droppings and torn up gear in the shelters was way worse just two years later. Folks are leaving food scraps everywhere and not using bear bags right. Has anyone else noticed shelters getting messier on popular routes lately?