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Hit 500 trail miles this summer, now I'm doubting my whole route planning approach
So I finished up a 3 week stretch on the AT in Virginia and crossed 500 total miles for the year. I thought that number would feel like a big deal, but it actually made me realize how much time I spend on maps vs boots on the ground. Half the time my planned campsites were either flooded or way too crowded, and the spots I found by just walking until dark were better. My buddy swears by detailed spreadsheets and GPS tracks, says planning is everything. I'm leaning toward loose plans with big buffer zones now. Which side are you on for long trips, strict itinerary or wing it with a rough sketch? Curious if anyone else hit a milestone and flipped their system. Has anyone else dealt with this after a big mileage number?
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cora51820d ago
The timing angle might be what nobody's talking about. Your plans were probably made weeks out, but the land changes every single day. A spot that was perfect in May could be a mud pit in July, and no spreadsheet can account for that. Try planning in layers instead, like know your hard limits for bailouts and water sources, but leave the daily camp choice open until noon. That way you're not trashing all your prep work, but you're also not locked into something the ground told you is wrong.
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