Detouring off my planned route totally shifted my hiking style

I was a strict itinerary person, always following guidebooks step by step. Then I missed a turn on the Colorado Trail and had to find my own way. That unplanned section had the best views and a quiet lake nobody mentioned. Now I build flexible days into all my trips, and it's way more fun.

4 comments

4 Comments

wade_wells1mo ago

Sounds fun but I need that solid plan. Getting lost wastes time and energy I don't have. A good map lets me relax and actually enjoy the hike.

taylor.reese1mo ago

Sometimes maps make me overthink every turn... defeats the purpose @wade_wells.

uma_williams1mo agoTop Commenter

My buddy Alex decided to wing it on a trail last summer. He ended up circling the same ridge for hours because he didn't have a map. Now he always checks the route twice before heading out, and he says it makes all the difference.

wood.eric26d ago

Getting lost on a trail sounds like the best part to me. Wandering without a plan can show you things you'd never see on a marked route. Alex circling that ridge probably found some cool spots he wouldn't have otherwise. I get what @taylor.reese means about overthinking. Sometimes you just need to put the map away and let the day happen. A little wasted time is a fair trade for a real adventure.