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Shoutout to the worst trail I've ever been on, the so-called 'scenic' loop in the San Juan Mountains.
Honestly, I planned a 4 day trip on that loop last July and it was a total bust from day one. The map said 'moderate' but the first 8 miles were straight up a washed-out scree slope with zero shade. We ran out of water by noon because two marked springs on the map were completely dry. The worst part was the 'established' campsite at the end of day one, which was basically a muddy pit swarming with mosquitos so thick you could hear them. We had to hike another 2 miles in the dark just to find a flat spot. Has anyone else had a route completely mis-sold by a guidebook or map like that? I need to know what to trust for my next trip.
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emery_lopez1mo ago
My guidebook once called a cliff "a fun scramble.
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My guidebook called a river crossing "refreshing," which is a funny word for hypothermia.
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wright.lisa1mo ago
Pro tip: always test the temp with your hand first, if it stings you're in for a bad time. Unbuckle your backpack waist strap too so you can ditch it if you go under. Learnt that one the hard way when I got swept into an ice cold pool with a fully loaded pack.
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