Spent 10 years hiking solo, finally tried a guided group trip and changed my mind about them

I always figured guided backpacking trips were for beginners or people who didn't want to do the research. But last summer my knee acted up two days into a planned 80 mile stretch on the Superior Hiking Trail. I bailed out, saw a sign for a guided 3 day loop near Lutsen, and figured why not. The guide knew things about water sources and weather patterns that I never would have found on my own. One guy in our group kept packing his tent poles separate from the fly, and the guide pointed out how that wastes time every single morning. Simple stuff but it added up. Now I mix in a guided trip every few years just to pick up those little tricks. Anyone else find they learn more from guides than they expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

gracewebb8d agoMost Upvoted

Good point about guides knowing little things you'd never pick up on your own. I read somewhere that experienced guides on the SHT can predict water flow changes based on two weeks of prior rainfall patterns, which is wild if you think about it. Stuff like that is why I get why people mix guided trips with solo ones now.

christopher_wells47d ago

Read an interview with a SHT guide who can predict moose crossings by the time of day and wind direction.