My guidebook sent me on a wild goose chase to a closed trail in Portugal

I planned a day hike based entirely on an old guidebook I trusted. It described a stunning coastal path from a small town. When I got off the bus, the trailhead was impossible to find. Locals pointed in vague directions, and after an hour of wandering farm roads, I hit a fence with a 'closed for repairs' sign in Portuguese. My phone had no signal to check a map, and the next bus back wasn't for five hours. I ended up sitting on a rock by a field, eating my emergency granola bar, feeling pretty stupid. Always check online for recent trail conditions, even for routes that seem well known. That book is now a nice paperweight.

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3 Comments

miles_jackson76mo ago

Guidebooks can be really old. I always look up recent trail conditions online.

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keith_carter196mo ago

You're right that some guidebooks are outdated, but many are revised regularly. They can still give you a good base before checking online.

4

dylanfisher6mo ago

Keith makes a valid point about those updated editions. Still feels like carrying a brick when you could just check your phone on the trailhead. Guess some folks really enjoy that extra weight in their pack.

1