A ranger in the Tetons told me my route planning was all wrong

I was set on doing the Teton Crest Trail last summer, had my permit and everything. At the trailhead, a park ranger looked over my plan and said, 'You're trying to do too much in one day... you'll miss the whole point.' He pointed out that my second day had me hiking 18 miles with a 3,000 foot climb, just to camp at a spot with no water. He was right, I was so focused on miles that I picked a bad site. I changed it right there, cut that day to 12 miles and picked a camp by a lake. It was slower, but I actually saw things instead of just grinding. That talk changed how I plan every trip now. How do you balance distance with good campsites on a long route?

2 comments

2 Comments

martinez.reese11d ago

Sometimes you gotta push miles to make it work lol

victorross11d ago

Exactly... it's that extra effort when you're already tired that really builds something. Pushing through the last few miles when your brain says to quit is where the real progress happens.