Hot take: Making new backpacking routes isn't always wrong

Last summer in the Wind River Range, the main loop was packed with people. I watched a group leave it to go over a bare, rocky hillside. Everyone says this ruins nature, but there was no soil or plants to damage. I believe if you choose areas with hard ground, it's fine. The real problem is too many folks on one route. Spreading out can reduce wear and tear. It's not a simple right or wrong issue.

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4 Comments

holly7097mo ago

That Wind River group had the right idea.

4

stella_scott967mo ago

Actually I always thought it was bad but you've got a point with that hard ground.

2

burns.harper7mo ago

Hard ground helps stability as @corah75 noted, but it can sometimes lead to other problems.

7

corah757mo ago

Did you also find hard ground helps, like when I walked on it and felt more stable?

6