Vent: My buddy called my route planning 'a spreadsheet, not an adventure'

Honestly, I used to plan every single mile and campsite for my trips, like a 5 day loop in the Wind River Range last August. Ngl, I had it all mapped down to the hour. Then my friend Mark said, 'You're just following a spreadsheet, man. You miss the cool stuff you don't know about.' Tbh, it stung, but he was right. I started just picking a general area and a final destination, leaving 2 or 3 days totally open for side trails or local tips. Has anyone else switched from super strict planning to a looser style? What was the first trip you tried it on?

3 comments

3 Comments

max_cooper2110d ago

Know exactly what you mean. I had the same thing happen on a trip to the Smokies. Had every waterfall timed for perfect light, then a park ranger mentioned some unmarked hot springs. Following my plan meant missing them. Letting go of that schedule felt wrong at first, like I was being lazy, but finding that spot made the whole trip better. Now I always build in a buffer day just to wander.

paige16610d ago

Wait, unmarked hot springs in the Smokies? That's the real shocker here, I've been there a bunch and never heard a whisper about those. A ranger just told you? That feels like a secret handshake kind of moment. Letting go of the plan must have been tough but man, finding something that off the map... that's the whole point of getting out there.

aaron88010d ago

My buddy Dave planned a Utah trip like a military operation, every slot canyon timed. He drove right past a turn-off for some ancient petroglyphs a gas station guy told him about because it wasn't on the schedule. He saw the pictures later from another group and totally kicked himself. Now he just books the first night's camp and figures it out from there.