Serious question, did anyone else have their view of the Wind River High Route totally change after trying it?

I hiked the southern section from Big Sandy to Cirque of the Towers last month, and I always thought it was just a harder version of the CDT. But scrambling up Texas Pass in the fog, I realized it's a totally different kind of trip, more about picking your line across rock than following any real trail. Has anyone else done a route that felt like a different sport than normal backpacking?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordant697d ago

Yeah, that's the moment it clicks. I did a section of the Sierra High Route a few years back and it felt the same. You're not hiking anymore, you're just solving a giant puzzle with your body. One wrong turn off a pass and you're staring at a cliff band for an hour trying to find a way down. It's way more mental than just putting one foot in front of the other on a trail.

cora_ramirez7d ago

Always bring a paper map. GPS can lie when you're boxed in by rock. Look for the path of least resistance, even if it's not the straight line.