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Am I the only one who quit pre-plotted routes to get lost on purpose?
I stopped following fixed itineraries and began just heading into a zone with a basic map. Last summer in the San Juans, I ended up at a lake not on any guide, and it was perfect. Sure, I added a few extra miles, but the surprise made it worth it. Now I tell people to ditch the rigid plans and embrace some uncertainty.
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nancyjones1mo ago
Oh man, that reminds me of the time my old compass decided south was a fun new direction. Ended up following a dry creek bed for an hour before popping out near a highway diner. We just ate some pie and called a friend for a ride back to the trailhead. Total fail, but now I always bring two compasses.
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irisowens1mo ago
Do you ever worry about actually getting too lost... like beyond the fun kind of lost? What's your backup plan when the zone is bigger than you thought?
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jakewhite19d ago
Worry? Nah, I just lean into the panic. My backup plan is to stand very still and loudly announce to the trees that I'm accepting rescue offers. Honestly though, I get a real paper map and actually look at it before I leave, which feels like a cheat code. If the zone swallows me, I follow water downhill. It might not be the fast way, but it usually finds a road or a creek that leads to people. Getting truly lost is a choice you make after ignoring about a dozen bad decisions.
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