Used to plan every mile on the map until Grand Canyon taught me a lesson

Last month I hiked the South Kaibab Trail and got so stubborn about sticking to my printed route that I missed a side canyon my tentmate pointed out at the last minute. She just said "man, look where you are" and I finally realized I was missing the whole point of being out there. Has anyone else found that letting go of the plan made for a better trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_carr3d ago

Respectfully, I see it a little different... planning every mile has saved my butt more times than I can count, especially in places with unreliable water sources or tricky weather windows. A good plan leaves room to pivot, but winging it completely can land you in real trouble when conditions turn bad. Finding that balance between structure and spontaneity is tough, but I'd rather have a plan and scrap it than have nothing at all.

ryang772d ago

Yeah, "a good plan leaves room to pivot" is exactly right. I started adding half-day buffer days to my trips so I can chase a tip from a ranger or hiker without messing up my food or water.