Finished the PCT section through Oregon in 9 days, first time I stuck to a schedule

Three years ago I bailed at Crater Lake with a busted ankle, so last month I came back with lighter shoes and a daily mile target, and I'm wondering if anyone else finds planning campsites ahead of time actually kills the fun.

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umathompson2d ago

The 9 day pace through Oregon sounds like a personal best, but that's exactly why planning every camp spot ahead is a trap. I did the JMT with a strict schedule last year and missed a killer sunset over Evolution Lake because I was fixated on making it to a designated site 4 miles further. Spontaneity is the whole point of a thru hike, you know, going where the day takes you and stopping when your feet hurt, not when a GPS dot says so. Once you lock in a target, you start rushing past the good stuff, the random side trail or the perfect swimming hole, just to stay on track. Coming back from that busted ankle means you probably already know how much can go wrong, so why add deadline stress to the mix when you could just vibe with the trail and end up somewhere unexpected. Clean camp habits still work without a reservation mindset, just pick a spot that's already been used or find a flat patch away from water and call it a night.