Hot take on the Appalachian Trail white blaze obsession

Everyone acts like you have to follow every single white blaze. I did a section near Harpers Ferry last fall. 14 miles of trail that zigzagged up the same ridge three times. I took the fire road straight down the mountain. Saved 4 hours. White blazers act like I committed a crime. Has anyone else just skipped the blazes and made their own call?

2 comments

2 Comments

charlesb4217d ago

Act like I committed a crime" is a bit dramatic, man. I doubt anyone was that worked up. But yeah, I get what you're saying. Some of those re-route sections are clearly designed by people who never had to carry a pack through them. I've done the same thing on parts of the Long Trail. If a fire road gets me to the same spot without turning my ankles into jelly, I'm taking it. The white blazers are just paint, not the Ten Commandments.

oliver_torres417d ago

White blazers are just paint, not the Ten Commandments" - man, that's the truth. I skipped a switchback nightmare on the Pinhoti last year and took a logging road. Cut 3 miles off and didn't miss a thing. People act like you're cheating the trail or something. It's your hike, your knees, your time.