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Found an old map in a used bookstore that blew my mind
Picked up a guidebook from 1982 for the Smoky Mountains last weekend and the route distances were way off compared to what I hike now. Like a trail I usually do in 5 hours was listed as a 2 day trek back then. Anyone know if the trails themselves got rerouted or if people just walked slower with heavier packs?
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michael_patel4mo ago
Wait, are you sure those old guidebooks had the distances wrong or were they just grading the trail differently? I actually disagree with you here. I think people back then were generally in way better hiking shape than we give them credit for. Those 1980s packs were heavy as hell made of canvas and steel frames but hikers just accepted the burden. Also the trails themselves have been heavily maintained and smoothed out over the last 40 years with better drainage and switchbacks. So a route that used to mean scrambling over fallen trees and bushwhacking is now a nice groomed path. Its more about the condition of the trail than hiking speed or pack weight in my opinion.
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matthew8644mo ago
Buddy tried an old 80s route last year and swore the map was lying about the distance.
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