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Appreciation post: Letting go of fixed camp spots made my hikes better
I quit aiming for specific sites marked on my map each evening. Now I just find a good place when I'm tired, and it takes all the pressure off. My routes feel more natural and way less stressful.
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ruby6527mo ago
Whoa, I was such a planner with campsites too, always rushing to hit that exact dot. Last month I finally gave up and just stopped when I found a flat spot near a stream. It was so much nicer than the crowded official site a mile ahead. I didn't realize how much that old way was stressing me out until I tried yours. Now my only goal is finding a decent place to sleep.
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the_xena7mo ago
No way, that stream spot probably had way better stars without all the camp lights!
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the_vera7mo ago
Exactly.
Light pollution ruins everything. I spent years planning trips around dark sky maps only to have some guy with led string lights show up. Now I just hike until my phone dies and camp wherever looks decent. The milky way slapped last time I did that.
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zarat376mo ago
Did you ever feel rushed trying to reach a campsite before dark? I was totally like that, always pushing myself too hard. But after a trip where I just stopped at the first good flat spot I saw, I realized how much more I enjoyed the actual hiking. Now I pack a headlamp and don't worry about the map so much.
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