Faded blazes on the old ridge trail got me turned around for hours. | Backpacking Routes - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals

Iris Kim · 2026-02-26T18:51:06.286303+00:00

Now I always carry a backup map and compass.

Just used a GPS app last time.

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How did you handle navigating that old trail? I ran into a similar issue last year on the Pine Ridge path, and like @coleman.hannah, I relied on a GPS app. I used the TrailForks app because it shows user updates on trail conditions, which helped when paint was worn off. It even flagged a few washed-out sections that weren't marked at all.

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margaretc427mo ago

I mean, it was old enough to vote, I guess. Some of those blazes looked more like ghost stains than paint, it was that bad. Trying to follow them felt like a trust fall with a stranger, SO FUN.

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