Ha, I learned that lesson the hard way too, dumb move.

Did you actually track what the $1,400 covered versus your usual 2-week trips, or is that number just rent plus whatever you spent on food? Curious if the daily rate really came out higher once you break it down.

Man, that guy had it backwards. Switchbacks are not for beginners, they are how you save your legs so you can actually finish the hike and still walk the next day. Going straight up burns you out faster and wrecks your knees on the way down, so your 14 mile loop proves the point better than his trash talk ever could.