Took the old trail vs the new reroute in the Smokies last weekend

The original path was a straight 4 mile slog up a washed out creek bed, but the new one added a mile with switchbacks and actual views. My knees felt ten years younger at the summit, and I wasn't even tired. Why do they even keep the old route on the map anymore?

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3 Comments

jamieburns6mo ago

Watched a buddy stubbornly take the old route once. He spent the whole next day complaining about his ankles.

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the_angela6mo ago

Some lessons are learned the hard way.

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blakem824mo ago

You said some lessons are learned the hard way and that is the truth. I used to always go the long way around a certain trail until I twisted my ankle on a hidden rock. After that I started asking locals for shortcuts and checking maps more carefully. It was a pain to learn but now I save time and my ankles are a lot happier.

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