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Rant: everyone hypes the PCT but I think it's way overrated for beginners
I know this is gonna rub some people the wrong way, but after doing a 450 mile section of the PCT last summer I really don't get why everyone pushes it as the go-to for new backpackers. The trail is just so crowded in places like the Sierras, you're dealing with permit lotteries and campsite competition that takes the chill out of the trip. Plus the water carries can be brutal, I had a 28 mile dry stretch near the Central Oregon cascades that just wore me down. I think starting on something like the Colorado Trail or even the Superior Hiking Trail gives you way more variety and less logistics stress. What trail do you all think is actually better for someone who's done a few weekend trips but wants their first long thru hike?
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