Alone or in a group, When are you more prone to lose the trail?

**Kookork** · 10-25-2016, 17:28

When following white blaze or trail signs or a route do you think you are more prone to lose the trail when you are hiking alone or when you are in a group?

**rocketsocks** · 10-25-2016, 18:17

In a group, alone I'm paying more attention, in a group setting I've seen people walk right past a turn-off while BS'n.

**Lone Wolf** · 10-25-2016, 18:20

lone wolves walk alone. they don't lose the trail. ever

**Kookork** · 10-25-2016, 18:27

Originally Posted by Lone Wolf

lone wolves walk alone. they don't lose the trail. ever

Lone wolves define the trails. Wherever they are, there the trail is.

How are you Sir? Is the heart pumping with passion as always?

**Lone Wolf** · 10-25-2016, 18:30

yes kook. all is well

**Dogwood** · 10-25-2016, 18:20

doesn't matter if i'm being personally accountable as i should be

**rocketsocks** · 10-25-2016, 18:22

...that said I have missed turn-offs while fatigued and not paying attention. Funny how when you backtrack, you find the last marker and wonder how ya missed it in the first place???
So...

**Another Kevin** · 10-25-2016, 18:23

I'm more likely to lose the trail in a group (distractions). I'm more likely to abandon the trail in a group as well (because I generally don't bushwhack solo).

**rafe** · 10-25-2016, 20:09

Really interesting question. I'd say it makes no difference. Mistakes are made at about the same rate.

1/2 of the time I walk alone. 7/16 of the time with one other partner. 1/16 with more than one partner. (Something like that

)

**Kookork** · 10-25-2016, 20:38

Originally Posted by rafe

Really interesting question. I'd say it makes no difference. Mistakes are made at about the same rate.

1/2 of the time I walk alone. 7/16 of the time with one other partner. 1/16 with more than one partner. (Something like that

)

I have hiked the same trail twice, once alone and once with a company.
My experience seems to be like this: When alone I am solely responsible for finding my way thus I pay more attention. I still lose the trail when I am exhausted or I am day dreaming deeply . When I am hiking with company and we are conversing then sometimes we forget about paying attention to the signs and although we should be less prone but in reality we assume that the other person is paying attention to the signs when actually we are both deep into our conversation and the chance of missing a blaze is higher while the chance of noticing the mistake is not as double as it should be.

I lost the same trail more frequently the second time when we were two hikers. In group hiking when I was in a club, We used to designate someone to lead and never engage in conversation and every couple of hours we switched the designated leader.

**rafe** · 10-25-2016, 22:37

Originally Posted by Kookork

I have hiked the same trail twice, once alone and once with a company.
My experience seems to be like this: When alone I am solely responsible for finding my way thus I pay more attention. I still lose the trail when I am exhausted or I am day dreaming deeply . When I am hiking with company and we are conversing then sometimes we forget about paying attention to the signs and although we should be less prone but in reality we assume that the other person is paying attention to the signs when actually we are both deep into our conversation and the chance of missing a blaze is higher while the chance of noticing the mistake is not as double as it should be.

I lost the same trail more frequently the second time when we were two hikers. In group hiking when I was in a club, We used to designate someone to lead and never engage in conversation and every couple of hours we switched the designated leader.

Yep, pretty much. Each person might be assuming someone else knows the way. Occasionally though, when everyone's attentive, the synergy works.

**Traillium** · 10-27-2016, 09:48

Originally Posted by Kookork

I have hiked the same trail twice, once alone and once with a company.
My experience seems to be like this: When alone I am solely responsible for finding my way thus I pay more attention. I still lose the trail when I am exhausted or I am day dreaming deeply . When I am hiking with company and we are conversing then sometimes we forget about paying attention to the signs and although we should be less prone but in reality we assume that the other person is paying attention to the signs when actually we are both deep into our conversation and the chance of missing a blaze is higher while the chance of noticing the mistake is not as double as it should be.

I lost the same trail more frequently the second time when we were two hikers. In group hiking when I was in a club, We used to designate someone to lead and never engage in conversation and every couple of hours we switched the designated leader.

Geez — I was the guilty party on the second thruhike with Kookork … We chatted a lot!

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**Kookork** · 10-27-2016, 11:31

Originally Posted by Traillium

Geez — I was the guilty party on the second thruhike with Kookork … We chatted a lot!

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I don't exchange our conversation for anything my dear company. It turned a soul searching solo hiking to a universe searching and educational odyssey.Comparing these two experiences is just comparing apples and oranges.

**Traillium** · 10-27-2016, 16:30

Originally Posted by Kookork

I don't exchange our conversation for anything my dear company. It turned a soul searching solo hiking to a universe searching and educational odyssey.Comparing these two experiences is just comparing apples and oranges.

Totally agreed, friend!

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**MuddyWaters** · 10-25-2016, 21:16

Dont know about getting lost, but group think is responsible for groups getting into trouble . I occassionally follow a bad trail, miss a turn, etc. Usually recognize within a short distance that "this trail doesnt seem well defined enough" anymore. Especially around rocky outcroppings on peaks, there can be several trails people create looking for views or camp sites.

Would others make same mistake along with me? I hope not.

**Spirit Walker** · 10-25-2016, 21:38

I've missed turns several times while talking with another person. My feet continue ahead automatically while my brain is diverted by the conversation.

**Kookork** · 10-25-2016, 22:19

Originally Posted by Spirit Walker

I've missed turns several times while talking with another person. My feet continue ahead automatically while my brain is diverted by the conversation.

Good point. It seems that when we are on autopilot, we just take the easiest path ahead. turning sharp left or right is not autopilot-ed I guess.

**Marta** · 10-26-2016, 07:02

Originally Posted by Spirit Walker

I've missed turns several times while talking with another person. My feet continue ahead automatically while my brain is diverted by the conversation.

This. The AT is generally clearly marked, but it is possible to go astray. Groups are more likely to contain people who are talking animatedly and fail to notice change of direction indicators like signs and logs lying across the trail.

**Skyline** · 10-25-2016, 22:59

There are very few places on the AT where you will not stay on the trail, even with minimal attention.

I recall two road crossings in PA where the trail didn't pick up immediately on the other side, even though there was an (unblazed) trail of sorts there. The actual AT was down the road, sort of marked. And of course in the Whites, where signage doesn't favor the AT (the AT follows trails that existed before there was an AT, using original names) and cairns sometimes stand in for blazes.

**theinfamousj** · 10-26-2016, 00:05

The few times I have lost a trail have all been in a group setting. So group for sure.

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