Hiked the same 8-mile loop 3 different years, finally saw what I was missing

This trail near the Gila River, I did it every June for 3 years. First year I just trucked through, focused on making time. Second year I finally looked at the map and noticed I was skipping a cutoff to a spring. Third year I actually took that cutoff and found a pool deep enough to dunk under. What changed? I stopped treating the route like a workout and started reading the terrain. Took me 3 tries to drop that tunnel vision. Anyone else ever miss something obvious on a trail you thought you knew?

2 comments

2 Comments

quinnbailey18d ago

Third year I actually took that cutoff" - man, that line hits HARD. I had a similar thing happen on a trail I'd done like 5 times in the Cascades. I always ran past this unmarked side path thinking it was just a deer trail or something. One day I stopped and actually followed it for like 10 minutes and ended up at this tiny waterfall I'd never seen on any map. The water was cold and clear and I sat there for an hour just watching it. What changed for me was I forced myself to stop at every intersection or weird fork and just look around instead of keeping my head down. It's wild how easy it is to miss stuff when your brain has already decided what the trail is supposed to be. Now I treat every hike like I'm seeing it for the first time even if I've been there before.

the_susan18d ago

Did you ever go back to that waterfall again or is it one of those one time only kind of places?