Overheard a couple arguing about trail markers in the Smokies

I was at a shelter on the Appalachian Trail near Clingmans Dome and this guy was telling his partner the blue blazes were 'definitely a shortcut back to the parking lot' (they were not, they were for a side trail to a spring). They ended up adding two miles to their day in the rain. What's the most confidently wrong trail advice you've ever gotten from another hiker?

3 comments

3 Comments

masontorres1mo ago

I used to trust all blazes equally until a guy in Maine swore the white ones were for winter routes.

the_grant1mo ago

Wait, is that true about white blazes? I saw tessac25's comment and now I'm second guessing all my trail knowledge.

tessac251mo ago

Maine guy's onto something, masontorres. Blue blazes are side trails.