Walked the old blue ridge trail last weekend and it felt way different

I hiked this trail back in 2018 and it was all overgrown with roots everywhere. This time someone put in these big stone steps on the steep parts and it totally changed the feel. Made me wonder if I'm just getting old or if trails are supposed to evolve like that. Has anyone else gone back to a route they knew years ago and found it barely recognizable?

2 comments

2 Comments

young.kim1mo ago

Right? I had the same thing happen at a local spot near Asheville and it threw me off at first, but I came around. @the_faith makes a solid point about the erosion too, I've seen that mess up a trail way worse than some stone steps.

the_faith1mo ago

Yeah I'm gonna push back on this. Trails getting "upgraded" with stone steps and stuff is usually a good thing. It means more people can use it without twisting an ankle or sliding off a cliff. You're acting like it's losing character but that's just nostalgia talking. I've seen trails turn into straight up erosion gullies because too many hikers trashed the roots and dirt. Those steps are probably saving the whole path from washing away after a few heavy rains. And honestly if you want the "real" wilderness feel go off trail instead of complaining about basic safety improvements on a popular route.