Serious question, does campsite selection matter more than the route itself?

I did an overnighter on the Laurel Highlands Trail last month and picked a spot near a stream for the views, but got eaten alive by bugs all night. The next night I camped on a bare ridge with no water and slept like a baby. Which one do you guys prioritize when planning?

2 comments

2 Comments

noah_chen171mo ago

Totally get that "eaten alive by bugs" thing. I had a similar thing happen at a spot in Shenandoah where I thought "hey, streamside, nice view" and ended up slapping mosquitoes all night. The "bare ridge with no water" part hit me though. I'm the opposite. I'm a water guy for some reason. Maybe it's the bartender in me but I'd rather deal with bugs than haul water up a hill. But the real lesson I learned is that wind is the secret weapon. A breezy ridge keeps the bugs away and dries out your tent. I'll take a windy spot over a buggy spot any day.

amybarnes1mo ago

Yep, the Laurel Highlands trail is brutal for bugs near water. I had the exact same problem at mile 32 near the Ohiopyle side, camped by a creek and woke up with bites all over my arms. Next night I hiked up to a rocky overhang maybe 200 feet above the water and slept with a light breeze. No bugs, no noise, just the wind. I learned to check elevation and open space on the map before I even pick a spot now. Water access is nice but not worth losing sleep over.