For me it varies...

With less experienced people I'll suggest places I'm familiar with. I want to show them the best trip possible and that way I can match ability and desire with distance and reward as the trip unfolds. It's helpful to have a good idea where the next suitable campsite is when the one I recommended for that night is occupied or the wind kicks up unexpectedly. There was a time I'd even scout routes into new areas in Spring for group trips later that year.

If I go alone or with people who aren't afraid to "rough it" if need be, I like to extend my existing routes. I do it slowly with an eye towards getting to know the area since the better I know an area the more I like it. New places get added to the rotation and become old standbys.

I'm not as adventurous as I used to be, and the learning curve can be pretty steep on a completely unfamiliar route. Rotating familiar lakes is like visiting old friends every few years. Time to catch up on what's new and remember times past.

Posted by db on April 10, 2001 at 11:38