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Took the ridge line instead of the valley trail in the Smokies...

I had to choose between the high ridge or the creek valley route last weekend near Clingmans Dome. Picked the ridge for the views, but the wind was brutal and I ran out of water 3 miles early because I was sweating way more than I planned. Honestly regret not taking the sheltered valley path, anyone else made that mistake?
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wendysmith
Picked the ridge for the views" is exactly why I fell for it too on a hike near Mount LeConte last fall. I read somewhere that exposed ridges can make you lose way more water through sweat and wind, which totally caught me off guard.
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troy_butler7
@wendysmith nailed it, wind evaporation is a real sneaky water drainer.
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