When you go back to a popular lake destination, it’s normal to pick the same established campsite. But have you ever noticed that even when bushwhacking or visiting remote locations, you often find yourself following the same route or ending up at the same campsite, seemingly by accident?
In the last decade, I am finding myself frequently returning to my favorite handful of Colorado wilderness areas. Of course, these are big places, and I like to spend time in off-trail areas by preference. Weirdly, I am increasingly recognizing the same landmarks as I’m bushwhacking, and even choosing the same campsites, years later. I have no conscious memory of the routes or sites, but apparently my brain is just steering me in the same direction, and leading me to choose the same sites.
The most recent was in a large trail-less basin in the Mr. Zirkel wilderness. I initially followed a game trail into the basin, and then just made my way into the basin, avoiding swampy areas and deadfall. There are several creeks and ponds to serve as water sources. My route took me towards one drainage, and I wandered up and down a bit until I found a likely site. There was a nice large rock to sit on, it was near a good water source, and I identified a good soft flat area for my tent.
After setting up the tent, I turned around and found Max sitting on the rock, enjoying the views.
It suddenly hit me that I had camped in this exact site before. When I returned home, I went through my photos and found this one from 2023.
It’s a slightly different angle, but obviously the same rock. There’s even the same baby tree in the background. Same rock, same dog, just less gray hair on his muzzle. Part of me feels like Max remembered the rock. Or maybe his brain just responded the same way to the same surroundings, because he doesn’t usually sit on rocks like that.
This is a remote area, several miles from any trail, with no obvious signs of visitation. There are endless places to camp. Somehow I found myself in the exact same spot.
Do you find yourself unconsciously retracing the same routes and visiting the same remote sites?
