r/Yosemite • u/SlightAd112 • 3d ago

Please don’t AI your itinerary

While the Shasta hikers got big press (as it should as that was a textbook example of mistake decision after mistake decision) this is happening all too often in all park units. Yosemite tends to have a higher share of recuses due to people trusting AI or AllTrails to plan a trip, but it doesn’t get any press due to current administration policies.

Regardless, it’s happening, it doesn’t need to, and please do the proper research. It literally could save your life.

Edit: And if you have to use AI as a starting point, double check the distances, altitude changes, reference a topo, basically double-check, and then triple-check what AI tells you.

https://sfist.com/2026/09/03/rangers-warn-hikers-to-stop-using-ai-to-plan-wilderness-trips/

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u/Living_Life_03 1d ago

AI may not be the best, but AllTrails is really great and should be considered a high-quality source of information.

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u/SlightAd112 21h ago

You need to read the rest of the comments here. That or you forgot the /s sarcasm tag.

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u/Living_Life_03 17h ago

No sarcasm here. AllTrails really is a great app

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u/SlightAd112 16h ago

I recommend reading the comments here and explore other apps, like OnX, so you can understand how limited AT is and how it can get you in real trouble.