Ha, I had a similar story - I also went to a trail that I knew only by rumors, and almost stayed overnight in the woods without a tent :)) Now I've been living in Idaho for many years, and this is where I've learned to choose my routes wisely. There are so many cool trails to explore, but I now always research terrain, seasonality, and difficulty level ahead of time. One of my favorite trails is on Scotchman Peak: it's not the easiest, but at the top you have a view of the lake and eagles soaring right above you. Sometimes I even chat with the locals - they always tell me where to go right now. The main thing is not to chase popularity, but to listen to nature and yourself.

It's interesting to read stories like this, especially when you're just starting to get into hiking yourself. So far I've only been to the local parks for a couple hours, but I'm getting more and more drawn to going further into the real mountains. I think the hardest part is making up your mind and choosing a route, rather than just getting caught up in videos of beautiful trails. Thank you for sharing your experience - it's more motivating.