Layover Day
Overview
A layover day is a zero-mile day spent at a campsite or in town to rest, recover, or wait out adverse conditions without advancing along the trail.
Key points
- Used to recover from fatigue, injuries, or poor weather.
- Provides time for gear drying, repairs, and resupply organization.
- Often planned around passes, storms, or logistical scheduling.
- Differs from a 'nero' day, which includes minimal hiking.
Details
Layover days help hikers maintain long-term health and morale by preventing overuse injuries and managing cumulative fatigue. They are also practical during multi-day storms, river-swelling events, or wildfire-related air quality issues. Some hikers schedule occasional layover days proactively, while others determine them reactively based on physical condition or environmental factors.
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Illustrative hiking footage
The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.