Spent a whole day backtracking because a trail junction wasn't signed at all

In my experience, trail signage can be a real hit or miss, but last week it was a total miss. I was on the Pine Ridge Loop, and at what should have been a clear fork, there was zero marking. My map showed a left turn for the scenic overlook, but all I saw was dense brush. I ended up going straight for about two miles before I realized my mistake. By then, I had to turn around and lose hours of daylight. It seems like the local trail group hasn't maintained that section in ages. I heard from another hiker that the sign fell down last fall and never got replaced. Now I always carry a backup compass and double-check with GPS, but it shouldn't have to be that way.