diff --git a/backend/src/api/routes.ts b/backend/src/api/routes.ts
index b642b2a..a5cedb5 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/routes.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/routes.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ import {
   verifyMqttCredentials,
 } from '../owner/ownerAccess.js';
 import { encryptOwnerSession, getOwnerSession, isSecureRequest } from '../owner/ownerSession.js';
-import { getResolveCache, setResolveCache } from '../path-beta/resolveCache.js';
+import { getResolveCache, setResolveCache, getHeldPath, setHeldPath } from '../path-beta/resolveCache.js';
 import { resolvePool } from '../path-beta/resolvePool.js';
 import { maskDecodedPathNodes } from '../stats/maskDecodedPathNodes.js';
 import {
@@ -207,6 +207,8 @@ registerPathingRoutes(router, {
   pathHistoryCacheTtlMs: PATH_HISTORY_CACHE_TTL_MS,
   getResolveCache,
   setResolveCache,
+  getHeldPath,
+  setHeldPath,
   resolvePool,
   getPathHistoryCache,
   getPublicVisibilityGeneration,
diff --git a/backend/src/api/routes/pathing.test.ts b/backend/src/api/routes/pathing.test.ts
index 0db98a7..5c64112 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/routes/pathing.test.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/routes/pathing.test.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ async function withPathingServer(
     pathHistoryCacheTtlMs: 60_000,
     getResolveCache: () => undefined,
     setResolveCache: () => undefined,
+    getHeldPath: () => undefined,
+    setHeldPath: () => undefined,
     resolvePool: { run },
     getPublicVisibilityGeneration: async () => 1,
     getPathHistoryCache: async () => null,
diff --git a/backend/src/api/routes/pathing.ts b/backend/src/api/routes/pathing.ts
index 1744bee..dfc2378 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/routes/pathing.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/routes/pathing.ts
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ import {
 } from '../../path-beta/slowMode.js';
 import { normalizeObserverQuery } from '../utils/observer.js';
 import { parseBoundedInteger, parseHexIdentifier } from '../utils/input.js';
+import type { HeldPathEntry } from '../../path-beta/resolveCache.js';
 
 type ResolvePoolFn = {
   run<T>(job:
-    | { type: 'resolve'; packetHash: string; network: string; observer?: string | null }
-    | { type: 'resolveMulti'; packetHash: string; network: string }
+    | { type: 'resolve'; packetHash: string; network: string; observer?: string | null; heldPath?: HeldPathEntry }
+    | { type: 'resolveMulti'; packetHash: string; network: string; heldPath?: HeldPathEntry }
     | { type: 'resolveLazy'; packetHash: string; network: string }
   ): Promise<T | null>;
 };
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ type PathingRouteDeps = {
   pathHistoryCacheTtlMs: number;
   getResolveCache: (key: string) => unknown;
   setResolveCache: (key: string, value: unknown) => void;
+  getHeldPath: (packetHash: string, network: string) => HeldPathEntry | undefined;
+  setHeldPath: (packetHash: string, network: string, value: HeldPathEntry) => void;
   resolvePool: ResolvePoolFn;
   getPublicVisibilityGeneration: () => Promise<number>;
   getPathHistoryCache: (scope: string, visibilityGeneration: number) => Promise<{
@@ -61,6 +64,8 @@ export function registerPathingRoutes(router: Router, deps: PathingRouteDeps): v
     pathHistoryCacheTtlMs: deps.pathHistoryCacheTtlMs,
     getResolveCache: deps.getResolveCache,
     setResolveCache: deps.setResolveCache,
+    getHeldPath: deps.getHeldPath,
+    setHeldPath: deps.setHeldPath,
     resolvePool: deps.resolvePool,
     repository,
   });
diff --git a/backend/src/cache/policyRegistry.ts b/backend/src/cache/policyRegistry.ts
index e48569e..bfac615 100644
--- a/backend/src/cache/policyRegistry.ts
+++ b/backend/src/cache/policyRegistry.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,12 @@ export const CACHE_POLICY_REGISTRY: readonly CachePolicyRecord[] = Object.freeze
     scope: 'packet + network; public projection remains visibility-fenced', invalidation: 'TTL',
     negativeCaching: 'none', singleFlight: 'worker pool',
   },
+  {
+    source: 'src/path-beta/resolveCache.ts#heldPathCache',
+    disposition: 'bounded-cache', maxEntries: 2_048, maxBytes: 16 << 20, ttlMs: 30 * 60_000,
+    scope: 'packet + network; public projection remains visibility-fenced', invalidation: 'TTL only; packet observations do not clear held paths',
+    negativeCaching: 'none', singleFlight: 'pathingService resolve maps + worker pool',
+  },
   {
     source: 'src/path-beta/resolver.ts#contextCache',
     disposition: 'bounded-cache', maxEntries: 16, maxBytes: 128 << 20, ttlMs: 15 * 60_000,
diff --git a/backend/src/mqtt/client.ts b/backend/src/mqtt/client.ts
index fb548f7..910ab01 100644
--- a/backend/src/mqtt/client.ts
+++ b/backend/src/mqtt/client.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import type {
 import { insertNodeStatusSample, insertPacket, upsertNode, incrementAdvertCount, query, insertOrUpdateSpamSuspect, recordMultibyteEvidence } from '../db/index.js';
 import { closePacketBatch, flush as flushPacketBatch } from '../db/packetBatch.js';
 import { evaluateAdvert, initSpamDetector } from './spamDetector.js';
-import { invalidateResolveCache, setResolveCache, getStickyNodeMap, mergeStickyNodes } from '../path-beta/resolveCache.js';
+import { invalidateResolveCache, setResolveCache, getStickyNodeMap, mergeStickyNodes, getHeldPath, setHeldPath } from '../path-beta/resolveCache.js';
 import { resolvePool } from '../path-beta/resolvePool.js';
 import { scheduleSlowResolution } from '../path-beta/slowMode.js';
 import { pathingConfig } from '../platform/config/pathing.js';
@@ -1005,7 +1005,11 @@ async function handleMessage(topic: string, rawPayload: Buffer): Promise<void> {
       const stickyEntry = getStickyNodeMap(finalHash, network);
       const stickyMap = stickyEntry ? Object.fromEntries(stickyEntry.hashToNodeId) : undefined;
       const stickyAgeFraction = stickyEntry?.ageFraction;
-      resolvePool.runBackground<{ stickyUpdates?: Record<string, string> }>({ type: 'resolveMulti', packetHash: finalHash, network, ...(stickyMap ? { stickyMap, stickyAgeFraction } : {}) })
+      const heldPath = getHeldPath(finalHash, network);
+      resolvePool.runBackground<{
+        stickyUpdates?: Record<string, string>;
+        canonicalPath?: Array<{ nodeId?: string | null }>;
+      }>({ type: 'resolveMulti', packetHash: finalHash, network, ...(stickyMap ? { stickyMap, stickyAgeFraction } : {}), ...(heldPath ? { heldPath } : {}) })
         .then((result) => {
           if (result) {
             const { stickyUpdates, ...cacheableResult } = result;
@@ -1013,6 +1017,10 @@ async function handleMessage(topic: string, rawPayload: Buffer): Promise<void> {
             if (stickyUpdates && Object.keys(stickyUpdates).length > 0) {
               mergeStickyNodes(finalHash, network, stickyUpdates);
             }
+            const heldNodes = result.canonicalPath?.map((hop) => hop.nodeId ?? '').filter(Boolean) ?? [];
+            if (heldNodes.length > 0 && heldNodes.length === result.canonicalPath?.length) {
+              setHeldPath(finalHash, network, { path: heldNodes, resolvedAt: Date.now(), physical: true });
+            }
           }
         })
         .catch(() => { /* best-effort */ })
diff --git a/backend/src/path-beta/resolveCache.test.ts b/backend/src/path-beta/resolveCache.test.ts
index 0fc5e9b..b45b761 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-beta/resolveCache.test.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-beta/resolveCache.test.ts
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import test from 'node:test';
 import {
   getResolveCache,
+  getHeldPath,
   getStickyNodeMap,
   invalidateResolveCache,
   mergeStickyNodes,
   resolveCacheMetrics,
   setResolveCache,
+  setHeldPath,
 } from './resolveCache.js';
 
 test('resolve cache invalidates a packet without a full-cache scan and remains bounded', () => {
@@ -30,3 +32,17 @@ test('sticky anchors cap nested entries per packet', () => {
   mergeStickyNodes('sticky-packet', 'ukmesh', updates);
   assert.equal(getStickyNodeMap('sticky-packet', 'ukmesh')?.hashToNodeId.size, 64);
 });
+
+test('held paths survive ordinary result invalidation', () => {
+  setHeldPath('held-packet', 'ukmesh', {
+    path: ['AA01', 'BB01'],
+    resolvedAt: 123,
+    physical: true,
+  });
+  invalidateResolveCache('held-packet');
+  assert.deepEqual(getHeldPath('held-packet', 'ukmesh'), {
+    path: ['AA01', 'BB01'],
+    resolvedAt: 123,
+    physical: true,
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/src/path-beta/resolveCache.ts b/backend/src/path-beta/resolveCache.ts
index c3fab73..f10ce2c 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-beta/resolveCache.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-beta/resolveCache.ts
@@ -68,9 +68,39 @@ export function resolveCacheMetrics() {
     results: cache.metrics(),
     invalidations: invalidationVersions.metrics(),
     sticky: stickyNodeCache.metrics(),
+    held: heldPathCache.metrics(),
   };
 }
 
+export type HeldPathEntry = {
+  path: string[];
+  resolvedAt: number;
+  physical: boolean;
+};
+
+const HELD_PATH_TTL_MS = 30 * 60 * 1000;
+const heldPathCache = new BoundedTtlMap<string, HeldPathEntry>({
+  name: 'path_held_paths',
+  maxEntries: 2_048,
+  maxWeight: 16 * 1024 * 1024,
+  ttlMs: HELD_PATH_TTL_MS,
+  weightOf: (key, value) => key.length * 2 + value.path.length * 128,
+});
+
+export function getHeldPath(packetHash: string, network: string): HeldPathEntry | undefined {
+  const entry = heldPathCache.get(`${packetHash}|${network}`);
+  return entry ? { ...entry, path: [...entry.path] } : undefined;
+}
+
+export function setHeldPath(
+  packetHash: string,
+  network: string,
+  value: HeldPathEntry,
+): void {
+  if (!packetHash || !network || value.path.length === 0 || value.path.some((nodeId) => !nodeId)) return;
+  heldPathCache.set(`${packetHash}|${network}`, { ...value, path: [...value.path] });
+}
+
 /**
  * Sticky node anchors — persists across resolve cache invalidations so that
  * re-resolutions triggered by new observations reuse the same high-confidence
diff --git a/backend/src/path-beta/resolveWorker.ts b/backend/src/path-beta/resolveWorker.ts
index 97efc70..babd981 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-beta/resolveWorker.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-beta/resolveWorker.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { parentPort } from 'worker_threads';
 import { query } from '../db/index.js';
 import { lazyResolvePath } from '../path-lazy/lazyResolver.js';
 import { resolveBetaPathForPacketHash, resolveMultiObserverBetaPath } from './resolver.js';
+import { getHeldPath, setHeldPath, type HeldPathEntry } from './resolveCache.js';
 
 if (!parentPort) throw new Error('resolveWorker must run as a worker thread');
 
@@ -18,17 +19,40 @@ type WorkerMessage = {
   observer?: string;
   stickyMap?: Record<string, string>;
   stickyAgeFraction?: number;
+  heldPath?: HeldPathEntry;
 };
 
 parentPort.on('message', (msg: WorkerMessage) => {
   const stickyMap = msg.stickyMap ? new Map(Object.entries(msg.stickyMap)) : undefined;
+  const heldPath = msg.heldPath ?? getHeldPath(msg.packetHash, msg.network);
   const run = msg.type === 'resolveLazy'
     ? lazyResolvePath(msg.packetHash, msg.network, query)
     : msg.type === 'resolveMulti'
-      ? resolveMultiObserverBetaPath(msg.packetHash, msg.network, stickyMap, msg.stickyAgeFraction)
-      : resolveBetaPathForPacketHash(msg.packetHash, msg.network, msg.observer, stickyMap, msg.stickyAgeFraction);
+      ? resolveMultiObserverBetaPath(msg.packetHash, msg.network, stickyMap, msg.stickyAgeFraction, { heldPath })
+      : resolveBetaPathForPacketHash(
+          msg.packetHash,
+          msg.network,
+          msg.observer,
+          stickyMap,
+          msg.stickyAgeFraction,
+          { heldPath },
+        );
 
   run
-    .then((result) => { parentPort!.postMessage({ id: msg.id, ok: true, result: result ?? null }); })
+    .then((result) => {
+      if (result && msg.type !== 'resolveLazy' && 'canonicalPath' in result) {
+        const path = result.canonicalPath
+          .map((hop: { nodeId?: string | null }) => hop.nodeId ?? '')
+          .filter(Boolean);
+        if (path.length === result.canonicalPath.length && path.length > 0) {
+          setHeldPath(msg.packetHash, msg.network, {
+            path,
+            resolvedAt: Date.now(),
+            physical: true,
+          });
+        }
+      }
+      parentPort!.postMessage({ id: msg.id, ok: true, result: result ?? null });
+    })
     .catch((err: Error) => { parentPort!.postMessage({ id: msg.id, ok: false, error: err.message }); });
 });
diff --git a/backend/src/path-beta/resolver.ts b/backend/src/path-beta/resolver.ts
index c8f3550..facb0b8 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-beta/resolver.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-beta/resolver.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
 import { hasCoords, linkKey } from './geometry.js';
 import {
   decodeBetaCanonicalGroup,
+  decodeBetaCanonicalGroupWithHeldPath,
   groupCompatibleObservations,
   projectCanonicalPathForObserver,
   type BetaObserverEntry,
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ import type {
   PathLearningModel,
   PathPacket,
 } from './types.js';
+import type { HeldPathEntry } from './resolveCache.js';
 
 const contextCache = new BoundedTtlMap<string, BetaResolveContext>({
   name: 'path_context',
@@ -545,6 +547,7 @@ export type PathResolutionOptions = {
   pinContextForBatch?: boolean;
   requiredVisibilityGeneration?: number;
   signal?: AbortSignal;
+  heldPath?: HeldPathEntry;
 };
 
 function throwIfResolutionAborted(options?: PathResolutionOptions): void {
@@ -707,7 +710,13 @@ export async function resolveBetaPathForPacketHash(
   const group = groupCompatibleObservations(entries)
     .find((candidate) => candidate.members.includes(selectedEntry))
     ?? { canonicalHashes: selectedEntry.hops, members: [selectedEntry] };
-  const decoded = decodeBetaCanonicalGroup(group, context, stickyMap, stickyAgeFraction);
+  const decoded = decodeBetaCanonicalGroupWithHeldPath(
+    group,
+    context,
+    options?.heldPath?.path,
+    stickyMap,
+    stickyAgeFraction,
+  );
   const source = selectedEntry.packet.src_node_id
     ? context.nodesById.get(selectedEntry.packet.src_node_id) ?? null
     : null;
@@ -717,6 +726,7 @@ export async function resolveBetaPathForPacketHash(
     observers: [{ observerId: selectedEntry.observerId }],
     network,
   });
+  payload.permutationCount = decoded.held ? Math.min(2, decoded.canonicalHashes.length) : 0;
   if (payload.mode === 'resolved' && shouldTouchPredictedOnline(options)) {
     await recordPredictedOnline(projection.nodeIds);
   }
@@ -879,7 +889,20 @@ export async function resolveMultiObserverBetaPath(
 
   for (const group of groups) {
     throwIfResolutionAborted(options);
-    const decoded = decodeBetaCanonicalGroup(group, context, stickyMap, stickyAgeFraction);
+    const heldStickyMap = new Map(stickyMap ?? []);
+    if (options?.heldPath?.path.length === group.canonicalHashes.length) {
+      for (let position = 0; position < group.canonicalHashes.length; position++) {
+        const hash = normalizePathHash(group.canonicalHashes[position]);
+        const nodeId = options.heldPath.path[position];
+        if (hash && nodeId) heldStickyMap.set(hash, nodeId);
+      }
+    }
+    const decoded = decodeBetaCanonicalGroup(
+      group,
+      context,
+      heldStickyMap.size > 0 ? heldStickyMap : undefined,
+      stickyAgeFraction,
+    );
     if (firstCanonicalPath.length === 0) firstCanonicalPath = buildCanonicalPath(decoded);
     for (let position = 0; position < decoded.canonicalHashes.length; position++) {
       const hop = decoded.hops.get(position);
diff --git a/backend/src/path-beta/sharedDecoder.test.ts b/backend/src/path-beta/sharedDecoder.test.ts
index 32c59da..6cacc87 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-beta/sharedDecoder.test.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-beta/sharedDecoder.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import test from 'node:test';
 import {
   decodeBetaCanonicalGroup,
+  decodeBetaCanonicalGroupWithHeldPath,
   groupCompatibleObservations,
   projectCanonicalPathForObserver,
   type BetaObserverEntry,
@@ -124,3 +125,43 @@ test('observer projection breaks at unresolved hops and never invents a connecti
   assert.equal(projection.resolvedHopCount, 2);
   assert.ok(Math.abs(projection.confidence - (2 / 3)) < 1e-12);
 });
+
+test('refinement keeps a physical held path when an alternative misses the margin', () => {
+  const heldA = meshNode('AA01', 51.0, 0.1);
+  const heldB = meshNode('BB01', 51.1, 0.1);
+  const alternativeB = meshNode('BB02', 51.1, 0.1);
+  const observer = entry('RX', ['AA', 'BB']);
+  observer.rx = meshNode('RX', 51.2, 0.1);
+  const betaContext = context([heldA, heldB, alternativeB, observer.rx]);
+  betaContext.learningModel.prefixProbabilities.set('unknown|BB|AA|BB01', 0.70);
+  betaContext.learningModel.prefixProbabilities.set('unknown|BB|AA|BB02', 0.80);
+
+  const decoded = decodeBetaCanonicalGroupWithHeldPath(
+    { canonicalHashes: observer.hops, members: [observer] },
+    betaContext,
+    ['AA01', 'BB01'],
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(decoded.held, true);
+  assert.equal(decoded.physical, true);
+  assert.equal(decoded.refined, false);
+  assert.deepEqual([...decoded.hops.values()].map((hop) => hop.nodeId), ['AA01', 'BB01']);
+});
+
+test('an impossible held final hop triggers a full re-solve', () => {
+  const impossible = meshNode('AA01', 52.1, 0.1);
+  const replacement = meshNode('AA02', 51.1, 0.1);
+  const observer = entry('RX', ['AA']);
+  observer.rx = meshNode('RX', 51.0, 0.1);
+  const betaContext = context([impossible, replacement, observer.rx]);
+
+  const decoded = decodeBetaCanonicalGroupWithHeldPath(
+    { canonicalHashes: observer.hops, members: [observer] },
+    betaContext,
+    ['AA01'],
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(decoded.held, false);
+  assert.equal(decoded.physical, false);
+  assert.equal(decoded.hops.get(0)?.nodeId, 'AA02');
+});
diff --git a/backend/src/path-beta/sharedDecoder.ts b/backend/src/path-beta/sharedDecoder.ts
index d64dab9..b36801c 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-beta/sharedDecoder.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-beta/sharedDecoder.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,19 @@
 import {
   buildObserverBounds,
-  decodePath,
+  decodePathWithScore,
+  evaluatePhysicalHop,
   indexCandidatesByHash,
+  scoreFixedPath,
   type CandidateNodeEvidence,
   type DecodedHop,
   type ObserverAnchor,
   type PathDecoderEvidence,
 } from '../path-core/decoder.js';
+import { pathingConfig } from '../platform/config/pathing.js';
 import {
   AMBIG_DELTA,
   DIST_DECAY_KM,
   MAX_COL,
-  MAX_HOP_KM,
   ML_DOMINANT_THRESHOLD,
   NULL_BASELINE,
   SCORE,
@@ -37,8 +39,12 @@ export type BetaSharedDecode = {
   canonicalHashes: string[];
   hops: ReadonlyMap<number, DecodedHop>;
   hopConfidences: ReadonlyMap<number, number>;
+  score?: number;
+  baselineScore?: number;
 };
 
+export const HELD_PATH_REFINEMENT_MARGIN = AMBIG_DELTA;
+
 export type BetaPathProjection = {
   confidence: number;
   extraPurplePaths: [number, number][][];
@@ -88,15 +94,19 @@ function directAnchorMap(group: BetaCanonicalGroup): Map<string, ObserverAnchor[
   const anchors = new Map<string, ObserverAnchor[]>();
   for (const entry of group.members) {
     if (!hasCoords(entry.rx)) continue;
-    const hopCount = Number(entry.packet.hop_count ?? 0);
-    if (!Number.isFinite(hopCount) || hopCount < 1) continue;
-    const position = hopCount - 1;
+    const position = entry.hops.length - 1;
+    if (position < 0) continue;
     const hash = entry.hops[position];
     if (!hash || normalizePathHash(group.canonicalHashes[position]) !== normalizePathHash(hash)) continue;
     const key = `${position}:${normalizePathHash(hash)}`;
     const values = anchors.get(key) ?? [];
     if (!values.some((value) => value.nodeId === entry.observerId)) {
-      values.push({ lat: entry.rx.lat!, lon: entry.rx.lon!, nodeId: entry.observerId });
+      values.push({
+        lat: entry.rx.lat!,
+        lon: entry.rx.lon!,
+        nodeId: entry.observerId,
+        elevationM: entry.rx.elevation_m,
+      });
     }
     anchors.set(key, values);
   }
@@ -121,18 +131,21 @@ export function decodeBetaCanonicalGroup(
   context: BetaResolveContext,
   stickyMap?: ReadonlyMap<string, string>,
   stickyAgeFraction?: number,
+  fixed?: ReadonlyMap<number, string>,
+  baselineNodeIds?: readonly string[],
 ): BetaSharedDecode {
   const canonicalHashes = group.canonicalHashes.map(normalizePathHash).filter(Boolean);
   const observerCoordinates = group.members
     .map((entry) => entry.rx)
     .filter(hasCoords)
     .map((node) => ({ lat: node.lat!, lon: node.lon! }));
-  const bounds = buildObserverBounds(observerCoordinates, MAX_HOP_KM);
+  const bounds = buildObserverBounds(observerCoordinates, pathingConfig.maxHopKm);
   const candidateEvidence: CandidateNodeEvidence[] = context.repeaterNodes.map((node) => ({
     nodeId: node.node_id,
     name: node.name,
     lat: node.lat,
     lon: node.lon,
+    elevationM: node.elevation_m,
   }));
   const candidatesByHash = indexCandidatesByHash(canonicalHashes, candidateEvidence, bounds);
   const anchors = directAnchorMap(group);
@@ -140,16 +153,29 @@ export function decodeBetaCanonicalGroup(
   const bucketHours = context.learningModel.bucketHours || 6;
   const bucket = currentHourBucket(bucketHours);
   const stickyStrength = clamp(1 - Number(stickyAgeFraction ?? 0), 0, 1);
+  const sourceNode = group.members
+    .map((entry) => entry.packet.src_node_id
+      ? context.nodesById.get(entry.packet.src_node_id) ?? null
+      : null)
+    .find(hasCoords);
 
   const evidence: PathDecoderEvidence = {
     weights: SCORE,
-    maxHopKm: MAX_HOP_KM,
+    maxHopKm: pathingConfig.maxHopKm,
     distanceDecayKm: DIST_DECAY_KM,
     mlDominantThreshold: ML_DOMINANT_THRESHOLD,
     unresolvedBaseline: NULL_BASELINE,
     ambiguityDelta: AMBIG_DELTA,
     maxColumnCandidates: MAX_COL,
     candidatesByHash,
+    fixed,
+    sourceAnchor: sourceNode ? {
+      lat: sourceNode.lat!,
+      lon: sourceNode.lon!,
+      nodeId: sourceNode.node_id,
+      elevationM: sourceNode.elevation_m,
+    } : undefined,
+    endpointTransitionsGateOnly: true,
     directAnchors: (position, hash) => anchors.get(`${position}:${normalizePathHash(hash)}`) ?? [],
     prefixProbability: (nodeId, hash, previousHash) => {
       const prefix = normalizePathHash(hash);
@@ -182,12 +208,161 @@ export function decodeBetaCanonicalGroup(
         Number(metrics?.multibyte_observed_count ?? 0),
       ) >= 2;
     },
+    physicalTransition: (from, to) => {
+      const metrics = from.nodeId && to.nodeId
+        ? context.linkMetrics.get(linkKey(from.nodeId, to.nodeId))
+        : undefined;
+      const physics = evaluatePhysicalHop(from, to, {
+        maxHopKm: pathingConfig.maxHopKm,
+        earthEffectiveRadiusM: pathingConfig.earthEffectiveRadiusM,
+        behindEarthToleranceKm: pathingConfig.behindEarthToleranceKm,
+        impossibleLinkPathlossDb: pathingConfig.impossibleLinkPathlossDb,
+        pathlossDb: metrics?.itm_path_loss_db,
+        antennaHeightM: pathingConfig.defaultAntennaHeightM,
+      });
+      return {
+        possible: physics.possible,
+        score: pathingConfig.physicsSoftMarginWeight * physics.softMargin,
+      };
+    },
   };
 
-  const hops = decodePath(canonicalHashes, evidence);
+  const decoded = decodePathWithScore(canonicalHashes, evidence);
+  const hops = decoded.hops;
   const hopConfidences = new Map<number, number>();
   for (const [position, hop] of hops) hopConfidences.set(position, marginConfidence(hop));
-  return { canonicalHashes, hops, hopConfidences };
+  return {
+    canonicalHashes,
+    hops,
+    hopConfidences,
+    score: decoded.score,
+    ...(baselineNodeIds
+      ? { baselineScore: scoreFixedPath(canonicalHashes, baselineNodeIds, evidence) }
+      : {}),
+  };
+}
+
+function hardHopPossible(from: MeshNode, to: MeshNode, context: BetaResolveContext): boolean {
+  if (!hasCoords(from) || !hasCoords(to)) return false;
+  return evaluatePhysicalHop(
+    { lat: from.lat!, lon: from.lon!, elevationM: from.elevation_m },
+    { lat: to.lat!, lon: to.lon!, elevationM: to.elevation_m },
+    {
+      maxHopKm: pathingConfig.maxHopKm,
+      earthEffectiveRadiusM: pathingConfig.earthEffectiveRadiusM,
+      behindEarthToleranceKm: pathingConfig.behindEarthToleranceKm,
+      impossibleLinkPathlossDb: pathingConfig.impossibleLinkPathlossDb,
+      pathlossDb: context.linkMetrics.get(linkKey(from.node_id, to.node_id))?.itm_path_loss_db,
+      antennaHeightM: pathingConfig.defaultAntennaHeightM,
+    },
+  ).possible;
+}
+
+/** Check every held relay hop, including source and repeater→observer endpoints. */
+export function heldPathIsPhysicallyPossible(
+  group: BetaCanonicalGroup,
+  context: BetaResolveContext,
+  nodeIds: readonly string[],
+): boolean {
+  if (nodeIds.length !== group.canonicalHashes.length || nodeIds.length === 0) return false;
+  const nodes = nodeIds.map((nodeId, position) => {
+    const node = context.nodesById.get(nodeId);
+    const hash = normalizePathHash(group.canonicalHashes[position]);
+    return node && nodePathHash(node.node_id, hash) === hash ? node : null;
+  });
+  if (nodes.some((node) => !hasCoords(node))) return false;
+  for (let position = 1; position < nodes.length; position++) {
+    if (!hardHopPossible(nodes[position - 1]!, nodes[position]!, context)) return false;
+  }
+  for (const member of group.members) {
+    const source = member.packet.src_node_id
+      ? context.nodesById.get(member.packet.src_node_id)
+      : undefined;
+    if (source && !hardHopPossible(source, nodes[0]!, context)) return false;
+    const terminalPosition = member.hops.length - 1;
+    const terminalRelay = nodes[terminalPosition];
+    if (!terminalRelay || !hardHopPossible(terminalRelay, member.rx, context)) return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+export type HeldPathDecode = BetaSharedDecode & {
+  held: boolean;
+  physical: boolean;
+  refined: boolean;
+};
+
+function materializeHeldDecode(
+  group: BetaCanonicalGroup,
+  context: BetaResolveContext,
+  nodeIds: readonly string[],
+): BetaSharedDecode {
+  const canonicalHashes = group.canonicalHashes.map(normalizePathHash).filter(Boolean);
+  const hops = new Map<number, DecodedHop>();
+  const hopConfidences = new Map<number, number>();
+  for (let position = 0; position < canonicalHashes.length; position++) {
+    const node = context.nodesById.get(nodeIds[position]!);
+    hops.set(position, {
+      hash: canonicalHashes[position]!,
+      nodeId: node?.node_id ?? null,
+      name: node?.name ?? null,
+      lat: node?.lat ?? null,
+      lon: node?.lon ?? null,
+      margin: Infinity,
+      ambiguous: false,
+    });
+    hopConfidences.set(position, node ? 1 : 0);
+  }
+  return { canonicalHashes, hops, hopConfidences, score: 0 };
+}
+
+/** Hold a physical path and refine only the two observer-nearest positions. */
+export function decodeBetaCanonicalGroupWithHeldPath(
+  group: BetaCanonicalGroup,
+  context: BetaResolveContext,
+  heldNodeIds: readonly string[] | undefined,
+  stickyMap?: ReadonlyMap<string, string>,
+  stickyAgeFraction?: number,
+): HeldPathDecode {
+  if (!heldNodeIds || !heldPathIsPhysicallyPossible(group, context, heldNodeIds)) {
+    return {
+      ...decodeBetaCanonicalGroup(group, context, stickyMap, stickyAgeFraction),
+      held: false,
+      physical: false,
+      refined: false,
+    };
+  }
+
+  let current = [...heldNodeIds];
+  let refined = false;
+  const lastPosition = current.length - 1;
+  for (let position = lastPosition; position >= Math.max(0, lastPosition - 1); position--) {
+    const fixed = new Map<number, string>();
+    current.forEach((nodeId, index) => { if (index !== position) fixed.set(index, nodeId); });
+    const candidate = decodeBetaCanonicalGroup(
+      group,
+      context,
+      stickyMap,
+      stickyAgeFraction,
+      fixed,
+      current,
+    );
+    const candidateHop = candidate.hops.get(position);
+    if (candidateHop?.nodeId
+        && candidateHop.nodeId !== current[position]
+        && Number.isFinite(candidate.score)
+        && Number.isFinite(candidate.baselineScore)
+        && candidate.score! >= candidate.baselineScore! + HELD_PATH_REFINEMENT_MARGIN) {
+      current[position] = candidateHop.nodeId;
+      refined = true;
+    }
+  }
+  return {
+    ...materializeHeldDecode(group, context, current),
+    held: true,
+    physical: true,
+    refined,
+  };
 }
 
 type PositionedPoint = {
diff --git a/backend/src/path-beta/slowMode.ts b/backend/src/path-beta/slowMode.ts
index 7ace8ec..34587c7 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-beta/slowMode.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-beta/slowMode.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ import {
   setResolveCache,
   mergeStickyNodes,
   getStickyNodeMap,
+  getHeldPath,
+  setHeldPath,
 } from './resolveCache.js';
 
 type PendingEntry = {
@@ -150,6 +152,7 @@ async function finalizeSlowResolution(packetHash: string, network: string): Prom
       ? Object.fromEntries(stickyEntry.hashToNodeId)
       : undefined;
     const stickyAgeFraction = stickyEntry?.ageFraction;
+    const heldPath = getHeldPath(packetHash, network);
     const result = await (await getSlowPool()).runBackground<{
       stickyUpdates?: Record<string, string>;
       observers?: unknown;
@@ -159,6 +162,7 @@ async function finalizeSlowResolution(packetHash: string, network: string): Prom
       packetHash,
       network,
       ...(stickyMap ? { stickyMap, stickyAgeFraction } : {}),
+      ...(heldPath ? { heldPath } : {}),
     });
     if (!result) return;
     const { stickyUpdates, ...cacheableResult } = result;
@@ -166,6 +170,15 @@ async function finalizeSlowResolution(packetHash: string, network: string): Prom
     if (stickyUpdates && Object.keys(stickyUpdates).length > 0) {
       mergeStickyNodes(packetHash, network, stickyUpdates);
     }
+    const canonicalPath = Array.isArray(result.canonicalPath) ? result.canonicalPath : [];
+    const heldNodes = canonicalPath
+      .map((hop) => hop && typeof hop === 'object' && 'nodeId' in hop
+        ? String((hop as { nodeId?: unknown }).nodeId ?? '')
+        : '')
+      .filter(Boolean);
+    if (heldNodes.length > 0 && heldNodes.length === canonicalPath.length) {
+      setHeldPath(packetHash, network, { path: heldNodes, resolvedAt: Date.now(), physical: true });
+    }
     await (await getSlowRecorder())(packetHash, network, result).catch(() => {
       /* observability is best-effort */
     });
diff --git a/backend/src/path-core/decoder.test.ts b/backend/src/path-core/decoder.test.ts
index 23c7de9..4791a0e 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-core/decoder.test.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-core/decoder.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import test from 'node:test';
 import {
   buildObserverBounds,
   decodePath,
+  evaluatePhysicalHop,
   indexCandidatesByHash,
   type CandidateNode,
   type PathDecoderEvidence,
@@ -133,3 +134,19 @@ test('builds observer bounds and filters unpositioned or remote candidates', ()
 
   assert.deepEqual(indexed.get('AA')?.map((candidate) => candidate.nodeId), ['AA-near']);
 });
+
+test('missing elevation never causes a curvature rejection', () => {
+  const evaluated = evaluatePhysicalHop(
+    { lat: 51, lon: 0, elevationM: null },
+    { lat: 51.72, lon: 0, elevationM: 0 },
+    {
+      maxHopKm: 100,
+      earthEffectiveRadiusM: 6_371_000 / (1 - 0.25),
+      behindEarthToleranceKm: 25,
+      impossibleLinkPathlossDb: 165,
+    },
+  );
+  assert.ok(evaluated.distanceKm > 75);
+  assert.equal(evaluated.horizonMarginKm, null);
+  assert.equal(evaluated.possible, true);
+});
diff --git a/backend/src/path-core/decoder.ts b/backend/src/path-core/decoder.ts
index 573f82e..885f82c 100644
--- a/backend/src/path-core/decoder.ts
+++ b/backend/src/path-core/decoder.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export type CandidateNode = {
   name: string | null;
   lat: number;
   lon: number;
+  elevationM?: number | null;
 };
 
 export type CandidateNodeEvidence = {
@@ -33,9 +34,26 @@ export type CandidateNodeEvidence = {
   name: string | null;
   lat: number | null;
   lon: number | null;
+  elevationM?: number | null;
 };
 
-export type ObserverAnchor = GeographicPoint & { nodeId?: string };
+export type ObserverAnchor = GeographicPoint & { nodeId?: string; elevationM?: number | null };
+
+export type PhysicalHopLimits = {
+  maxHopKm: number;
+  earthEffectiveRadiusM: number;
+  behindEarthToleranceKm: number;
+  impossibleLinkPathlossDb: number;
+  pathlossDb?: number | null;
+  antennaHeightM?: number;
+};
+
+export type PhysicalHopEvaluation = {
+  possible: boolean;
+  distanceKm: number;
+  horizonMarginKm: number | null;
+  softMargin: number;
+};
 
 export type DecodedHop = {
   hash: string;
@@ -60,6 +78,16 @@ export type PathDecoderEvidence = {
   directAnchors: (position: number, hash: string) => readonly ObserverAnchor[];
   sourceAnchor?: ObserverAnchor;
   terminalAnchors?: readonly ObserverAnchor[];
+  /** Optional fixed node assignment at a trellis position. */
+  fixed?: ReadonlyMap<number, string>;
+  /** Optional hard-physics gate plus small ranking-only score. */
+  physicalTransition?: (
+    from: CandidateNode,
+    to: CandidateNode,
+    distanceKm: number,
+  ) => { possible: boolean; score: number };
+  /** Endpoint anchors use only hard gates plus the bounded physics tiebreaker. */
+  endpointTransitionsGateOnly?: boolean;
   prefixProbability: (nodeId: string, hash: string, prevHash: string | null) => number;
   positionPrefixCount?: (position: number, nodeId: string, hash: string) => number;
   corridorPriorCount?: (position: number, nodeId: string) => number;
@@ -90,6 +118,7 @@ type DecoderCandidate = {
   name: string | null;
   lat: number | null;
   lon: number | null;
+  elevationM?: number | null;
 };
 
 const UNRESOLVED_CANDIDATE: DecoderCandidate = {
@@ -110,6 +139,42 @@ export function distanceKm(a: GeographicPoint, b: GeographicPoint): number {
   return 2 * earthRadiusKm * Math.asin(Math.sqrt(sinLat + cosA * cosB * sinLon));
 }
 
+/** Evaluate calibrated hard-impossibility gates for one radio hop.
+ * Missing elevation deliberately disables only the curvature gate. */
+export function evaluatePhysicalHop(
+  from: GeographicPoint & { elevationM?: number | null },
+  to: GeographicPoint & { elevationM?: number | null },
+  limits: PhysicalHopLimits,
+): PhysicalHopEvaluation {
+  const distance = distanceKm(from, to);
+  const lossImpossible = limits.pathlossDb != null
+    && Number.isFinite(limits.pathlossDb)
+    && limits.pathlossDb > limits.impossibleLinkPathlossDb;
+  let horizonMarginKm: number | null = null;
+  if (from.elevationM != null && to.elevationM != null
+      && Number.isFinite(from.elevationM) && Number.isFinite(to.elevationM)) {
+    const antennaHeightM = limits.antennaHeightM ?? 15;
+    const radiusKm = limits.earthEffectiveRadiusM / 1_000;
+    const fromHeightKm = Math.max(0, from.elevationM + antennaHeightM) / 1_000;
+    const toHeightKm = Math.max(0, to.elevationM + antennaHeightM) / 1_000;
+    const horizonKm = Math.sqrt(2 * radiusKm * fromHeightKm)
+      + Math.sqrt(2 * radiusKm * toHeightKm);
+    horizonMarginKm = horizonKm - distance;
+  }
+  const curvatureImpossible = horizonMarginKm != null
+    && horizonMarginKm < -limits.behindEarthToleranceKm;
+  const possible = distance <= limits.maxHopKm && !lossImpossible && !curvatureImpossible;
+  return {
+    possible,
+    distanceKm: distance,
+    horizonMarginKm,
+    // Ranking only: bounded so physics cannot swamp the tuned evidence.
+    softMargin: horizonMarginKm == null
+      ? 0
+      : Math.max(-1, Math.min(1, horizonMarginKm / limits.behindEarthToleranceKm)),
+  };
+}
+
 function minDistanceToSet(pt: GeographicPoint, anchors: readonly GeographicPoint[]): number {
   let min = Infinity;
   for (const anchor of anchors) min = Math.min(min, distanceKm(pt, anchor));
@@ -183,15 +248,30 @@ function emissionScore(
   if (candidate.nodeId === null) return evidence.unresolvedBaseline;
 
   const positioned = candidate.lat != null && candidate.lon != null;
+  let directPhysicsScore = 0;
   if (anchors.length > 0) {
     if (!positioned) return -Infinity;
     if (minDistanceToSet({ lat: candidate.lat!, lon: candidate.lon! }, anchors) > evidence.maxHopKm) {
       return -Infinity;
     }
+    if (evidence.physicalTransition) {
+      let bestPhysics = -Infinity;
+      for (const anchor of anchors) {
+        const physics = evidence.physicalTransition(
+          candidate as CandidateNode,
+          endpointCandidate(anchor) as CandidateNode,
+          distanceKm(candidate as CandidateNode, anchor),
+        );
+        if (physics.possible) bestPhysics = Math.max(bestPhysics, physics.score);
+      }
+      if (!isFinite(bestPhysics)) return -Infinity;
+      directPhysicsScore = bestPhysics;
+    }
   }
 
   let score = evidence.weights.prefix
     * Math.log1p(Math.max(0, evidence.prefixProbability(candidate.nodeId, hash, prevHash)));
+  score += directPhysicsScore;
   const mlScore = evidence.mlPrefixScore(hash, candidate.nodeId);
   score += mlScore >= evidence.mlDominantThreshold
     ? Math.min(evidence.weights.mlDominantCap, mlScore * evidence.weights.mlDominantCap)
@@ -237,6 +317,15 @@ function transitionScore(
       { lat: current.lat, lon: current.lon },
     );
     if (distance > evidence.maxHopKm) return -Infinity;
+    if (evidence.physicalTransition) {
+      const physics = evidence.physicalTransition(
+        previous as CandidateNode,
+        current as CandidateNode,
+        distance,
+      );
+      if (!physics.possible) return -Infinity;
+      score += physics.score;
+    }
     score -= evidence.weights.dist * (distance / evidence.distanceDecayKm);
   }
   score += evidence.weights.edge
@@ -262,6 +351,20 @@ function transitionScore(
   return score;
 }
 
+function endpointTransitionScore(
+  from: DecoderCandidate,
+  to: DecoderCandidate,
+  evidence: PathDecoderEvidence,
+): number {
+  if (!evidence.endpointTransitionsGateOnly) return transitionScore(0, from, to, evidence);
+  if (from.lat == null || from.lon == null || to.lat == null || to.lon == null) return -Infinity;
+  const distance = distanceKm(from as CandidateNode, to as CandidateNode);
+  if (distance > evidence.maxHopKm) return -Infinity;
+  if (!evidence.physicalTransition) return 0;
+  const physics = evidence.physicalTransition(from as CandidateNode, to as CandidateNode, distance);
+  return physics.possible ? physics.score : -Infinity;
+}
+
 function buildColumn(
   position: number,
   pathLength: number,
@@ -271,6 +374,8 @@ function buildColumn(
 ): DecoderCandidate[] {
   const raw = evidence.candidatesByHash.get(hash) ?? [];
   let candidates: DecoderCandidate[] = raw.map((candidate) => ({ ...candidate }));
+  const fixedNodeId = evidence.fixed?.get(position);
+  if (fixedNodeId) candidates = candidates.filter((candidate) => candidate.nodeId === fixedNodeId);
   if (candidates.length > evidence.maxColumnCandidates) {
     const anchors = evidence.directAnchors(position, hash);
     candidates = candidates
@@ -294,6 +399,7 @@ function endpointCandidate(anchor: ObserverAnchor): DecoderCandidate {
     name: null,
     lat: anchor.lat,
     lon: anchor.lon,
+    elevationM: anchor.elevationM,
   };
 }
 
@@ -306,19 +412,67 @@ function bestTerminalTransition(
   if (terminals.length === 0) return 0;
   let best = -Infinity;
   for (const terminal of terminals) {
-    best = Math.max(best, transitionScore(position, candidate, endpointCandidate(terminal), evidence));
+    best = Math.max(best, evidence.endpointTransitionsGateOnly
+      ? endpointTransitionScore(candidate, endpointCandidate(terminal), evidence)
+      : transitionScore(position, candidate, endpointCandidate(terminal), evidence));
   }
   return best;
 }
 
 /** Decode a coherent node assignment for every canonical path-hash position. */
-export function decodePath(
+export type DecodedPathResult = { hops: Map<number, DecodedHop>; score: number };
+
+/** Score one fully specified path without running a trellis traversal. */
+export function scoreFixedPath(
+  canonicalHashes: readonly string[],
+  nodeIds: readonly string[],
+  evidence: PathDecoderEvidence,
+): number {
+  if (canonicalHashes.length === 0 || nodeIds.length !== canonicalHashes.length) return -Infinity;
+  const chosen: DecoderCandidate[] = [];
+  let score = 0;
+  for (let position = 0; position < canonicalHashes.length; position++) {
+    const hash = canonicalHashes[position]!;
+    const previousHash = position > 0 ? canonicalHashes[position - 1] ?? null : null;
+    const candidate = (evidence.candidatesByHash.get(hash) ?? [])
+      .find((value) => value.nodeId === nodeIds[position]);
+    if (!candidate) return -Infinity;
+    const emission = emissionScore(
+      position,
+      canonicalHashes.length,
+      hash,
+      previousHash,
+      candidate,
+      evidence.directAnchors(position, hash),
+      evidence,
+    );
+    if (!isFinite(emission)) return -Infinity;
+    score += emission;
+    const previous = chosen[position - 1];
+    const transition = previous
+      ? transitionScore(position, previous, candidate, evidence)
+      : evidence.sourceAnchor
+        ? endpointTransitionScore(endpointCandidate(evidence.sourceAnchor), candidate, evidence)
+        : 0;
+    if (!isFinite(transition)) return -Infinity;
+    score += transition;
+    chosen.push(candidate);
+  }
+  const terminal = bestTerminalTransition(
+    canonicalHashes.length,
+    chosen[chosen.length - 1]!,
+    evidence,
+  );
+  return isFinite(terminal) ? score + terminal : -Infinity;
+}
+
+export function decodePathWithScore(
   canonicalHashes: readonly string[],
   evidence: PathDecoderEvidence,
-): Map<number, DecodedHop> {
+): DecodedPathResult {
   const pathLength = canonicalHashes.length;
   const decoded = new Map<number, DecodedHop>();
-  if (pathLength === 0) return decoded;
+  if (pathLength === 0) return { hops: decoded, score: 0 };
 
   const columns: DecoderCandidate[][] = [];
   const emissions: number[][] = [];
@@ -343,7 +497,7 @@ export function decodePath(
   const forward: number[][] = columns.map((column) => new Array(column.length).fill(-Infinity));
   for (let candidate = 0; candidate < columns[0]!.length; candidate++) {
     const startTransition = evidence.sourceAnchor
-      ? transitionScore(0, endpointCandidate(evidence.sourceAnchor), columns[0]![candidate]!, evidence)
+      ? endpointTransitionScore(endpointCandidate(evidence.sourceAnchor), columns[0]![candidate]!, evidence)
       : 0;
     if (isFinite(startTransition) && isFinite(emissions[0]![candidate]!)) {
       forward[0]![candidate] = emissions[0]![candidate]! + startTransition;
@@ -432,5 +586,19 @@ export function decodePath(
     });
   }
 
-  return decoded;
+  let score = -Infinity;
+  for (let candidate = 0; candidate < columns[pathLength - 1]!.length; candidate++) {
+    const total = forward[pathLength - 1]![candidate]!
+      + backward[pathLength - 1]![candidate]!;
+    if (total > score) score = total;
+  }
+  return { hops: decoded, score };
+}
+
+/** Decode a coherent node assignment for every canonical path-hash position. */
+export function decodePath(
+  canonicalHashes: readonly string[],
+  evidence: PathDecoderEvidence,
+): Map<number, DecodedHop> {
+  return decodePathWithScore(canonicalHashes, evidence).hops;
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/pathing/pathingService.test.ts b/backend/src/pathing/pathingService.test.ts
index 4db2a63..ba35956 100644
--- a/backend/src/pathing/pathingService.test.ts
+++ b/backend/src/pathing/pathingService.test.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ test('path history memory entries are bound to the current privacy generation',
     pathHistoryCacheTtlMs: 60_000,
     getResolveCache: () => undefined,
     setResolveCache: () => undefined,
+    getHeldPath: () => undefined,
+    setHeldPath: () => undefined,
     resolvePool: { run: async () => null },
     repository,
   });
diff --git a/backend/src/pathing/pathingService.ts b/backend/src/pathing/pathingService.ts
index 8bbb352..39346e9 100644
--- a/backend/src/pathing/pathingService.ts
+++ b/backend/src/pathing/pathingService.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { PathingRepository } from './pathingRepository.js';
+import type { HeldPathEntry } from '../path-beta/resolveCache.js';
 import {
   toPublicBetaResultDto,
   toPublicMultiObserverDto,
@@ -9,8 +10,8 @@ import {
 type ResolvePoolFn = {
   run<T>(
     job:
-      | { type: 'resolve'; packetHash: string; network: string; observer?: string | null }
-      | { type: 'resolveMulti'; packetHash: string; network: string },
+      | { type: 'resolve'; packetHash: string; network: string; observer?: string | null; heldPath?: HeldPathEntry }
+      | { type: 'resolveMulti'; packetHash: string; network: string; heldPath?: HeldPathEntry },
   ): Promise<T | null>;
 };
 
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@ type PathingServiceDeps = {
   pathHistoryCacheTtlMs: number;
   getResolveCache: (key: string) => unknown;
   setResolveCache: (key: string, value: unknown) => void;
+  getHeldPath: (packetHash: string, network: string) => HeldPathEntry | undefined;
+  setHeldPath: (packetHash: string, network: string, value: HeldPathEntry) => void;
   resolvePool: ResolvePoolFn;
   repository: PathingRepository;
 };
@@ -121,6 +124,8 @@ export function createPathingService(deps: PathingServiceDeps) {
     pathHistoryCacheTtlMs,
     getResolveCache,
     setResolveCache,
+    getHeldPath,
+    setHeldPath,
     resolvePool,
     repository,
   } = deps;
@@ -140,12 +145,17 @@ export function createPathingService(deps: PathingServiceDeps) {
         packetHash,
         network,
         observer,
+        heldPath: getHeldPath(packetHash, network),
       });
       if (!resolved) {
         throw new Error('PACKET_NOT_FOUND');
       }
 
       const projected = toPublicBetaResultDto(addPathExplanation(resolved));
+      const heldNodes = projected.canonicalPath.map((hop) => hop.nodeId ?? '').filter(Boolean);
+      if (heldNodes.length === projected.canonicalPath.length && heldNodes.length > 0) {
+        setHeldPath(packetHash, network, { path: heldNodes, resolvedAt: Date.now(), physical: true });
+      }
       setResolveCache(cacheKey, projected);
       return projected;
     })();
@@ -174,12 +184,17 @@ export function createPathingService(deps: PathingServiceDeps) {
         type: 'resolveMulti',
         packetHash,
         network,
+        heldPath: getHeldPath(packetHash, network),
       });
       if (!resolved) {
         throw new Error('PACKET_NOT_FOUND');
       }
 
       const projected = toPublicMultiObserverDto(addPathExplanation(resolved));
+      const heldNodes = projected.canonicalPath.map((hop) => hop.nodeId ?? '').filter(Boolean);
+      if (heldNodes.length === projected.canonicalPath.length && heldNodes.length > 0) {
+        setHeldPath(packetHash, network, { path: heldNodes, resolvedAt: Date.now(), physical: true });
+      }
       setResolveCache(cacheKey, projected);
       return projected;
     })();
diff --git a/backend/src/platform/config/pathing.ts b/backend/src/platform/config/pathing.ts
index 661a74c..4ba3f4d 100644
--- a/backend/src/platform/config/pathing.ts
+++ b/backend/src/platform/config/pathing.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@ export const pathingConfig = {
   maxBetaHops: 25,
   purpleThreshold: 0.45,
   earthEffectiveRadiusM: 6_371_000 / (1 - 0.25),
+  defaultAntennaHeightM: 15,
+  behindEarthToleranceKm: 25,
+  // Physics is a bounded tiebreaker; full-strength transition physics reduced
+  // the bake-off accuracy by overwhelming the tuned evidence model.
+  physicsSoftMarginWeight: 0.05,
   prefixAmbiguityFloorKm: 45,
   weakLinkPathlossMaxDb: 137.5,
   looseLinkPathlossMaxDb: 146.0,
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/usePacketPathOverlay.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/usePacketPathOverlay.ts
index d97b5f6..e605a94 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/usePacketPathOverlay.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/usePacketPathOverlay.ts
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ export function usePacketPathOverlay({
   ): Promise<MultiObserverBetaResponse | null> => {
     prunePredictionCache();
     const key = cacheKey(packetHash, observerIds, networkName);
+    const inflightKey = mode === 'slow' ? `${key}|slow` : key;
     // Slow-mode requests must not be served from the eager cache or deduped
     // onto an in-flight eager fetch — the whole point is the post-window set.
     if (mode !== 'slow') {
@@ -282,9 +283,9 @@ export function usePacketPathOverlay({
       if (cached && cached.ts >= minFreshTs && Date.now() - cached.ts <= PREDICTION_CACHE_TTL_MS) {
         return Promise.resolve(cached.response);
       }
-      const inflight = multiInflightRef.current.get(key);
-      if (inflight) return inflight;
     }
+    const inflight = multiInflightRef.current.get(inflightKey);
+    if (inflight) return inflight;
 
     const fetchFn: () => Promise<MultiObserverBetaResponse | null> = mode === 'slow'
       ? () => fetchServerBetaMultiSlow(packetHash, networkName)
@@ -300,9 +301,9 @@ export function usePacketPathOverlay({
       })
       .catch(() => null)
       .finally(() => {
-        multiInflightRef.current.delete(key);
+        multiInflightRef.current.delete(inflightKey);
       });
-    multiInflightRef.current.set(key, promise);
+    multiInflightRef.current.set(inflightKey, promise);
     return promise;
   }, [prunePredictionCache]);
 
@@ -341,7 +342,9 @@ export function usePacketPathOverlay({
 
     if (filters.betaPaths && latest?.packetHash && latest.path?.length && observerIds.length > 0) {
       const reqSeq = ++activeReqSeqRef.current;
-      void resolveMultiPrediction(latest.packetHash, observerIds, network, latest.ts)
+      // The feed renders its local path immediately, then upgrades once the
+      // bounded slow-mode request sees the complete propagation window.
+      void resolveMultiPrediction(latest.packetHash, observerIds, network, latest.ts, 'slow')
         .then((response) => {
           if (reqSeq !== activeReqSeqRef.current) return;
           applyServerPrediction(latest.packetHash, response);
@@ -434,10 +437,9 @@ export function usePacketPathOverlay({
 
     if (filters.betaPaths && pinnedPacket.packetHash && pinnedPacket.path?.length && observerIds.length > 0) {
       const reqSeq = ++activeReqSeqRef.current;
-      // Pinned packet: slow mode — wait out the propagation window so the
-      // path is resolved against the COMPLETE observer set. The local path
-      // (built above) renders meanwhile; this upgrades it once final.
-      void resolveMultiPrediction(pinnedPacket.packetHash, observerIds, network, pinnedPacket.ts, 'slow')
+      // Pinned/detail views use the fast path; the local path renders while
+      // the server prediction is fetched.
+      void resolveMultiPrediction(pinnedPacket.packetHash, observerIds, network, pinnedPacket.ts)
         .then((response) => {
           if (reqSeq !== activeReqSeqRef.current) return;
           applyServerPrediction(pinnedPacket.packetHash!, response);