Tried a shortcut through the Weminuche Creek drainage last fall

I figured I could save 4 miles by following a game trail down to the creek instead of staying on the main trail. Got cliffed out above a 15 foot drop with my pack on and had to backtrack 2 hours in loose scree. Has anyone else had a shortcut backfire like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

angela_park1d ago

Used to be the type to always try and shave off miles with a "clever" shortcut. Then I spent a whole afternoon postholing through waist-deep snow in the Wind Rivers because my "route" was actually just a frozen marsh. That hike turned a 12 mile day into a 16 mile sufferfest and cured me of my shortcut obsession for good.

michaelrodriguez1d ago

Did you at least learn to check topo maps first?