Found a trail shortcut on the PCT that saved me 4 miles of switchbacks

Last summer I was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail near Mount Hood and got totally fed up with these endless switchbacks going up a ridge. I mean i checked my GPS and it was showing like 2 extra miles of zigzagging through boring forest. So I just decided to cut straight up the hill through some brush, figured it couldnt be that bad. Turns out there was an old game trail hidden under ferns that went almost straight up and saved me about 45 minutes. I felt like a genius but also kinda worried I was wrecking some fragile alpine plants. Has anyone else found a random shortcut that actually worked without getting totally lost or eaten by a bear?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_daniel9d ago

Isnt that how it always goes though, like the most efficient path in life is almost never the one everyone else is taking? I swear the "official" way to do anything is like 30% longer just because someone wanted to avoid a little risk.

ray_mitchell9d ago

Ugh yeah those switchbacks drive me crazy too! I did the same thing once near Crater Lake and it worked but I felt so guilty about trampling the plants. Honestly if the trail is that badly designed people are gonna cut anyway. The trail builders should just make them less steep and direct instead of forcing everyone to go miles out of their way. Its a lose lose for the environment when hikers make their own paths.