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The 'shortcut' over Rattlesnake Ridge last month added 3 miles to my trip
I took that unmarked trail thinking it would save time, but after sliding down a steep gravel section and backtracking twice, I ended up at dark with my water half gone, so has anyone else found a cutoff that actually works?
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craig.john12d ago
Three miles added? That stings. Still, sliding down gravel and backtracking twice sounds like you earned that extra distance the hard way. Half your water gone by dark is rough, I've been there with a dry filter and no backup. That shortcut near the old mine shaft on the west side actually shaved off about a mile for me last spring, but only because the blazes were still faintly visible. 100% agree that most of those unmarked trails are traps unless you know exactly where they go.
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Craig's got rose-colored glasses on. That shortcut near the old mine shaft? Probably just got lucky. Most of those unmarked trails were old logging roads that dead-end into cliffs or thick brush. You add three miles to your trip because you're fighting the terrain instead of following a clear path. The blazes get covered by storms or washed out by spring runoff. If you're not local and don't know every bend, you're gambling with your safety. Better to stick with the marked route and plan your time right. Saves water, saves light, saves your knees.
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grant.felix12d ago
Ngl I see it different. That shortcut near the old mine shaft is exactly the one that got me turned around for an hour last fall. The blazes were ghosted out and I ended up bushwhacking through manzanita till I hit a drop-off. I'd rather add three predictable miles on a marked trail than gamble on saving one on something that might not even connect.
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