My dad said to skip the switchbacks on the PCT section near Burney Falls

He told me the direct route would save a mile and an hour, so I tried it on my trip last fall. The 'shortcut' was a steep, loose scree slope that took twice as long and shredded my shoe tread. I ended up rolling my ankle and had to camp early, missing the sunset view from the actual trail. That extra mile on the maintained path would have been way faster and safer. Anyone else have a story about bad trail advice that backfired?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sarah2mo ago

Oh man, that "steep, loose scree slope" description just gave me flashbacks. I had a friend swear a certain pass was a flat walk, and it turned out to be a brutal boulder field. You're just sliding back half a step for every one you take. It's the worst feeling, knowing the real trail is right there and you're stuck in some sketchy mess.

wendy6742mo ago

Yeah that "sliding back half a step" feeling is the worst. I read a trail guide once that called it "walking on ball bearings," which is way too accurate. Makes you really check those route descriptions.

the_zara29d ago

Oh man, that feeling of knowing the real trail is right there while you're stuck sliding around on loose rocks? That's such a specific kind of trail rage. I had a guy in a parking lot tell me a "fisherman's path" would cut a mile off a river hike, and it ended up being this overgrown, muddy mess where I nearly stepped on a rattler. I spent like twenty minutes bushwhacking through poison oak before I just turned around and took the actual trail. I swear, sometimes the worst advice comes from people who haven't actually done the hike themselves, they just think they're being helpful. I hope your ankle healed up okay, that's the real kicker when you miss a sunset because of someone else's bad shortcut idea.