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My uncle told me to skip the switchbacks on the Timberline Trail
He said cutting straight up the slope near Ramona Falls would save an hour. I tried it last August and ended up slipping on loose scree, tearing my pack, and adding two hours to my day. Anyone have a bad piece of trail advice they wish they hadn't followed?
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uma_martinez6mo ago
Classic uncle advice. Switchbacks exist for a reason, usually a good one. That loose scree is no joke and will wreck your day every time. Learned that lesson the hard way on a different trail. Shortcuts in the backcountry are rarely worth the risk.
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mia_hart906mo ago
Yeah, I was all about finding the direct line too until a similar mess. Uma_martinez is totally right about why those paths are built the way they are. Now I just trust the trail.
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norab216mo ago
Oh man, that's the worst. I totally get it, and uma_martinez is right, that stuff will ruin your whole hike. I had a friend tell me to cut across a meadow once to avoid a "boring" forest section, and I ended up waist deep in a hidden bog. Spent the rest of the trip with soaked boots and blisters. Why do we ever listen to these shortcut tips?
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