Am I the only one who followed a 'shortcut' that added two hours to my hike?

So last weekend, I decided to try this new loop trail up at Maple Ridge. The map at the trailhead looked simple, but I saw what I thought was a better path with little ribbons on the trees. I learned later those were from some kids' scavenger hunt, lol. I ended up hiking through thick brush for a long time, only to come out right where I began. My phone lost power halfway, so no GPS to help me. I had to ask a group of retirees for directions, and they just chuckled and showed me the right way. I returned to the car just as rain started falling, totally drenched. It was a crazy experience, but now I have a funny tale to share.

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler5261d ago

Honestly, that thick brush part sounds awful. Tbh, I've followed those fake shortcut markers before and it always backfires. At least you got a funny story from it.

spencer_webb1d ago

Last fall in the Adirondacks, I followed a stack of rocks that seemed like a fake marker. It turned out to be a local's shortcut that got us to the summit an hour early. Your mileage may vary, but in my book, taking those chances is part of the fun.