Tried a 'shortcut' trail in the Smokies that cut 2 miles off my route and it was a total mistake

I was planning a 12 mile loop near Clingmans Dome and saw a faint path on my map that connected two main trails. Figured I'd save some time, but it turned into a steep, overgrown mess with tons of downed trees. Ended up taking me over an hour longer than if I'd just stayed on the marked trail. Anyone else have a story about a map 'shortcut' that backfired?

3 comments

3 Comments

blair_nguyen9d ago

Thought I was saving time too, until a similar mess taught me to just trust the main trails.

troy_price9d ago

Okay but come on, how bad can it really get? Taking a shortcut usually just means a few extra minutes of bushwhacking, not some life or death situation. People act like straying from the marked path is a major crime against hiking. Sometimes the adventure is the whole point, you know? A little detour never hurt anybody.

diana_carr669d ago

Remember getting lost for hours trying that last year.