[pct-l] Getting lost
Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com
diane at santabarbarahikes.com
Tue Dec 1 18:40:59 CST 2009
I got lost twice last year. Once was on the PCT. The guide book map
didn't help. I looked at it forever and it just made no sense. That's
because I was lost! Duh! What helped was knowing I was going
generally north and that an east-west highway was coming up. As long
as I continued north, I'd have to cross that highway sooner or later.
And I did. Plus I found ice cream along the way!
My friend, who had a map and compass and was in the snow a lot wrote
in his journal something like, "I went over the wrong pass today. Not
that it makes any difference."
What no map seems to help with are the little things. Like the trail
branches off and you aren't sure which is the right way. Then you
find out one way just leads to a campsite or a toilet.
Eventually you get really good at getting the feel for the PCT and
you can tell you're going the right way just by the character of the
trail. All those crazy side trails whenever you get near some lakes
in Oregon and Washington no longer flummox you.
The PCT isn't that difficult to follow so long as you are paying
attention.
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