[pct-l] Cross-country off-trail

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

Hi, Diane,

I just get concerned that hikers are going to wander off and get themselves 
into trouble. The idea of leaving the trail and forging your own way is 
exciting, but in practice can be much slower and harder. However, if you can 
visualize the route and see that it is largely above timberline, along a 
grassy creek, and the destination lake is not far, then go check it out. 
I've had the best times exploring new routes to off-trail lakes, finding 
campfire rings there (obviously I wasn't the first there and as a ranger had 
to remove them and "naturalize" the area), and watching huge fish just 
floating about (I tried to catch them with a rudimentary fishing rig to no 
avail-ended up throwing rocks at them in frustration!).

Some of the passes discussed, like Alpine Col out of upper Evolution Valley, 
are not that easy. But if you have the time (key expression), and want to 
link off-trail routes between existing trails, that one is a good shortcut 
into Piute Basin, Golden Trout Lake, and trail routes north into the Inyo on 
the east side. Just beware of the "bouldering" you may have to do in going 
over those off-trail passes and cols.

That's why I prefer to cross them on snow in the early Spring when the snow 
is more stable-no huge boulder fields and all is smooth (except for those 
darn sun cups!).

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
Cc: "Stephen" <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Cross-country off-trail


> Not to worry. I have no plans to go cross-country. But Stephen's 
> description piqued my interest. I enjoy thinking up alternate routes  even 
> if I don't do them. Locating them is half the fun.
>
> In my local area I do sometimes go off-trail. But it is very hard to  do 
> since you really can't walk through chaparral without a trail. I  have a 
> great sense of direction, by the way.
>
> Diane
>
> On Feb 5, 2009, at 7:23 PM, <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com> wrote:
>
>> Just a few thoughts on the subject of thru hikers going cross- country 
>> and Stephen's expertise on the subject.
>> ...
>
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