Took a 'shortcut' on the Lost Coast Trail and ended up adding two hours

I was hiking the northern section near Mattole Beach and saw a path on my map that cut off a big curve along the shore. The tide was low, so I figured I'd save some time. That 'path' turned into a steep, loose scramble over a shale slide that my 45 pound pack did not like. I learned to trust the main trail markers even when a map looks faster. Anyone else have a shortcut that totally backfired on them?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark_rivera26d ago

Oh man, that sounds rough. I have to ask, what map were you using that showed that path? Was it one of the main park maps, or like a digital hiking app? I've found some apps will show old game trails or just plain wrong lines that look legit until you're in it. I had a similar thing happen in the Sierra where an app showed a "connector" that was just a washed-out creek bed full of boulders.

kaifox26d ago

Yikes, @mark_rivera, a creek bed? That's brutal.

the_harper19d ago

Ugh, I feel that! My map once showed a "service road" that was just a muddy ditch, totally @mark_rivera's creek bed situation. Shortcuts on a map are almost always a lie. I just stick to the painted blazes now.