Found a hidden connector trail near the AT that saved me 2 days

I was planning a section hike on the Appalachian Trail through Virginia and kept hitting roadblocks with campsite availability. A local trail runner told me about a 4 mile connector path that links two ridges, skipping the crowded shelters entirely. I tried it last month and it worked perfectly, cutting my trip from 6 days to 4. Has anyone else found unofficial shortcuts that actually improved a route?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.drew23d ago

And it's funny you mention that, because I've noticed the same thing happens everywhere, not just on trails. Like at work, we always have these official procedures for everything, but the guys who've been there ten years know a faster way to do it that nobody wrote down. My buddy found a shortcut through the back of a warehouse that shaves fifteen minutes off his route every day. Sometimes the official path is just the one that's easiest to put on a map, not the one that actually works best for the people using it.

jesse_williams6221d ago

That connector trail sounds like a gem. Did the local runner warn you about how rough the tread was, or did you just wing it and hope for the best? @scott.drew makes a solid point about the warehouse shortcut, but trails have a way of being trickier than parking lots, rocks and roots can turn a 4 mile save into a nightmare if you're not ready. I've heard of people finding old fire roads that look great on a map but wash out halfway through, leaving you bushwhacking for hours. Was there any point where you doubted it and thought about turning back?