Why does nobody talk about the route-finding challenges in the Wind River Range?

Last month, I backpacked a section in the Winds and the cairns were few and far between. I spent an afternoon guessing which way to go at unmarked splits. It made me realize how much we rely on clear trails. What's your trick for staying on route in vague terrain?

2 comments

2 Comments

diana3141d ago

Ngl "spent an afternoon guessing" is wild to me. Honestly that sounds like a quick way to get totally lost. I'd be a nervous wreck just picking a random direction at a split without some kind of sign. What do you even do if you guess wrong and end up way off course by dark?

laura_patel31d ago

Actually it's not just random guessing like Diana314 said. You learn to read the trail itself - the worn path, subtle markers on trees, even which way water runs off. If you're paying close attention, you can almost always spot the real route. Getting a bit turned around is part of the fun, as long as you have a basic map for backup.