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A ranger's offhand comment three years ago changed my whole approach to the Teton Crest Trail
He mentioned a less-used cutoff near Alaska Basin that shaved off a crowded section. I took it last month and had the whole Marion Lake basin to myself at sunset. Anyone know of other 'local knowledge' shortcuts that have held up over time?
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skyler_white9511d ago
Oh totally, I see this all the time in other stuff too. Same thing happens with hidden trails in hiking apps or even the best spots at local parks where someone posts a secret overlook and suddenly it's ruined. It's like the whole internet can't keep a secret, you know?
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the_robert2mo ago
Honestly those shortcuts can cause more harm than good. A lot of those "local knowledge" paths are just social trails that mess up the plant life. Maybe that one worked out, but spreading them online just leads to more people trampling off the main route. It feels like it's helping, but it often just moves the crowding problem to a new, more fragile spot. The official trails are there for a reason, to protect the place.
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