Took a detour to avoid a washed-out bridge and ended up in thick brush

Last weekend, I was hiking the Pine Ridge Trail in the Blue Mountains. About three miles in, I found the main bridge over Creek River was washed out from recent rains. I decided to take a detour I saw on an old map, thinking it would loop back. But the trail was overgrown and hard to follow, with lots of thorny bushes. I spent hours pushing through, getting scratches and losing my way a few times. In the end, I found a game trail that led me back to the main path, but it was stressful. Has anyone else dealt with washed-out bridges on that trail? What's the best way around? I'm planning to go back next month and want to know if there's a marked alternate route.

3 comments

3 Comments

olivia_palmer751d ago

Trust those old trail maps! I used one on Pine Ridge last year and it led me to a safe way around a washed-out creek. Yes, paths get overgrown, but that's why we hike, right? GPS can fail when signals drop or routes change. Old maps show things that don't change much, like ridges and streams. For your next trip, compare the old map with a new one and talk to local hikers. You'll find a good route with some extra care.

felix_lane1d ago

Appreciate @olivia_palmer75's point about old maps, they've saved me too. I took a detour near Creek River once and ended up in a mess of brambles. Why do trails always seem to vanish when you need them most?

the_richard1d ago

Ugh, GPS tried to send me down a "trail" there last year that was just a cliff. Those old maps are sketchy sometimes. Nothing worse than trusting bad info when you're already tired.