Used to skip switchbacks on the AT but an old hiker showed me why that's dumb

A few years back I was hiking through the Smokies and cutting every switchback to save time. Ran into this guy in his 70s who was picking up trash along the trail and he called me out on it without being mean. He showed me how the erosion from people cutting switchbacks ruins the trail for everyone and takes years to fix. Now I just stick to the path even when it feels longer. Anyone else change a habit after a random encounter on the trail?

2 comments

2 Comments

jesse99418d ago

Yeah, switchbacks are literally designed to stop erosion, not just slow you down.

ray36318d ago

Ha, I've probably taken more dirt naps on switchbacks than I'd like to admit, @jesse994.