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Just realized the hard way that the trail to Blue Lake in the Sawtooths is a different beast after early snow
I was there last September, about a week after a surprise storm. The main path was fine, but the cutoff to the upper basin was buried under maybe 18 inches of wet, heavy snow. I postholed through it for an hour, thinking it was just a patch. My partner looked at the map and said, 'This isn't a trail anymore, it's a route-finding puzzle.' We turned back, cold and tired. Has anyone else had a late-season hike turn into a full-on navigation test because the trail just vanished?
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jessica_miller8d ago
Yeah, I actually prefer when the trail disappears. It forces you to read the land itself, not just follow a worn path. Relying on a GPS like jamie130 did can make you miss that skill. Turning back was the smart call, but getting lost a little is part of the real deal.
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