Finally tried a shortcut on the Teton Crest Trail and it actually worked | Backpacking Routes

Jason Lewis · 2026-03-19T18:15:08.447278+00:00

I was looking at the map for the Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon loop and saw a faint line marked 'game trail' cutting across a ridge. Figured I'd save maybe two miles and try it... the slope was way steeper than it looked, like 45 degrees of loose rock. Got across in about an hour, but my heart was pounding the whole time. Learned that 'shortcut' on a topo map doesn't mean 'easy' and to always check the slope grade first. Has anyone else found a sketchy trail that paid off, or one that totally wasn't worth the risk?

coleman.derek5mo ago

Those dotted lines are like life's bad advice, honestly.

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robert_bennett296mo ago

That exact thing happened to me on a trail in the White Mountains. I mean, the map showed a clear connector, but it was basically a washed out gully full of slide rock. It feels like a metaphor for so many things now, like trying to fix a leaky faucet yourself to save money and ending up with a bigger problem. We're all just looking for that faster, easier path, but the hard way is usually the hard way for a reason. Maybe it's just me, but I've stopped trusting those dotted lines completely.

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martin.tyler6mo ago

Ever wonder if those risky shortcuts actually make us better at reading the land later on? I took a bad one once that taught me more about slope and loose rock than any guidebook ever could. Now I see the terrain totally different, even if I stick to the main trail.

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