Jump to content

When To Bushwhack Or Stay On The Trail?


Recommended Posts

I've gone off trail a couple times as I approached a cache and the GPS is pointing away (~90deg) from the trail, only to realized the trail would have brought me right to the cache anyway. Other times bushwhacking was the only way to get to the cache. No obvious trails at all.

 

On two occasions I've even been lead to a location where the shortest distance to the cache is across a substantial water hazard (marsh/river) and I forgot my swim trunks :drama:; I missed the less-than-obvious trail split about 3/4 mi back. d'oh!

 

My current strategy if the GPS is pointing ~90 deg off trail (and the cache page does not indicate a suggested approach):

 

1. If I'm > .1 mi from the cache, I generally assume the trail ahead will swing around and bring me closer to the cache. No need to bushwack yet. I've been wrong on this one a couple times and had to backtrack.

 

2. If I'm < 500 ft from the cache, "Banzai, I'm going in!" (you should see my legs - it ain't pretty :lol:)

 

So, what's your strategy for when to leave the trail and begin to bushwhack?

 

Mark

Edited by markp99
Link to comment

It all depends on the location of the cache, some will require a wee bit of OTT, while some will take you to the cache via a trail. One of my caches gets a little too much bushwacking, just so they can say they have climed a hill in CO. Well now it requires some updated information on the cache page to help alleviate the possibility of a social trail.

Link to comment
... One of my caches gets a little too much bushwacking, just so they can say they have climed a hill in CO. Well now it requires some updated information on the cache page to help alleviate the possibility of a social trail.
It seems to me that the chances of a social trail forming is much greater if the cache is close to a trail, rather than quite a bit off trail. My thinking is that if it is close to the trail, most people will use the same route to it. If it is farther from the trail, most people will get to it usng somewhat different routes. Edited by sbell111
Link to comment

I usually keep a good look ahead to see if the trail looks like it may go in the direction of the cache. I usually walk a little down the trail first before heading in at the 90* mark. Sometimes this works for me, sometimes it doesn't. I still have a few marks from the last trip :drama:

Link to comment
... One of my caches gets a little too much bushwacking, just so they can say they have climed a hill in CO. Well now it requires some updated information on the cache page to help alleviate the possibility of a social trail.
It seems to me that the chances of a social trail forming is much greater if the cache is close to a trail, rather than quite a bit off trail. My thinking is that if it is close to the trail, most people will use the same route to it. If it is farther from the trail, most people will get to it usng somewhat different routes.

 

This has been my experience. In the rare instances I see a trail developing, the cache is usually just a few feet from an existing trail. With the caches that are far off the trail, it would take an expert to figure out there is a cache there. The impact is spread out and the area has time to recover. Also these kinds of caches get far fewer visits than ones near a trail.

 

As far as my own method, I look at the terrain rating. If its 2.5 or less, I assume that there must be an easy way of getting there, so I will stick with the trail. I learned this early in my geocaching career after embarking on difficult bushwacks only to cross the trail I was just on. As Instep Guy mentioned, hiders tend to take the easy route, so the trick is finding it. If its high difficulty terrain I assume that I'm going to need to go off trail.

Link to comment

Oh, how many times I have bushwhacked when I should have been more patient (proving Occam's razor was correct). Using a GPSr pointer gives one an A to B mentality that isn't always expedient or wise. I am getting more in the practice of viewing a GoogleEarth aerial image when I have time to concentrate on one cache. Most caches tend to have at least a "geotrail" of some sort leading to them and rarely look like they have been jettisoned from a plane into dense jungle overgrowth.

Edited by Bill & Tammy
Link to comment

If the pointer is showing off track and the trail does not appear to wind back, I then look for a geotrail. If there is one I usually don't use it directly but try to follow it on a more or less parallel track.

 

Similarly when leaving an off track cache I look to see if there is any geo damage and try to avoid that trail, even if it means a longer walk back to the main track.

 

This minimises any environmental damage and does not add to the geotrail.

Link to comment

If the way to the cache starts out on a well maintained trail like those in most parks I try to obtain a maps of the area from the nearest ranger station/visitor center. At least around here most of the trails are mapped if you know where to go to get the map.

 

Of course this only works if you plan on visiting a particular cache and know it's on or near a trail. If not it might be a long way to the nearest USFS ranger station or other info source.

 

AR-kayaker

Link to comment

Doesn't everyone bushwack in, then take the obvious trail back to the car?

 

Yeah, you mean there's another way? I thought taking the hardest route possible to the cache and discovering the 'easy' route when you leave was one of the 'Joys of Geocaching'

Link to comment

I'm still very new at it, but my experience has been similar to the original post markp99. However, each cache has it's own subleties and adds bits of experience. I think it's the experience that tells us when to stay on the trail or take a B-line to the cache.

 

The distance to the cache is also a critical factor. The farther from the cache the more I'm inclined to stay on the trail path. Almost all caches are off the trails so when I start to parallel the cache within 100 feet and the trail seems to continue away, I'll look for any signs of traffic or a clear path to the cache.

 

Thinking about it some more, it seems to also depend on the time of year, at least in heavily forested areas. The tactics would seem to change depending on the season. I've only had experience in the nastiest summer heat and insect abundance. Does anyone have any thoughts about approaches in winter, spring, or fall?

Link to comment

I generally follow the OP's method.

 

Recently though I am spotting the new geotrail to the cache where none should exist. Not a lot of damage, just an indication that folks have turned left or right at the same point and taken off into the woods. :laughing:

 

BTW, I feel like I'm truely caching when I am tromping up and down hills, sweating like a hog in August, with gnats swarming, ticks crawling, and spider webs in my face.

 

No THAT's geocaching to me. :laughing:

Edited by Jhwk
Link to comment

BTW, I feel like I'm truely caching when I am tromping up and down hills, sweating like a hog in August, with gnats swarming, ticks crawling, and spider webs in my face.

Mmmm, spider webs! /homer

 

I actually noticed a subtle pleasant taste to the last spider web that enveloped my face and mouth, after the I did the spastic creep-out dance! :laughing:

Link to comment

Doesn't everyone bushwack in, then take the obvious trail back to the car?

 

Well, yeah, this has happened to me enough times that it almost seems normal.

 

Part of the problem is that there are so few really good trail maps of the Rockies. I have used Google maps in the hybrid mode to locate some approaches to good effect, but that's really only effective on open ground, tree cover negates it's usefulness.

 

I make an honest effort to follow the trail, but I'm not above cutting a straight line when no trail is obvious.

Link to comment

We often cache with another couple. Several times our GPSrs have pointed to a cache requiring a climb or rough bushwack. We men decide to go for it and our wives say they'll wait on the trail. After a tough, and sometimes risky, climb or trudge over hill and dale, we shout our success to the world only to hear a response from our wives approaching on the road just a short distance away. We charge ahead, they think it out and take the easy way. Beauty and brains; I guess that's why we married them. (They do let us brag about our woodland prowess, of course.)

Link to comment

I generally assume that the cache hider didn't really want to climb down that berry covered cliff or swim the river or whatever. The trail generally gets me pretty darn close. There are, of course, exceptions. The guy who introduced me to geocaching is well known for taking the hard way. The needle points to the cache so he just goes with that. I've found caches that were nice easy hikes along a well maintained trail that he did by climbing down a steep hillside through brush and poison oak. We both found the cache but I didn't limp for two weeks afterward. :laughing:

Link to comment

I broke my own rule and went off trail .41 miles from the cache tonite just before sunset. I had found another cache in the area just before heading out for this one. The logging road/trail I was following for a good way terminated. It seemed as if the trail might swing around and approach the cache. It did not. I should have probably backtracked to my car (.35 mi) and started over.

 

It seemed like a good idea at the time as the woods looked inviting and not too thick. Unfortunately the walk to the cache sucked more and more the father-in I walked. As I came to within .25 mi of the cache I had to shlog down a steep hill into a dense fern growth. It is amazing how difficult it came be to walk thru this stuff as you cannot see the ground or your feet or #@$# obstacles underfoot. I stumbled a few times.

 

As I neared ground zero there was not even a hint of a trail. Sheesh! I was worrying about losing daylight and the possibility of my return trip! Yikes!

 

Finally got to the cache site and spent more than a few minutes looking for the dadgum cache. The dense fern growth complicated things here. I finally fount it! Yay!!

 

I set a new wayppoint back to my car and hoped I would find a clear path out as it was getting DARK. About 100 yards from the cache I found a path (overgrown logging trail). Whew! It was mostly uphill to my car, but I was able to move quickly for the .42 milest. It was nice to have the company of those %$#%@ deerflies to escort me out of the woods!!

 

It was just dark as I arrived at my car.

 

Man! Do I ever love this $#@% hobby! :lol:

Link to comment

I broke my own rule and went off trail .41 miles from the cache tonite just before sunset. I had found another cache in the area just before heading out for this one. The logging road/trail I was following for a good way terminated. It seemed as if the trail might swing around and approach the cache. It did not. I should have probably backtracked to my car (.35 mi) and started over.

 

It seemed like a good idea at the time as the woods looked inviting and not too thick. Unfortunately the walk to the cache sucked more and more the father-in I walked. As I came to within .25 mi of the cache I had to shlog down a steep hill into a dense fern growth. It is amazing how difficult it came be to walk thru this stuff as you cannot see the ground or your feet or #@$# obstacles underfoot. I stumbled a few times.

 

As I neared ground zero there was not even a hint of a trail. Sheesh! I was worrying about losing daylight and the possibility of my return trip! Yikes!

 

Finally got to the cache site and spent more than a few minutes looking for the dadgum cache. The dense fern growth complicated things here. I finally fount it! Yay!!

 

I set a new wayppoint back to my car and hoped I would find a clear path out as it was getting DARK. About 100 yards from the cache I found a path (overgrown logging trail). Whew! It was mostly uphill to my car, but I was able to move quickly for the .42 milest. It was nice to have the company of those %$#%@ deerflies to escort me out of the woods!!

 

It was just dark as I arrived at my car.

 

Man! Do I ever love this $#@% hobby! :lol:

 

What scares me is that I'm starting to feel the same way... almost!

Link to comment

I generally observe the 500 ft rule, too...though it's greatly dependent on the terrain. In a pine forest or meadow or sand or other low-undergrowth terrain, I may bushwhack the whole way. If there's any chance of running into marshy ground or bramble thickets or that sort of thing, I'll stay on the path longer.

 

I often remind myself of the difference between a useful trail and a hiking trail: animals and humans trying to get someplace take the shortest distance and avoid obstacles; hiking trails are intended to maximize land use and tour interesting spots, and so will meander and double back on themselves.

 

I have to admit, when the GPS is pointing off to my left somewhere, staying on a path that is apparently about to head in the wrong direction makes me itchy.

Link to comment

I'm like Auntie Weasel. As the arrow hits the 90 degree from heading mark, I start sweating. Once it starts pointing behind me, the panic starts in! If I'm disciplined, I'll stay on the trail because that's what the hider did. If panic overcomes me, I start 'waching knowing I'm going to regret it.

 

What I've found interesting as a hider, is when I tell people how to go (the easy, prettier way) on my own caches. But they choose to take the short cut by parking nearest the cache only to find themselves having to cross a stream doing it "their way". Like this. Check the July 16 DNF post. Another victim of his "own way".

 

Ornery, we're all just plain ornery!

Edited by Alan2
Link to comment

I have the scars to prove that my gps, my compass, and my common sense have not always agreed. If there is a well marked trail I'll follow it for a while despite the fact that my GPS says that I'm only 300 feet away. If the cache description says I'll have to bushwhack at some point, I'll try to do it where it looks like another person has already whacked down the thorns, evicted the snakes and created steps in the mud from their heavy boots.

Link to comment

I normally only beeline and machete my way straight through to the cache when I am in a Wilderness Area or Nature Preserve...

 

HAH, you amatuer, while you waste time and energy hacking away with your machete I just cruise on in driving my air conditioned bulldozer. :laughing::o

 

Alright....alright then...I SEE your bulldozer and I raise you one:

 

f7316416-35ba-4ee9-af75-264255c131a8.jpg

Link to comment

So, what's your strategy for when to leave the trail and begin to bushwhack?

 

Based on experience, I continue on well past the point of closest entry, checking all possible approaches before diving in. Two minutes of investigation saves you more time in the long run.

 

Then I go back to my car and drive around to the other side of the creek to that parking lot I saw from the bank. And based on experience, no I'm not kidding. :D

Link to comment

Boda's Law #1: When you are walking on a mountain trail, and the arrow swings 90 degrees, it is pointing at a vertical cliff going up.

 

Time to backtrack and find that small trail that climbs to the top.

 

Boda's Law #2: When you go up that difficult trail and find the cache, you will discover that the road curved back to meet you at the cache.

Link to comment

What is this trail thing you all speak of?

 

It's that place you find posted information. :huh:

 

593.jpg

 

Are those bullet holes? Unfortunately we have people like that here too that make it harder for responsible people! :huh:

Edited by 10 Ring
Link to comment

"What is this trail thing you all speak of?"

 

The trail is that thing that takes you to the bush which you then whack for no reason because it also takes you to the cache that you had to DNF because you whacked the bush that the cache was under.

Link to comment

I always foller the arrer, have climbed hills with bike on my back to find steps on other side. have paid substantial entrance fee to theme psrk (chinese) to find cache was OUTSIDE, I'm sticking with my "system"

As others have fought hard to place a cache, then found it's near a car park.BUT I LOVE IT.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...