Planning My First Off the Trail Hike

JSMcustoms

JSMcustoms

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Feb 2, 2012
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I've done quite a bit of hiking in the past, but always on trails. As of late, I've been considering literally taking a trip off the beaten path with my hiking. My map reading skills and sense of direction are not what I'd call excellent, but are average at worst. I also have plenty of maps detailing the area I'm looking at hiking in as well as a route marked out on one of the maps. As for the location, the starting point, it's six miles away by car from my home, so it's an area that I'm familiar with. From there, my destination is an intersection near Trout Lake, where I will have a friend meet me and pick me up. That's another two miles away by car and three miles on foot through the forest. The question is, would this be too much of an under taking for an experienced trail hiker, but an inexperienced one when it comes to these sorts of ventures? Three miles isn't difficult on the trail, but I'm expecting to be more difficult where there are none to follow, just how much more is a bit of question. It doesn't look that bad on paper, but real life and on paper are vastly different things. Is anyone else familiar with the Trout Lake area of NC?
 
GPS. And a good amount of letting folks know where you're going. That way they can get SAR in the general vicinity. Why tromp all over the woods when you can use perfectly good trails. Not enough challenge? Need more chance of harm in your life?
 
For one, there's only one good trail in my area that I know about and that's the Appalachian Trail (not to mention a pretty darn good drive to get there). There's a few short ones (around a mile or so) around and fair few more around that aren't intended as hiking trails (old logging roads that don't show up on any maps). As for GPS, I bring one along even on short trail hikes.
 
You already anticipate that off trail will be a lot more demanding. It will, but with credit to your experience and preparedness, you seem to be asking of yourself "When, if not now?" There's that big horizon out there.

You have scouted (on paper) re impassable swamp, swale, elevation ... have a route, a plan and a buddy. A GPS.

You didn't mention essential survival equipment in the event you are forced to shelter but you are on BF so your being prepared is most likely! :) It is good to know your point of no return in case the travel becomes rough enough to turn you back. Turning back can be good ... you come to know what skills, knowledge, equipment or even comfort you would need for the next. A cell phone to check in with your buddy and others. Trail marking tape can be reassuring on the return... all trees look alike when you are worn down.

Type of woods matters a lot to ease of travel; nice high canopy of deciduous trees versus tag elder nightmare. Mostly I have found myself heading off trail when I spy a lake or river on the top map and want to explore beyond the logging road or to check out the back country from a water access camp I also purposefully work on building orienteering and other needed skills. Always learning something.

Safe travels and happy trails.
 
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It sounds like a good start; nice & short, familiar climate.

I have 2 ideas to consider.
1. Consider taking a sensible friend with you. Somebody just as competent as yourself. Two heads are better than one, it is nice to have supportive company when uncertain, & you may sprain an ankle.

2. Most importantly, be very prepared to turn back. 3 miles isn't far, there will be no "point of no return." Better to turn back if the terrain is dangerous, or the geography forces you to deviate much from your planned course.
 
TP to mark trail. You can leave it behind half a sheet at a time a it will dissolve in the first rain I don like littering but this is what I use to trail wounded animals. I can find my way back if needed and it gives and a decent idea if I am traveling in a straight line. Just something I use to help me. Works great a night
 
Nice thing is, the route I have planed keeps the road off to my right (no more than about a 1000 feet) and it actually crosses over it at one point. And yes, I do have a bad with some basic survival gear that I always carry with me when I go on a hike (2 methods of starting a fire, extra clothing, tarp, 100 feet of paracord, flashlight, survival knife and my Emerson which never leaves my pocket). I actually have a point set that would make a good place to either stop or turn back, which is the point that my planed route crosses over the road a little over a mile into it. I am looking for someone to come with me on (have pretty much found someone) it.
 
You could test your navigation skills off trail but in a limited area. Grab your map and choose an area of "x" km by "y" km with clear natural or man made borders defining where you will be. The borders could be rivers, roads, or powerlines. That will limit how badly wrong things can go. Never cross the borders. If you can let people know definitively where you will be it will make search and rescue so much easier. The best way to practice land navigation is probably taking up orienteering as a hobby. :)

Having a GPS is useful.
 
I'm going to be the one to say this is a bad idea. It's going to be very difficult, you will be traipsing through poison ivy and briar bushes. There will be nothing to look at but woods for miles. I just can't imagine it would be fun. Why don't you drive up to the AT and camp nearby and walk to one of the overlooks. There are also tons of trails that go through the mountains of NC. Take one of those trails with a vista and it will be much more rewarding.
 
Come on guys! He's done his homework. We're talking about walking through the woods here. He knows the area and has a friend picking him. Have none of you walked through the woods to get to a lake or a secluded camping spot?

We (Americans) own all this land, don't discourage someone who had taken the proper steps from using our resources...

We live in a strange time when "survival" had become such a mainstream "hobby". This trend seems to have an effect on people which makes them think that walking in the woods is such a dangerous endeavor. I'm not old, but as a kid I'd spend 10 hours straight in the woods with nothing more than a walking stick or BB gun. The woods is not a place full of dangers.
 
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Sounds like a walk in the park. The road is always to your "right". I don't know what you folks did before there were formal trails. I do this kind of thing frequently, but maybe not 6 miles one-way. Pay attention to your topo map and keep your orientation. Sounds like fun. I just hope your route doesn't end up being a huge pain in the butte with briars, unforseen terrain issues, or larger than expected water crossings.
 
I avoid trails myself, sometimes to the dismay of others with me. That being said, I do look ahead at maps and occasionally carry one. I always keep that "escape route" in my mind -- that if I go at this heading, I will find my way out to that road. I am in the southern Appalachians too, the X-factor for both of us is usually topography. So you need to be looking at a topo map in planning. I also write down and tell someone where I going and when I will be back.
 
Colin Fletcher's classic The Complete Walker (co-author Chip Rawlins) has some excellent advice about off-trail hiking, and practically everything else to do with hiking, for that matter.
 
go for it - sounds like you're ready. i often go off-trail to get that sense of discovering something new and to avoid seeing other hikers.

i've hiked a lot and i will say though that i've gotten lost a few times and every time i still feel that major panic although every time it happens it's less and less time spent on fast heartbeats and the quicker i calm down and eventually get my head straight and go back to basics - map & compass skills and backtracking/using my handrails (like a river always on my right crossing the road, etc.) to get my bearings back.

with that said, i'd suggest go at it little by little if you can - half a mile straight in then turn back a few times then gradually increase that distance and zig-zag your return path back to the familiar area...then deliberately get yourself lost in a small area to get used to that panic feeling and recovery cycles.


RWT said:
TP to mark trail. You can leave it behind half a sheet at a time a it will dissolve in the first rain I don like littering but this is what I use to trail wounded animals. I can find my way back if needed and it gives and a decent idea if I am traveling in a straight line. Just something I use to help me. Works great a night
Click to expand...

yup, toilet paper...map & compass books recommend this technique.


JSMcustoms said:
Nice thing is, the route I have planed keeps the road off to my right (no more than about a 1000 feet) and it actually crosses over it at one point. I actually have a point set that would make a good place to either stop or turn back, which is the point that my planed route crosses over the road a little over a mile into it.
Click to expand...

sounds like you have a handrail (in your case a road is always on your right) to act as a safety net. go for it!


abo4ster said:
I always keep that "escape route" in my mind -- that if I go at this heading, I will find my way out to that road.
Click to expand...

same here, i always keep escape routes in mind.
 
There's a good many trails near Boone. I can think of four or five just between Boone and Spruce Pine. the Linville River trail is a good butt-kicker if that's what you're after.

As for off-trail hiking, I'd get some orienteering courses and then depend on the GPS. When it breaks or doesn't get any sats because of the hollow you are in, you can still get out.
 
I will say one thing... when you're out tramping around exploring (in my case, looking for plants) and you're off any trail for hours, it feels good to intersect a trail, almost like finding a highway. But which way to go... left or right. :) Out comes the topo or a trail map of the area to determine just where I'm at.
 
As long as its not serious rocky terrain like a crazy scramble and you have plenty of supplies and gear, along with being with a buddy you would be fine. As you said its only 3 miles and pretty clos to your home so I would think you would be alright if you just use your head. Having a buddy with you and also like someone said leave a plan with someone with you intended course of travel and date of return. This way of you don't come home the SAR will be able to find you easier. Everyone who wants to off trail camp has to start somewhere and I think with your prior experience and planning that you have a good place to start.

I agree to what someone above said, its not really that big of a deal nor is it really dangeous. As a kid I would spend all day in the local woods and swamps and never had any trouble and I was much less prepared and didn't have near as much knowledge. I do most of my camping off trail now a days and I think it's a lot of fun and enjoy it very much. I think it's a great idea and that he will have a blast with his buddy. Don't let anyone discourage you, your a big boy and I'm sure can handle whatever may come your way that close to home. If things don't look righ or you don't think things are safe then turn around no biggy.
have fun and be careful
 
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JSMCustoms:

Good for you! Off-trail hiking is wonderful fun. My wife and I do tons of it. It's vastly more rewarding than hiking along an established trial. You never know what you will find, but you will invariably find something great and interesting. And of course, it's the way to significantly improve your navigation skills.

There's been plenty of good advice given so far, most importantly letting someone know where you will be going, but be sure to tell the person what time you will call them to let them know you're back safe and to choose someone who will, absolutely and without fail, call for help on your behalf if you don't call them when you said you would. It's a sacred trust.

Another important consideration is to plan for spending a night in the woods. You might get disoriented or sprain an ankle and once you start to lose daylight, it's usually safer to stay put in a safe place until morning. So bring just enough gear to keep you warm, dry and hydrated through a cold wet night, no matter what the forecast calls for.

Regarding such things as flagging tape: that doesn't work as well as people imagine, unless you use a lot of it. You want to rely upon proper orienteering skills (map and compass work), solar navigation, reading the landscape, terrain recall and recognition. A flagged route is fine, until you can't find one and start going the wrong way. You shouldn't rely on that. It will also greatly slow your travel and litter the woods unless you go back the way you came (you might not want to). Most of the time, you will discover that you should have made different route decisions based on terrain obstacles anyway. And don't use toilet paper to blaze a trail. It's not a very easy mark to spot because it's seldom a salient enough color, won't stay where you put it, and it absolutely does not dissolve after the first rain. It's not cotton candy. Toilet paper, when wet, globs up, then hardens when it dries and leaves unsightly "white roses" all over. It won't hurt anything, but the woods will look like someone relieved himself all over the place. Contrary to what people think, toilet paper takes a long, long time to dissolve away (think paper spit balls).

My last suggestion would be, be modest in how far you think you'll get. Off-trail hiking is much more strenuous and slow-going. The risk of mechanical injury is greater, and it will leave you thirstier, more hungry and tired for the same amount of time spent out there compared to a trail hike. It will make you appreciate the advantages of trails. Also, off-trail hiking through bush can also feel quite claustrophobic until you get used to it. Not everyone likes it in dense bush, but for those who do, it's very rewarding because offers a much greater sense of exploration and discovery.

EDIT: Here's a couple of videos my wife and I made of some off-trail hiking and camping trips which will give you a sense of what it's like.

[video=youtube_share;rTVe3Wsg9M0]http://youtu.be/rTVe3Wsg9M0[/video]

[video=youtube_share;LZo5pq9viqI]http://youtu.be/LZo5pq9viqI[/video]

Have fun and be careful.

Hope this helps,
- Martin
 
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Thanks for all the info guys. Still reading up and being prepared as humanly possible for this one.
 
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