Part one in a three part video series on off trail hiking.
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In this video series:
-what’s the difference between going on and off trail
-when would you opt for off trail: some example trips
-if you go off trail, how to get started? Also I have some hard earned real life tips
This video covers the difference
Well obviously when you go off trail there is no road, no path, no route or marking, no ski track. But what are the consequences of that?
Ease of navigation
A trail will make navigation more easy, IF you are sure that you’re still on the trail. So if your map is accurate, and you see a clear path in the field, that means that you have the certainty that you are on the trail you were aiming for, the only question is, how far along. So holding the map in your hand and checking your compass and the time every now and then is enough to monitor your progress. It gets more tricky if you encounter rogue trail signs or trails that should not be there according to your map.
Navigating off trail depends more on your ability to match what you see on the map with what you see in the field. In theory that would be more complicated. On the other hand, off trail navigation is less prone to route changes, wrong trail markings and extra trails that are not on the map but are there in the field, confusing you. It is very good to realise that the elements of a map that are almost always correct, bar a volcano eruption, is everything that is not a trail.
What helps is this: if you have used 1:50.000 maps for ON trail hiking before, you will have it easier when hiking off trail, so practice practice! And as a rule of thumb I propose that navigating on trail is always easier in forests, whereas navigating off trail is often easier above tree level.
Speed difference
Lucky you, I measured! And not just once, often! The speed difference across most terrain is fourty percent. And that is relative to your normal speed. So if your trail speed is a blistering 30 furlongs per hour (OK, 6km per hour), then that drops to a mere 18. If you are just your average hiker, you may be happy with that one mile you managed in an hour. There are many different reasons why that is so, from tacky underbrush to circumnavigating angry animals, but believe me, it also applies to you.
Danger
Going off trail is more dangerous. I have an opinion on danger, but let’s do that another time. Off trail is more dangerous, not because there is more inherent danger, but because there are less people to get you out of trouble and these people are far away. Also, other than on a trail, chances are much higher that you make a stupid route decision, like getting cliffed out, and then decide to stick with it. Not OK, flexible mind needed. And sturdy shoes.
Adventure and general coolness
Is it true that going off trail is more adventurous? Yes, yes it is! Maybe it is because you are more relying on yourself and not on the trailmakers, maybe you really are venturing in untracked terrain, about to discover a new Lascaux cave. Maybe it is a feeling. I remember a trip I did with my brothers, and when we talked about which part was best, my older brother said: the part where we left the route and just walked where we liked! It was just a thrill in itself!
That said, on trail hiking also has it’s perks. Bear in mind that that trail was probably developed exactly where it is to make hikers happy. It can be the most efficiënt way to get from a to b, but in many cases, like for example the appalachian trail, it is there to show you the very best that nature has to offer. Say no to that. Also, if all hikers in an area use the trail, that minimises the impact that you have on the environment, because it is limited to a three foot wide trail. If you do a specific trail, that can give you a tremendous feeling of achievement. For example… check out the freshly opened Baltic Forest trail! 2100 km. Say no to that! • "The Forest Trail" - l... It somehow brags better to your friends if you say “I hiked the Eifelsteig” in stead of: I hiked from nowheretown to bend in the road ville.
Last, and maybe this does or does not tick your boxes. I like the idea of incorporating historical trails into routes. For example: this was the route priests walked to preach in the hidden valley every month. Or where king so and so led his army to a horrible death.
So as a wrap up: there are some significant differences between hiking on and off trail and both have their place. In the next video I will talk about when you would opt to hike off trail and when on.
Thanks for watching! Papa hiker
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