The problems with shortcuts


The hiking track shown above is from a hike I did this morning. In most places you can see two overlapping lines, one for the uphill track and one for the downhill. However, note in the middle of the photo, it appears like one of the switchbacks was cut on the return. Now, anyone who is familiar with this particular trail would recognize that a shortcut here is highly improbable - the terrain is very steep and thickly wooded.
But anyone who knows me would also know that the idea of a shortcut like this would NOT occur to me. The main reason I don't like trail shortcuts is because of what's shown in the warning of the next photo. Shortcuts in may areas, where trails have been carefully laid out, often lead to significant erosion.


Another part of the reason is explained by the next two images. This is another area near my home where I hike frequently. If you look carefully at the photo, the main trail goes into the trees at the extreme left of the photo, and emerges from the trees at the right. However, some people have chosen to bypass the area of trees completely - you can see the shortcut between the left and right.

 
However, if someone were to take the shortcut and bypass the loops into the trees, they would miss something really special - a gorgeous little "oasis" amid the dry hills, especially later in the spring when everything turns green. It's a unique and peaceful little area that I love to visit.
Sometimes we unwittingly take a shortcut, in mountains or in life, thinking we know better than the person who created the trail; and thus we are deprived of an experience or insight that we might have had.
And a third anti-shortcut reason - what makes us think that faster is better?? If the only goal is to get to the destination, maybe it is. But if the goal is any of a number of other things - exercise, rejuvenation, escape from pressures of the world, siteseeing, exploration, pondering - then we should appreciate every opportunity to appropriately extend the experience (or to avoid rushing through life!).
I #GiveThanks for the occasional extended switchbacks in my life that end up being blessings.

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