Appreciation post: A wrong turn in the Wind River Range taught me to trust my map over my gut

I was on the Cirque of the Towers loop last fall and took a fork that looked right but wasn't. My phone was dead, but my old paper map showed I was heading toward a dead end. I backtracked a full mile and got back on track before dark. Anyone else have a moment where the old school gear saved the trip?

3 comments

3 Comments

avery_flores171mo ago

That mile backtrack is rough but better than a night out there. @jennifer833, sometimes the trail looks right but the land doesn't lie. My gut gets hopeful, but the map just shows the facts.

jennifer8331mo ago

That full mile backtrack must have been frustrating. What made you finally decide to trust the map over what you were seeing on the trail?

angela_harris1mo agoTop Commenter

Remembered getting that same sinking feeling near Maroon Bells when the trail just felt wrong. Pulled out my map and saw the contour lines didn't match the steep drop I was staring at. That little piece of paper doesn't get tired or scared, you know? It just shows you where you actually are, not where you hope you are.