What does cursing at blowdowns, getting manhandled by a sea of branches, and losing all hope all have in common? They're all common symptoms of bushwhacking.
Bushwhacking is an acquired taste, to say the least, and there is no slower or more agonizing way to make progress while backpacking in the wilderness. There’s truly nothing quite like hours of being slapped, stabbed, squeezed, tripped, and scratched, all the while crawling through seemingly malevolent vegetation to help you appreciate the virtues of a trail. But then again, there's nothing quite as rewarding, either.
In all seriousness, no matter how vehemently I swear to never bushwhack again, I just can't seem to keep that promise to myself. And this year is no different. While the scope and grandeur of this year's bushwhacking experience will be scaled back from last year, I still expect a significant challenge ahead and a plethora of colorful vocabulary. With that in mind, here are several things to keep in mind if you're considering bushwhacking on your next backpacking trip.
Bushwhacking is an acquired taste, to say the least, and there is no slower or more agonizing way to make progress while backpacking in the wilderness. There’s truly nothing quite like hours of being slapped, stabbed, squeezed, tripped, and scratched, all the while crawling through seemingly malevolent vegetation to help you appreciate the virtues of a trail. But then again, there's nothing quite as rewarding, either.
In all seriousness, no matter how vehemently I swear to never bushwhack again, I just can't seem to keep that promise to myself. And this year is no different. While the scope and grandeur of this year's bushwhacking experience will be scaled back from last year, I still expect a significant challenge ahead and a plethora of colorful vocabulary. With that in mind, here are several things to keep in mind if you're considering bushwhacking on your next backpacking trip.
Vegetation is your best friend AND worst enemy
Vegetation will save your life. Whether you're pulling yourself uphill by grabbing hold of branches or using branches for balance as you tightrope walk across downed trees, vegetation will be there to help you reach your destination. Until it turns on you, that is, because vegetation will also make your life a living nightmare. Branches will slap you in the face. Logs will slam into your shins. Thorns will bury themselves into your hands and any other exposed skin. You'll emerge from the woods bleeding and covered with dirt and crawling with bugs. But you'll also leave with a good story to tell.
You're never really lost...but you never really know where you are, either
Bushwhacking can wreak havoc on your mind. While walking three miles doesn't sound like much, it sure can feel like it after a few hours of bushwhacking. You'll repeatedly look at the map and find the corresponding landmarks in the terrain, all the while telling yourself that you must be close to your destination, that you just have to be. Then you'll crawl through dense vegetation for another hour or so. Maybe you'll fall into a sinkhole or two. Then, without notice, you'll reach your destination. Sitting around the campfire that night, drinking way more whiskey than you're allotted for, you'll proudly exclaim that you were never lost...and shamefully admit that you were never exactly sure where you were, either.
Bushwhacking is time consuming but very rewarding
In a rush to get to that sweet alpine lake? Stick to trails--they are great for getting somewhere relatively quickly and easily. Searching for that feeling of wildness and seeking a true wilderness experience? Bushwhacking is your answer. Being off-trail really makes you think, connect, and grapple with the landscape. Instead of drifting off into a self-induced zone of semi-consciousness, bushwhacking requires a higher state of awareness to keep a bearing, choose a route, avoid obstacles, etc., and the intellectual challenge associated with being off-trail is both appealing and rewarding. In fact, some of my most sublime moments have been in spots only accessible by bushwhacking--there is something both primal and incredibly peaceful about finding oneself in a beautiful spot, miles from any road, trail, or people.
Vegetation will save your life. Whether you're pulling yourself uphill by grabbing hold of branches or using branches for balance as you tightrope walk across downed trees, vegetation will be there to help you reach your destination. Until it turns on you, that is, because vegetation will also make your life a living nightmare. Branches will slap you in the face. Logs will slam into your shins. Thorns will bury themselves into your hands and any other exposed skin. You'll emerge from the woods bleeding and covered with dirt and crawling with bugs. But you'll also leave with a good story to tell.
You're never really lost...but you never really know where you are, either
Bushwhacking can wreak havoc on your mind. While walking three miles doesn't sound like much, it sure can feel like it after a few hours of bushwhacking. You'll repeatedly look at the map and find the corresponding landmarks in the terrain, all the while telling yourself that you must be close to your destination, that you just have to be. Then you'll crawl through dense vegetation for another hour or so. Maybe you'll fall into a sinkhole or two. Then, without notice, you'll reach your destination. Sitting around the campfire that night, drinking way more whiskey than you're allotted for, you'll proudly exclaim that you were never lost...and shamefully admit that you were never exactly sure where you were, either.
Bushwhacking is time consuming but very rewarding
In a rush to get to that sweet alpine lake? Stick to trails--they are great for getting somewhere relatively quickly and easily. Searching for that feeling of wildness and seeking a true wilderness experience? Bushwhacking is your answer. Being off-trail really makes you think, connect, and grapple with the landscape. Instead of drifting off into a self-induced zone of semi-consciousness, bushwhacking requires a higher state of awareness to keep a bearing, choose a route, avoid obstacles, etc., and the intellectual challenge associated with being off-trail is both appealing and rewarding. In fact, some of my most sublime moments have been in spots only accessible by bushwhacking--there is something both primal and incredibly peaceful about finding oneself in a beautiful spot, miles from any road, trail, or people.
Remember, just don't let the thrill of adventure supersede your common sense. There have been times when I have decided to bushwhack and other times when I have made the conscious decision not to do so. Do your homework before your trip--scour the internet for blogs, forums, pictures, or anything else that will give you a better idea of what to expect. Talk to locals and ask questions, read guide books (if available) and have an emergency back-up plan in case you need to bail for any reason. In other words, be thoroughly prepared. But perhaps most important of all, in case the unthinkable happens, tell someone where you are going. Leave a written itinerary with your expected return time and information with whom to contact in case you don't return within that time frame.
Last, have fun--while exceedingly difficult at times, bushwhacking can be very rewarding. So on your next trip, step outside your comfort zone (literally) and travel off-trail, and enjoy the quiet solitude and wild as only a bushwhacker can.
Last, have fun--while exceedingly difficult at times, bushwhacking can be very rewarding. So on your next trip, step outside your comfort zone (literally) and travel off-trail, and enjoy the quiet solitude and wild as only a bushwhacker can.