Too Rugged

[Shawn]

Have you ever encountered a trail that was too rugged?

We visited Atwood Ridge in the Shawnee National Forest during the summer. After experiencing high undergrowth, rolling muddy hills from 4x4 use, and a big fat rattlesnake at the trailhead, we decided it was too rugged to hike and aborted it.

We plan to return in the winter when the ground is frozen.

Have any of you ever had these sorts of hikes that are too rugged to do?

 

[neidholdt]

I understand skipping a trail that is overgrown, tick infested, and for like reasons, but then schedule in winter months, etc.

But No, I thrive on the rugged. The ones I find sketchy are the narrow trails along bluffs and cliffs. Angel's Landing in Zion's NP in Utah is one I have done and it has the reputation of one of the deadliest hikes in the USA. Truth is it is a lot of hype, dangerous yes but due caution is all it takes to keep it safe.

The last pic is of The Belly button trail in New Mexico, it bothered me more than Angel's Landing. Had slick rock on the edge of a several hundred ft drop off.

 

[neidholdt]

This backpack to Stephen's arch was epic. Had to climb down serveral hundred feet cliff, cross dunes and a river, then climb another cliff to get to it. the arch you see in the pic 220 ft wide, that shows a little bit of the scale of the cliff we had to climb to get to it.

 

[Shawn]

I understand skipping a trail that is overgrown, tick infested, and for like reasons, but then schedule in winter months, etc.

But No, I thrive on the rugged. The ones I find sketchy are the narrow trails along bluffs and cliffs. Angel's Landing in Zion's NP in Utah is one I have done and it has the reputation of one of the deadliest hikes in the USA. Truth is it is a lot of hype, dangerous yes but due caution is all it takes to keep it safe.

The last pic is of The Belly button trail in New Mexico, it bothered me more than Angel's Landing. Had slick rock on the edge of a several hundred ft drop off.

The 4th pic makes me nervous just looking at it!