[pct-l] Cross-country off-trail

[Judith G]

>
Another concern for those contemplating cross-country travel into  
unknown territory in the Sierra is the potential to do major damage  
to lightweight gear (silnylon packs, etc.) that does not stand up  
well to the kind of hard wear that cross country travel dishes out.  2L

> Cross-country travel in that area, just to avoid one potential bad  
> creek
> crossing, means slow and difficult going, to say the least and  
> raises the
> possibilities of injury (while boulder-hopping, bush-whacking, or
> ledge-crawling), getting lost (not everyone is as adept at visual  
> route
> referencing as he is), unnecessary elevation gain/loss and energy
> expenditure, falling behind schedule, and rescue.