Rough terrain:
The trail ascended gently but continuously into the mountains. While the trail itself was easy
travel, just off-trail the terrain was littered with boulders and downed wood.
I hiked for a few more hours until I reached a point that I had previously determined was where I was to depart
from the easy hiking of the AT/LT. Looking upslope, in the direction I had to bushwhack, I saw large angular
rocks covered with slippery mosses, downed trees, muddy holes, and twisting roots that threatened to trip my feet. I had
only about 1.5 km (1 mile) to bushwhack through the tangle, but it wasn't going to be easy.
I repacked my bag to hide most of my tripod in the pack. Often I hike with my tripod sticking
high out of my pack, but when bushwhacking, every branch seems to reach and snag you, so a high-profile tripod simply wouldn't do.
Amazingly, as soon as I started off-trail, I found the forest opened up and the travel was simplicity itself, almost like walking
through a manicured arboretum!
