Finally got up the nerve to try that 'shortcut' on the Lost Coast Trail...

The tide table said we had a two-hour window, but the scramble over the rocks took way longer than we thought. We ended up getting our boots soaked and had to camp a mile short of our planned spot. Anyone else have a coastal route shortcut that totally backfired?

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3 Comments

beth5596mo ago

Tide tables LIE. They give you this false sense of security. We tried a "quick" beach pass in Oregon that turned into a full-on cliff climb. Had to toss our packs down first, it was a total mess. Never trust a shortcut that needs a tide chart. The ocean does not care about your schedule.

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finley_lee5mo ago

So you're saying tide tables are just wrong? I've used them for years and they're usually pretty close.

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paulc426mo ago

Remember that time in Washington with the "dry" creek bed? Tbh, we got halfway across before the sky just opened up. It was a solid lesson that any shortcut tied to nature is basically a gamble.

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