Foreman's been doing this long enough to know what'll pass.

Wait, @jordan464, isn't the Eagle Pass loop actually the one that goes past that old mining shack? The "fisherman's trail" I've heard about is usually on the west side of the ridge, not near the creek bed you got stuck in. I think someone might have pointed you toward the wrong spur trail, because the real shortcut is supposed to be a pretty well-worn path that connects to the main loop near the big boulder field. That dried up creek sounds more like the drainage ditch that runs down from the second switchback, which is definitely not a shortcut.

Called the supplier direct and had them send the right spec stuff. Told the foreman they could either redo it right or I'd report the skim job to the builder.