One of the unintended consequences of the new switch back trail is the possibility of losing hikers. This happens when an adventurous hiker will attempt to shortcut straight down the hill to the next switchback, while coming back down the mountain. The problem arises due to the fact that the switchbacks aren't stacked up on the fall line, but skew back towards the parking lot.
When this happens, they most likely cross into the eastbound watershed from the Stomping Ground between the Big and Little Buffalo. If they're REALLY unlucky, they don't follow that watershed down to the Band Mill off Mole's Road, miss the loop trail around the Little Buffalo, and climb up into the watershed that empties out at Wendell Sutphin's on Buffalo Mountain Road.
That's what happened to a couple this past month. They wandered around in circles, finally hitting the trail from the Band Mill to Wendell's, cold and wet in the dark. Wendell gave them a ride back to their car in the parking lot.
So, if you see trail jumpers, ask them to please stay on the trail, and warn them about this possibility.
Buffalo Jack
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