High Route Style Largely Off Trail Traverses
Overview
High route style largely off trail traverses are long distance or multi-week itineraries that seek to stay near divides, ridges, or other elevated features, often using a mix of trails, informal paths, and cross country travel.
Key points
- Emphasize sustained time at higher elevations and along scenic divides.
- Combine maintained trails with informal paths and off trail segments.
- Require more navigation, terrain reading, and flexibility than corridor trails.
- Daily mileage is often lower due to terrain complexity and elevation change.
- Are typically self-designed or based on route descriptions rather than blazed corridors.
Details
High route style traverses treat the landscape as a set of ridges, basins, and passes rather than a single marked trail. Hikers seek to maintain an elevated line where feasible, connecting passes and ridge systems while dropping into valleys primarily for water, shelter, or route transitions.
Unlike defined corridor trails, high routes frequently rely on a mixture of existing paths, informal use trails, animal tracks, and entirely off trail movement over varied terrain. Navigation tools and skills play a central role, as tread may be intermittent or absent for extended stretches.
Because terrain is often steeper, rougher, and more complex than valley-based routes, daily distances may be shorter even when hikers are experienced and fit. Trip planning incorporates alternate lines, weather contingencies, and personal thresholds for exposure and route difficulty.
This article describes high route style traverses in a general hiking context and does not provide technical mountaineering instruction. Some described or proposed high routes include sections that require advanced skills or may not be appropriate for all hikers. Individuals consider their own abilities, comfort levels, and local information when evaluating such routes.
Related topics
- alpine-and-high-elevation-environments
- linked-trails-and-connectors-thru-hikes
- winter-and-shoulder-season-long-routes
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Illustrative hiking footage
The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.