What is minding the switchback?
A switchback is a zig-zagging section of a road used to tackle a steep slope. Switchbacks are the reason why, when we lived in Guatemala, distance on a map gave no indication as to how long travel would take, because what appears to be 15 miles on a map can double, triple, quadruple in zig-zagging up one side of a mountain and back down the other. Switchbacks are also frequently found on trails, and while it may be tempting to forgo the switchback and cut corners to a more direct route - DON'T DO IT! Switchbacks are important for preventing erosion! Cutting switchbacks can harm the trail and the ecosystem. It can result in those closed off sections you encounter on a trail that are trying to be repaired. According to this information from the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky , switchback cutting is prohibited by law there. So I'll give you good reasons to mind the switchback - cutting may be illegal and it's definitely a jerk move. But guess who didn't know a