I have heard that Maine is one of the most difficult portions of the Appalachian Trail. It’s a fascinating trail although I’ll never do it!
Sad. But really how far off trail do you have to go to tinkle to get lost?
If it was that thick I wouldn’t think too far. And if it wasn’t thick seems like you could retrace yourself. I don’t know, just sad.
I know that area very well. The woods and terrain are a bit rugged but all she needed was a compass and the most elementary knowledge to get back to the trail.
The problem is that tons of people think they can always do just a “paint-by-numbers” approach to following the little white trail blazes on the trees along the AT. That works so long as you don’t leave the trail, but as this lady discovered, wander even a couple of hundred yards away and you may be in big trouble.
No one should go on these trips, especially alone, without taking the trouble to acquire some simple basic knowledge. She paid for her lack of knowledge with her life.
When I worked in NH there was a guy that took time off to do the trail and he was an old man in his 50’s, I heard the trail was no joke and that there are bears as well along the way.
NH has some rugged sections too. The end of the trail, Katahdin (in Maine), is spectacular, and it is a strenuous hike.