Sometimes a straight line is not best.
Correct.
About half way down that climb and within view of the pickup parked on the side of the highway, there is the end of an old logging road. I knew it had to start on the highway somewhere, as the other direction is designated wilderness so that road couldn't head or come from that way. I decided to hit the logging road after dark and follow it out to see where it meets the highway, as it may be an easier way to get into the spot. Well 5 miles of logging road and multiple switchbacks later it hit the highway 3 miles south of my pickup. I finally made it back at 11 PM that night.
All to avoid another 1000 or so vertical feet descent through that deadfall after dark.
