Valleys become visible in all cardinal directions and birds fly at the level of feet. Although this area is only 15 miles from the worries of the nearest road, the hike melts away anxiety and stress like the morning sun touching dewy frost. Off-trail hiking, or 'cross country travel' in hiker lingo, is undoubtedly strenuous. It usually takes twice as long to travel a given distance. The terrain can be treacherous.
Rock hopping through fields of talus is often necessary.
Scree, a second type of terrain likely to be encountered, can make a descent incredibly fun, but it will also make an ascent frustrating. Besides the terrain itself, the grades of hills are almost always steeper, sometimes requiring the use of hands to stabilize walking. Finally, finding a path over a mountain range can be time consuming and unsuccessful. For those who venture off-trail, however, the rewards of cross country travel far outstrip the hardships. Due to the difficulty of travelling cross country, a hiker must travel lightly.