While at Photographer's Point we talked to some fellow backpackers who recommended the Monument Creek Cutoff, a route that would help us avoid fording Pole Creek and eliminate some big up and downs. Even though it's not a trail marked on the map, it's pretty well defined and used by the pack trips. After following Monument Creek it cuts back east to meet back with the trail close to Cook Lake. Sounds good, right? Well, we all know how "short cuts" go, right?

This one started out fine. We easily found the trail and had no problems following it for most of the way. It was a pretty hike, but after awhile we were beginning to question just how much time it was going to save us. We lost the trail around some unnamed lakes and were trying to get back on track when we met another hiking party taking the same "short cut" to Cook Lakes. After consulting maps and GPS's, we finally found the trail in the bushes and were shortly back on the real trail just south of Cook Lakes. We were all in agreement that the short-cut wasn't so short and we were happy to reach Cook Lakes.