Straight line" measurements are the real problem. They ignore all the little turns and switchbacks that add up on a real trail. That's why even digital tracks can be way off if they don't count every zigzag.

I read an interview with a studio engineer who said visual feedback from software made ear training seem optional. @susana66, the real shift happened when producers could fix pitch between takes without even listening back. It turned tuning into a quick edit instead of a skill you had to practice for years.

Oh man, that sounds rough. I have to ask, what map were you using that showed that path? Was it one of the main park maps, or like a digital hiking app? I've found some apps will show old game trails or just plain wrong lines that look legit until you're in it. I had a similar thing happen in the Sierra where an app showed a "connector" that was just a washed-out creek bed full of boulders.