Hmmm, interesting dilemma. As always, it depends. They seemed to be prepared, weren't lost, weren't injured. I don't recall the first post stating what time of day it was or how much daylight they had left. That would have made a difference. I'm also curious as to what they had to bushwhack through to go straight rather than follow the road. Was it thick underbrush, a lovely pine forest, or open rocks?

The wife's fall definately could have buggered things up quite badly. It seems a better choice may have been to follow the road and make a two-day adventure out of it. But then you've caused the family to worry.

-Blast