The Only Use of

circuitous
in
Into the Wild

As if climbing the peak alone in winter weren't challenging enough, this time he decided to up the ante even further by beginning his ascent at sea level, which entailed walking 160 hard, circuitous miles from the shore of Cook Inlet just to reach the foot of the mountain.†
p. 79.5

circuitous = indirect

Definition:

indirect -- while traveling somewhere, or in saying or doing something