If only the world was like hiking...

[CyclingInvestor]

Depends on where you're hiking. The first mile or two...you can encounter rude people. After mile two...that usually weeds out those sort of folks.

I never did a back country hike/camping...but I did do a 18 miler day hike when we hiked half dome...so 9 one way. It was really pleasant! I will say though...on the way back as we got closer to civilization, there were tons of tourists around the waterfalls you pass on the way down. The last 2 miles...I was ready to be done. Bumping into tourists wearing flip flops on steep slippery steps...no thanks.

+1

In ports on cruises the distance is far shorter - the first few blocks are a zoo, especially in a 4 ship port like Ketchikan, but after that you just see friendly locals out for a walk, usually with a dog or two.

 

[MuirWannabe]

Depends on where you're hiking. THe first mile or two...you can encounter rude people. After mile two...that usually weeds out those sort of folks.



I never did a back country hike/camping...but I did do a 18 miler day hike when we hiked half dome...so 9 one way. It was really pleasant! I will say though...on the way back as we got closer to civilization, there were tons of tourists around the waterfalls you pass on the way down. The last 2 miles...I was ready to be done. Bumping into tourists wearing flip flops on steep slippery steps...no thanks.

Half dome is a great hike. I’ve done it twice in the last few years. Like everything in Yosemite, going at the right time of year is important. I’ve never done Clouds Rest in Yosemite. I hear it’s great. I plan to do it next time I’m there.

 

[JoeWras]

Always meet good people from all over the world on the trails. I've seen people share all kinds of stuff, giving up last water for a hurting hiker, etc.


Hiking is heaven on earth to me.

 

[Chuckanut]

Always meet good people from all over the world on the trails. I've seen people share all kinds of stuff, giving up last water for a hurting hiker, etc.


Hiking is heaven on earth to me.

Agreed.

I have met Buddhist Monks in their saffron robes hiking at Mt. Rainier. In Italy an Italian family shared bread cheese and their home made wine with us at a campsite. Hiking Zion NP I ran into three foreign students - Japan, Sweden and Italy - very nice boys who helped this old guy out when his balky knee would not let him cross over a creek. (Who knew that Zion NP was so popular with foreign tourists?)

 

[Backpacker]

Hiking is my stress relief. Mostly solo hiking, my previous job was very people intensive, all the nutters ended up with me. Solo time in the woods was super helpful. Now I enjoy meeting people on the trail, but still enjoy solo hiking.

 

[street]

YTD I have logged 389 miles so far hiking which isn't much but I only do about 5 to 7 miles when I go in the back country. The time fly's when I hike but if I walk in town it is boring and seems like work and not fun when I walk in town. I'm minuetes from all the hiking I want and go often.

 

[Philliefan33]

Yesterday I did one of my favorite hikes. It was the last time I can (legally) hike here, as the state fish and game commission is closing the trail on May 1.

There are three waterfalls on the way up, with numerous little cascades along the way. The trail is rough, but very doable for a careful hiker. The warning signs are there for the clueless tourists, but unfortunately there are still injuries (and a few deaths in the past five years) so the trail will be closed.

 

[Gumby]

This is the sign that greets you at the top of the Tuckerman Ravine headwall on Mount Washington.

 

[Philliefan33]

This is the sign that greets you at the top of the Tuckerman Ravine headwall on Mount Washington.

The subject of Mt. Washington weather was a topic of conversation on a hike with friends a couple of weeks ago. One would hope that any hiker making that trip would be familiar with the risks and be prepared.

I think “hiking” means different things to people. For some, it’s a walk on a paved trail that happens to go through a wooded area. For others, it’s climbing Mt. Washington. The danger is when someone from the first group ends up on a more challenging terrain.

 

[mountainsoft]

Yesterday I did one of my favorite hikes. It was the last time I can (legally) hike here, as the state fish and game commission is closing the trail on May 1.

Beautiful, so sad they are closing the trail. It's amazing how many people are clueless in nature. Without a sidewalk and guard rail it's like they don't know how to use common sense.

We hiked the Lava Canyon trail near Mount Saint Helens a few years ago. Great trail, and fun to hike, but they have those "Danger, people have died here" signs all over too.

 

[mountainsoft]

I think “hiking” means different things to people. For some, it’s a walk on a paved trail that happens to go through a wooded area. For others, it’s climbing Mt. Washington. The danger is when someone from the first group ends up on a more challenging terrain.

Yeah, I'm more of a 3-5 mile day hike person. We stop to take so many pictures and video it usually takes us 3-5 hours to make those short hikes.

We've done a couple of longer 6-8 mile hikes, but those are fairly rare.

I always thought it would be fun to do an overnight hike somewhere, 3-5 miles in and then hike back out the next day. But we're not prepared for that so we stick to the shorter day hikes. That still leaves a LOT of trails to hike.

 

[JoeWras]

A park ranger once described it as the "Disneyland Effect." He has to warn people who come to these places that it is natural, and you can get hurt. There is just ignorance from many visitors who think "because it is here, it is safe."

No. It is not.

Barriers and signs are a good idea, but it doesn't stop people from dying at Yosemite every year. So it goes.

Here's how good a barrier is at Yosemite. When I saw these guys hop the rail, I decided to take a picture just to document their possible death. Near top of upper falls. Nice place! Don't wade in the water, though, as the sign says, you go over. "No second chance."

 

[JoeWras]

Forgive me. More on "signs". When we hiked Badlands, there were signs to avoid certain cliffs. The trails were wishy-washy, because it is just all washed out desert soil. I *thought* we followed the sign, but we did the reverse! It was a harrowing trail. When we got to the end of the segment (about 100 yards), I turned around and saw the sign in the other direction (below), and realized I went right instead of left! I don't know how!!! Glad I survived.

 

[Rianne]

The natural world needs protecting. TG for our national/state/county parks. That makes us unique in the world. I just changed my will to include 25% of whatever is left to our forest preserve district. The history, education, trails, wildlife and genuine awareness of how important and essential these places are for health. Great pics BTW.

For some strange reason those pics brought to mind a topic on a different thread about ending our lives. I'd say that's a pretty sound way to go. You can gaze into the beauty, fill your heart with gratitude and let go.

 

[LOL!]

I don't kid myself. There are plenty of annoying hikers & backpackers. Where does all the used toilet paper come from?

I spend at least 40 days a year in a tent in the backcountry, so maybe I see more TP than most hikers.

 

[MichaelB]

I don't kid myself. There are plenty of annoying hikers & backpackers. Where does all the used toilet paper come from?

The Charmin bears? Boy, you’d think they’d be more considerate.

 

[JoeWras]

I don't kid myself. There are plenty of annoying hikers & backpackers. Where does all the used toilet paper come from?

I spend at least 40 days a year in a tent in the backcountry, so maybe I see more TP than most hikers.

Point well taken. Nirvana has not been obtained, we're just closer on the trails.

I do see trash picked up by others to cover for those who may have had a slip, but yeah, TP is the "third rail" of pickup, and I unfortunately have seen my share even on well traveled trails.

I also see more crap on "bucket list" trails. Here you tend to get someone with cash who skipped the minor leagues of hiking. Prima donnas they are, and let someone else deal with their detritus. I hear this is a major problem on the trails to Everest.

 

[Ronstar]

Great slideshow Ron. Looks like fun. I know several people who’ve done the Arizona Trail. Winter time is probably a good choice for these areas. They are beautiful

Thanks - Yes winter is the best time to hike the desert in Arizona. This year the wildflowers were amazing due to the large amount of rain. I've been on portions of the Arizona Trail - I'd like to do the whole thing sometime.


Now I'm back in Illinois, looking forward to some spring hiking. I have some waterfalls to scope out - should be interesting - it's supposed to rain 11 of the next 14 days.

 

[JoeWras]

The "Overtourism" thread got me thinking about hiking, and lo and behold, out came an article about hiking issues.

“It’s unbelievable how much surface pooping is going on out there,” said Craig Romano, a year-round hiker and author of 20 hiking guides for The Mountaineers Books. “I’m coming across it in places I never expected, even remote areas. I find it in the middle of a trail. And toilet paper. Streams of it! What I’m seeing is incredible. It’s absolutely disgusting.”
...
Social media’s ability to attract swarms of visitors to picturesque meadows and alpine lakes has presented a new challenge to keeping natural spaces looking even quasi-pristine.
“I don’t think anybody anticipated social media — a year ago, or five or 10 years ago — to be what it is today,” said Dana Watts

It is worth a read, and the pictures of trash at camp/hike places is alarming.

It all starts with each of us. These days, it seems to be a trend to vilify one issue of the environment. You know, the government ought to fix it or create laws and draw up treaties for that Big Thing. The reality -- to me at least -- is that it all starts with each of us in everything we do. Start with the damn crap we throw on the trails or we let "accidentally" blow out of our pickup beds and move on from there.

To the article about social media... It is one reason I'm off of it. In one post someone will present a questionable selfie, and the next they are preaching to me about my automobile or something. Look at yourself first!

 

[Teacher Terry]

When we hiked in the mountains we brought all our garbage out and buried our poop. I don’t understand what people are thinking?

 

[candrew]

When we hiked in the mountains we brought all our garbage out and buried our poop. I don’t understand what people are thinking?

Reminds me of that old rhetorical comeback, "Does a bear sh*t in the woods?"

 

[MuirWannabe]

reminds me of that old rhetorical comeback, "does a bear sh*t in the woods?"

 

[MuirWannabe]

When we hiked in the mountains we brought all our garbage out and buried our poop. I don’t understand what people are thinking?

Most experienced hikers/backpackers do just that. Some inexperienced day hikers don’t know better, so it tends to be worse near trailheads and roads.

But even in the back country it’s a numbers game. The sheer number of people going through the same trails. It adds up. Even when it’s buried it adds up so to speak. The push now is for everyone to pack out their TP.

 

[JoeWras]

But even in the back country it’s a numbers game. The sheer number of people going through the same trails. It adds up. Even when it’s buried it adds up so to speak. The push now is for everyone to pack out their TP.

Agree. The problem is we have a culture so worried about every germ or bug. (Yikes! A roach! A germ! Where's the sanitizer?) So, just toss it and get it away. Pack it out, you serious? That might require a plastic bag, and plastic bags are the scourge of the earth you know.

Let me get my selfie to show the world I'm cool and everyone else can clean up after me. Excuse me while I get into my new A/C car, post a few more tidbits and make sure to preach to everyone about saving the earth...

Maybe I should invent "Trail trash credits," create a market, and buy them so it is someone else's problem to do the actual work.

 

[NW-Bound]

We only do day hikes. Because of that, people do not need to relieve themselves, and we are spared of the "scary TP sight".

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Is that a natural posture for a bear? Does it need Ex-Lax?