How often do you trip and fall?

[Another Kevin]

I know some hikers that seem to fall daily. I think pack balance and weight has a lot to do with it.

I fall just as often with a light day pack. Some of us are just natural klutzes.

[Monkeywrench]

I fell six times on my thru-hike: 3 times in one day in Virginia (the day I hiked into Pearisburg in a drenching downpour), 2 times in one day in New Jersey, and once in Maine.

[FatHead64]

Last weekend going for trash on back side of biggest dune in park. Got trash, let's just say involuntary glissading. Trekking poles did not help then. Had to break down and get the crampons out or I would have hurt myself. Should have already had them on. Otherwise, poles let me trip but not fall a lot!

[bfayer]

You guys do realize that who ever claims the most number of falls on this thread is going to be stuck with the name "Faceplant" for the rest of their hiking career.

[HikerMom58]

Oh Hey... this thread makes me happy!! I'm seeing lots of friends... Hey everyone

When I fall- I faceplant. It's terrible. Poles help me not do that. I agree with snifur about pack balance and weight, that helps me from going down 2.

[leaftye]

I'm averaging about three times a year for the last few years. I'd average one a year, but I had an embarrassing series of falls while trying to chase cows in 2011.

[SCRUB HIKER]

About as often as Jennifer Lawrence.

She goes down a lot more often than once a month in Silver Linings Playbook.

Anyway. On the AT in 2011, I only had two really bad falls. One was on some slippery rock in the Whites. The other was on the front steps of the museum next to the Partnership Shelter. Seriously hurt my thru-hiker pride when I couldn't navigate four concrete steps in normal civilization.

[Carry-On]

She goes down a lot more often than once a month in Silver Linings Playbook.

Anyway. On the AT in 2011, I only had two really bad falls. One was on some slippery rock in the Whites. The other was on the front steps of the museum next to the Partnership Shelter. Seriously hurt my thru-hiker pride when I couldn't navigate four concrete steps in normal civilization.

I fell while climbing up the concrete steps from the parking lot on Roan Mtn, headed back to the trail. Pretty much face plant falling up because I was looking at my guide at the time. Of course there were multiple witnesses, people who drove up there with a baby and must have wondered how on earth I thought I would manage to hike the AT.

I fell a lot more times on my thruhike. I wrote them all down in my blog, but haven't counted up the numbers yet. The worst was when I rolled my ankle on a rock under fallen leaves and fell onto the opposite knee, crunching it onto a rock. I had more spectacular falls, but that one actually injured me and hurt for months.

[BirdBrain]

I think I am tripping now.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

Last weekend going for trash on back side of biggest dune in park. Got trash, let's just say involuntary glissading. Trekking poles did not help then. Had to break down and get the crampons out or I would have hurt myself. Should have already had them on. Otherwise, poles let me trip but not fall a lot!

Would that be in Warren Dunes Park? I took an unplanned ride down the dunes there myself once...talk about road rash!

[Another Kevin]

I think I am tripping now.

[Kookork]

I fall only when I am hiking west to east or east to west. Sobo or nobo I don't trip or fall , why? Just because I can. Go figure.

[FatHead64]

Last weekend going for trash on back side of biggest dune in park. Got trash, let's just say involuntary glissading. Trekking poles did not help then. Had to break down and get the crampons out or I would have hurt myself. Should have already had them on. Otherwise, poles let me trip but not fall a lot!

Would that be in Warren Dunes Park? I took an unplanned ride down the dunes there myself once...talk about road rash!

Real close - Grand Mere - maybe 10 miles North. Maybe 2 from my house.

[fredmugs]

On a weeklong section hike I'm good for one painful fall. SOBO down Mahoosic Arm is another story.

[Stalking Tortoise]

I'm good for at least one on each section hike. The last one was right before the side trail to the Wintturi shelter in VT. Descending in the dark with my headlamp over wet rocks... BAM! I waited a few seconds for the pain and feeling of blood running down my shin but nothing happened. A quick inspection of my leg reminded me that I was wearing a knee brace on that leg and it took all of the impact.

[FatHead64]

Real close - Grand Mere - maybe 10 miles North. Maybe 2 from my house.

This is the front side of the dune a few weeks ago - I was slip-slidin' on the back side - pretty much just as steep, but with briars and trees at the bottom. Note the sledders at the bottom.

IMG_0494.jpg

[chiefiepoo]

Fell four times from Springer to Davenport Gap. Each time I was looking at something other than the trail ahead or where my feet were . I'm a slow learner. Worst was a fall at Yellow Creek / Gap? just before Fontana. Fell down the four or five log steps into a pool of rock and mud. Face down. Had to limp into Fontana and stay two nights till the swelling went down. I was able to score an 800 mg tylenol from a hiker going the other way in exchange for one Hershey bar. Pain gone. New rule, if your eyes aren't watching the trail, you feet ought not be moving.

[HikerMom58]

This is the front side of the dune a few weeks ago - I was slip-slidin' on the back side - pretty much just as steep, but with briars and trees at the bottom. Note the sledders at the bottom.

IMG_0494.jpg

Nice pic FH64...beautiful!! Looks Cold!

[Carry-On]

Fell four times from Springer to Davenport Gap. Each time I was looking at something other than the trail ahead or where my feet were . I'm a slow learner. Worst was a fall at Yellow Creek / Gap? just before Fontana. Fell down the four or five log steps into a pool of rock and mud. Face down. Had to limp into Fontana and stay two nights till the swelling went down. I was able to score an 800 mg tylenol from a hiker going the other way in exchange for one Hershey bar. Pain gone. New rule, if your eyes aren't watching the trail, you feet ought not be moving.

I absolutely agree. Mine were often because I was talking with somebody on "easy" trail and not paying as good of attention to the trail as I should have been. I learned on my thru to stop walking if I wanted to look around.

[Parkie Man]

Well it's great to know I won't be alone or standout too much when i do my thru next year. Though most of my falls are just trying to get my pants on in the morning. So if you see someoone walking the trail with no pants just know I had a rough morning