Bloodroot
01-07-2005, 11:46
A couple years back I got a book, which many of you might have already, called “Long-Distant Hiking” by Roland Mueser. Mr. Muesser NOBO’ed in 1989 with the goal in mind of interviewing long distance hikers on everything from clothing and gear to coping with loneliness and fatigue. Anyhow, I broke it out the other day and briefly skimmed over it and noticed his interesting questionnaire. This survey used 136 long distance hikers from his 1989 thru as the sample size . Thought I might share some of the interesting results with the answers in percentage from that. Some of you ol’ timer’s might appreciate
J
14. What kind of pack did you carry?
Internal frame 42%
External frame 58%
-Highest rated packs.
Gregory 100%satisfied
North Face 92% satisfied
Lowe 83% satisfied
17. What did you sleep in?
Fiber bag 57%
Down bag 35%
Other 8%
18. Did you bother with underwear?
Half-no, half-yes
20. What kind of footwear do you use?
Running shoes 3%
Light/
Medium boots 63%
Heavy boots 34%
-Highest ratings:
High Tec 81%
Merrell 80%
-Did you wear gaiters?
Half-no, half-yes
21. How many pairs of socks did you wear?
Most wore two, some one or three.
23. What were the most valuable references you used along the trail? (beginning with most valuable)
1. The Data Book
2. Philosopher’s Guide
3. Maps and Trail Guides
About 65% carried the Data Book, 40% carried trail guides
24. Did you take along…
Compass 50%
Radio 40%
Reading material 60%
Camera 85%
Snakebite kit 30%
Journal 80%
25. Did you carry a staff? 65%
If yes, what kind?
A ski pole 10%
A walking stick 20%
Something picked up along the way 35%
31. Did you purify your water?
Always 14%
Usually 27%
Sometimes 41%
Never 18%
-How would you decide?
Appearance, nature of source, proximity of farm animals.
32. If you purified your water, how did you do it?
Iodine 43%
Boiling 11%
Filter 30%
3% used chlorine, 13% never purified
35. How much did your pack weigh the day you started?
Group average= 53 pounds
36. Did you work along the way?
50% worked a few hours at AMC huts for room and board
42. Did you ever unintentionally walk in the reverse direction along the trail? 37 did
If so, how come?
Confused blazing, missed turn, day-dreaming
How far?
Usually 1 to 4 miles
49. How hungry were you in the first few days?
A few were hungry, but most hikers reported that they were not hungry at all
-After a month?
Very and unendingly hungry
- Later on?
Even hungrier
53. Hikers bringing along dogs are always enthusiastic about how it works. What was your experience?
Very mixed returns. Hikers with dogs are enthusiastic. Others are polite but note that the dog create many problems.
J
14. What kind of pack did you carry?
Internal frame 42%
External frame 58%
-Highest rated packs.
Gregory 100%satisfied
North Face 92% satisfied
Lowe 83% satisfied
17. What did you sleep in?
Fiber bag 57%
Down bag 35%
Other 8%
18. Did you bother with underwear?
Half-no, half-yes
20. What kind of footwear do you use?
Running shoes 3%
Light/
Medium boots 63%
Heavy boots 34%
-Highest ratings:
High Tec 81%
Merrell 80%
-Did you wear gaiters?
Half-no, half-yes
21. How many pairs of socks did you wear?
Most wore two, some one or three.
23. What were the most valuable references you used along the trail? (beginning with most valuable)
1. The Data Book
2. Philosopher’s Guide
3. Maps and Trail Guides
About 65% carried the Data Book, 40% carried trail guides
24. Did you take along…
Compass 50%
Radio 40%
Reading material 60%
Camera 85%
Snakebite kit 30%
Journal 80%
25. Did you carry a staff? 65%
If yes, what kind?
A ski pole 10%
A walking stick 20%
Something picked up along the way 35%
31. Did you purify your water?
Always 14%
Usually 27%
Sometimes 41%
Never 18%
-How would you decide?
Appearance, nature of source, proximity of farm animals.
32. If you purified your water, how did you do it?
Iodine 43%
Boiling 11%
Filter 30%
3% used chlorine, 13% never purified
35. How much did your pack weigh the day you started?
Group average= 53 pounds
36. Did you work along the way?
50% worked a few hours at AMC huts for room and board
42. Did you ever unintentionally walk in the reverse direction along the trail? 37 did
If so, how come?
Confused blazing, missed turn, day-dreaming
How far?
Usually 1 to 4 miles
49. How hungry were you in the first few days?
A few were hungry, but most hikers reported that they were not hungry at all
-After a month?
Very and unendingly hungry
- Later on?
Even hungrier
53. Hikers bringing along dogs are always enthusiastic about how it works. What was your experience?
Very mixed returns. Hikers with dogs are enthusiastic. Others are polite but note that the dog create many problems.