Hiker behavior you like
As a converse to the annoying hiker thread, what is it that you really appreciate hikers doing, beyond the expected behavior?
Smiling at the worn out unhappy city people who haven't in the past walked one block to McD. The channel changer is so heavy for these people that as soon as voice command changers come out they will email purchase immediately. Smile and give them a little magic, like agree with them.
I always liked meeting positive hikers who gave a little and took a little. Lots of interesting stories/lives on the trail. Musicians and story tellers were alway welcome in my campsite.
'Slogger
The more I learn ...the more I realize I don't know.
Managing their personal hygeine.
Will write longer piece when I'm not at work, but this'll do for now:
I like it when thru-hikers, either during or after their hikes, treat ALL other hikers with respect, and don't condescend to weekenders, overnighters, or other folks who aren't part of the "thru-hiker" fraternity. Every thru-hiker was a short-timer once; every thru-hiker is fated to become a short-timer again. Some folks need to keep this inmind.
Hikers with swollen feet need an icy brook and a couple of ibuprofen.
Hikers with swollen heads need to get over themselves.
Hiker behavior I like
JACK WORKS?
Just kidding
I like fellow hikers that treat others and what's around them with respect. Their ego's fit into the shelter/tent/hammock, and they don't think they are centerstage for some off-off-off-broadway production.
"If I get started in the right direction, I just might get to where I want to go." -- Tab Benoit
Just abiut everyone
Experiences I can think of:
A real professional fluite player one night on Standing Indian.
Baltimore Jack sharing his food with a couple of women who ran out in the 100 Mile Wilderness.
Hikers who went to town for hot dogs and brought back enough for 20 people,
Two boys near Port Clinton who hiked up to a shelter with a case of soda and pizza for everyone,
Pat Frpm Maine when she made me get in my sleeping bag and gave me a Snickers when I was too stupid to realize I was coming down with Hypothermia.
Blister Sister for her spiritual guidence when we went to The Church of The Mountain together.
Jester for just being Jester.
Nomad 98 for giving me my trail name back in 98'
Excellent Good Half Moon who came back and encouraged me to keep going one cold wet night in Georgia.
All the cars that didn't pick me up in the rain at a road crossing when I was having thoughts of yellow blazing.
Complete strangers who shared apples, soda and other treats.
Fellow hikers who would crowd together to make room for one more in the shelter on stormy nights.
Mountain Laurel for sewing a strap back on my Gregory Pack somewhere in Md. She used dental floss.
Everyone who shared stories, food and love on the trail.
Honestly, almost everyone I met between Springer and Katahdin. Thru hikers take care of each other and I benifited from much kindness.
[FONT="Arial Black"][/FONT]Don't fret the petty things, &
Don't pet the sweaty things[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][/FONT][I][/I]
(I'm moxie00 on my apple-moxie on my PC)
I love it when overnighters bring a case of beer knowing they can't possibly drink it all and ask for help...
I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.
~John Muir
Mountain Laurel dressed my blisters in Georgia. I was lucky enough to meet her again in Maine after she flip-flopped. What a nice lady!Originally Posted by Moxie00
hikers who remember how far it was back to the last water source they passed. accurately.
Hikers who go for joint pizza at 501 shelter.
Hikers who make little arrows showing the right way at those unmarked forks in the trail. Especially the ones who backtracked to let others know when they could have just gone on.
The hiker who brightened everyone's hearts with little smiley faces scratched in the dirt.
Those many many hikers who return in the years to come with Trail Magic.
Those who go on to so Trail maintenance.
The one who consoled me with a handful of candy hearts the day my feet were messed up and painful from Superfeet.
The ones who offer to share in a motel room to save $$.
A sampling of Hiker behavior I like:
Hikers who respects the beauty that lies before them
Hikers who respects wildlife and their environment
Hikers who respect others they meet or camp with
Hikers who don't litter or deface things that doesn't belong to them
Hikers who take out and dispose of more litter than they bring in
Hikers who turn into volunteers who have to clean up behind inconsiderate hikers and fix the trail.
etc, etc, etc......
The long strings of scouts and other groups who step aside and let single hikers by, then camp far from the shelters.
I appreciate it when passing hikers give good information and helpful advice on what's coming up. I would like it if another hiker would stop for a game of chess on my portable set too, but that hasn't happened yet.
I like it when they dont snore!
:-?
good thru hikers
who speak softly
Hikers who bring extra candybars
:-?
When jack gives out cigarettes.
:-?
Some people I like......
*Positive folks, folks who never whine even when they're entitled to it
*People with a sense of humor, preferably a somewhat twisted one
*People who don't make a big deal of such things as their speed, strength,
mileage achieved, etc
*People who help other hikers, especially newbies, without making the
newbie feel like a dork
*People who respect your privacy and can tell when you don't want to talk
with anyone, hike with anyone, camp with anyone, etc.
*People who might not share your vices, but don't hold them against you,
either
*People who don't have prejudices, or are smart enough to leave them
at home
*Along with their harmonicas, cell phones, and dogs
*People who don't make an enormous deal of their hiking background,
especially if its extensive
*People who listen
*People who can appreciate a well-told off-color joke
*People who'll share "expert" knowledge on something you don't know much
about, especially something like wildflowers, constellations, birds, etc.
*People who share this knowledge without being pompous about it
*People who share stuff without acting like they're saving your life
*People who are straight shooters: They won't bull**** you, won't be nice
in person and then backstab you when you've hiked away, and who wouldn't
say anything about you in person or in a register that they wouldn't say
directly to your face
*People who provide Trail Magic, of any sort
*People who've been on the receiving end of Trail Magic that you missed,
but they insist on sharing it with you
*People who run hostels, especially the very few that run them out of their
own homes
*People who run Outfitters
*People who run other businesses (hotels, restaurants, etc. )who open their
arms to hikers, despite our appearance, filth, stench, etc.
*Any and all Trail Maintainers or other volunteers
*Anyone working in Land preservation/protection that helps the Trail or
the Trail corridor
*Anyone connected with the ATC.
*Anyone connected with ALDHA. Hold on, lemme re-think this!
*The good folks at Five Olde Nugget Alley Tavern; The Dirt Cowboy Cafe
Coffee House; and the staff at the Howe Public Library, who have to put
up with me just about every day between October and March
*People who offer to fill your water bottles, especially when the water's
way far away.
*People who buy their own smokes!
*People who are courteous with their electronic gadgets
*People who are so courteous about them that they leave them at home
*Motel roomates who don't smoke clove cigarettes; aren't NASCAR fans; and
share your feeling that Country Music Television is one of the greatest
contributions to Western Civilization
*Ugly people who are kind enough not to get naked in front of you
*People who give away their unwanted maildrop stuff to their friends
*People that are good at getting campfires going, especially with wet wood
*People who enjoy a drink at the end of the day, especially their own
*People that share food, especially if its special or exotic
*People that will give you some Gatorade or Kool-Aid, even if they're almost
all out themselves
*People who make room in shelters, even when there isn't any
*People who don't put you on the spot by asking "Hey, does anybody mind
if......." Invariably, they're asking about something like playing their tin
whistle, bringing their dog into the shelter, or something equally
objectionable that you DO mind, but don't wanna make a big deal of
*People who leave fruit at trail crossings, especially oranges
*People who put out water jugs during dry spells
*People who leave cookies at shelters
*People who don't ask personal questions
*People who don't share the details of their digestive troubles
*People who don't talk about their feet
*People who never initiate a conversation that includes the word "chafe"
*People who laugh when they're hurting inside; don't mind the cold, and
come into camp with a smile after 20 long ones in the rain
*People who are so happy to be on the Trail that it shows every day
All for now, I'm sure I missed a few.
My favorite Jack post to date. Had to bust out laughing on that one. Glad I'm alone in the office.
My favorite people on the trail are the same kind of folks I like in everyday life: Those that are humble and generous. They are the folks that make everyone feel good no matter their station in life or trail experience.
In keeping with Jack's sentiment so eloquently shared above:
People who never initiate a conversation that includes the words "does this look infected to you?"
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
