You might be a southern hiker if...

[Bearpaw]

After meditating over the oddities of my many hikes in the southeast this past year, a few thoughts have occurred to me.

Feel free to add your own thoughts.

You might be a southern hiker if...

1) You wear pants in the summer (ticks, chiggers, and poison ivy) and shorts in the winter (because it's 50 degrees).

2) Your breakfast consists of three different flavors of instant grits.

3) You own hats, shirts, raingear, and pack covers in blaze orange.

4) Your most dangerous wildlife encounters are with an ATV.

5) You think switchbacks are when someone changes their mind.

6) Just outside the park boundary are signs that say "POSTED: No trespassing, huntin', fishin', or giggin'"

7) Folks giving directions explain that the 2 miles to the country store must be at least 5 "since you're walkin' ".

8) You know there's no water in a "sink", but a "hole" is usually good for swimming.

9) You can make an infinite number of "Gap" names with combinations of the words "low, hog, bear, pen, waller, devil's, high, cold, spring(s), smoky, wet, turkey, lick, sow, indian, rock, tater, Smythe, big, bald, creek, little, hope," or "bottom."


Come on southern hikers (or those who've hiked a lot in the South), I know you've got more.

[ed bell]

You are excited about telling your buddies back home that your thermometer recorded 36F on June 26th while standing less than 70 miles away in 96F weather.

[ed bell]

On January 18th you are hiking along the Chattooga River at 72F while seven days later you are staying in Ice Water Springs Shelter and it is -2F with 40 mph winds and they have closed US441.

[Bulldawg]

I can't think of anything at all to add to what Bear has said. I will try hard to think though. Good stuff guys!

[Seeker]

-you've ever been run off a dual-use trail by a mule and it's drunken rider,
-you avoid camping alongside creeks because of the alligators,
-one leg is shorter than the other from walking in the hills,
-you carry a pistol loaded with rat shot for the mosquitos and snakes,
-you know what not to do when a sign says 'no giggin',
-you own a pair of camoflage suspenders,
-you know that a branch is not just a name for a tree limb,
-you know you're not supposed to, but you carry a set of cotton sleep clothes because there's just no alternative on an 80* night.

[Bearpaw]

-you've ever been run off a dual-use trail by a mule and it's drunken rider,
-you avoid camping alongside creeks because of the alligators,
-one leg is shorter than the other from walking in the hills,
-you carry a pistol loaded with rat shot for the mosquitos and snakes,
-you know what not to do when a sign says 'no giggin',
-you own a pair of camoflage suspenders,
-you know that a branch is not just a name for a tree limb,
-you know you're not supposed to, but you carry a set of cotton sleep clothes because there's just no alternative on an 80* night.

Nice ones. The last (cotton sleep clothes) is definitely my wife.

[River Runner]

--you know that a branch is not just a name for a tree limb,

You know the proper pronunciation of 'creek' is 'crick'.

[MOWGLI]

You know the proper pronunciation of 'creek' is 'crick'.

I always thought a "crick" was what I had in my neck.

I'll add, a southern hiker knows how to pronounce the names of the following towns correctly;

Maryville, TN
Sevierville, TN
La Fayette, GA
LaFollette, TN

I'm nearly there.

[mrc237]

Don't forget Dahlonega Ga.

[Jim Obermeyer]

You know your a Southern Hiker when it's mandatory to be in trail town every weekend to drink beer and watch the NASCAR Race.

[NICKTHEGREEK]

You a re certain that once perfected, your idea for camo campfires will make you as rich as Forrest Gump.

[Tipi Walter]

You know you're backpacking in the south when the local weathermen put out a bad air-quality alert for everyone to stay indoors(TN valley).

When you never see any locals backpacking, just people from Atlanta or Charlotte or Knoxville or Ohio.

When you start out with one dog(your own)and by the end of the trip have four following you and sleeping in camp.

When you say a friendly hello to 3 camping fishermen one day and the next find twenty pounds of garbage left strewn around their tired camp and in their firepit after they leave.

When you notice all the mighty hemlocks are dead.

[cowboy nichols]

When you hike with a dog you know your carrying "Gator Bait"

[MOWGLI]

When the local trail club meeting opens with a prayer.

[Whiskyjo]

Branch lettuce, Poke salad,Ramps and Sassafras tea are part of your backpacking culinary delights...

[John Klein]

You might be a southern hiker if you have no problem resupplying at a convenience store because that's where you get your groceries when you're not hiking.

[bloodmountainman]

You know you are a Southen hiker when as you are hiking along you keep thinking to yourself... "that would be a good place for a treestand".

[Bulldawg]

You know you are a southern hiker when your buddies ask you where the good bear sign was and if you think they will still be in the area come bear season.

[Tipi Walter]

And you know you're a southern hiker when the bear hunters you run into on the trail ask you if you've seen any bear and you lie and say no.

[dmax]

You might be a southern hiker if you see a single wide trailer and think thats home.