Dumbest things you've ever been asked by a non-hiker.

[Buzz_Lightfoot]

Place: Observation platform, AT in High Point SP in NJ.
Setting: Taking a break eating an apple on a small section hike.
Question: Woman, "Are you walking on the road"?
Response" Me, Laugh, "No, I'm hiking on the AT".

So, it was only a little odd but it got me to thinking there must be other interesting stories we can all share with each other.

Have at it!

BL

[saimyoji]

not asked by a non-hiker, rather by a guy hiking with his kid about 3 miles from the trailhead:

"what do the white marks on the trees mean?"

[Hikes in Rain]

"Aren't you afraid out there all by yourself?" "If I were, I wouldn't be there."
What would you do if you were eaten by a bear?" "I'd probably die!"

And my favorite: "Why?!?" to which I can only answer "if you have to ask...."

[Nean]

So you stay in a hotel every night?!?

[The Weasel]

Walking by myself near Watauga Lake, with all my gear: "Are you backpacking?"

TW

[saimyoji]

Walking by myself near Watauga Lake, with all my gear: "Are you backpacking?"

TW

did you show them your bag of poop?

[Egads]

Walking by myself near Watauga Lake, with all my gear: "Are you backpacking?"

TW

Happens more often than you'd expect

[wdelong]

When she heard I was planning a thru-hike - "Do they make you carry your own water?"

[Homer&Marje]

Where do you shower at night? That was asked of me recently by someone I know

[Lilred]

When she heard I was planning a thru-hike - "Do they make you carry your own water?"

I wonder who 'they' are.........

[Homer&Marje]

They are the purists They lurk the sides of the trails....didn't you read the latest thru hiker cannibalism thread?

[CrumbSnatcher]

how do you carry 5 months worth of food?

[wdelong]

I wonder who 'they' are.........

That's what I wondered too!

[CrumbSnatcher]

dumbass: how did you get here ?
me: i walked from georgia!
dumbass: are you from georgia?
me: NO, im from nebraska!
dumbass: did you walk from nebraska?

[Pacific Tortuga]

While checking out a whole strip map of the AT and pointing out the terrain to a friend, explaining the sections I thought would be xtra difficult.

She pondered the Trail in front of her for awhile and said, "why don't you walk south, it looks all down hill".

You have to know her, she was serious, and a surfer girl.

[saimyoji]

how do you carry 5 months worth of food?

MS knows.

[Bearpaw]

From a grandmotherly type in an RV:
"Who cooks for you?"

From the same woman:
"Where do you go to the bathroom?"

After explaining about hiking from Georgia to a group in Shenandoah Nat'l Park:
"Are you sh***in' me?!"

From the couple that gave me a ride to Millinocket in the back of their truck (after summitting Katahdin):
"Would you like a beer?"

My response to such a needless question:
"Are you sh***in' me?! Hell YEAH!!"

[Bearpaw]

Another example:
"Aren't you afraid of running into some crazy person out there?"

My response:
"Ma'am, I AM the crazy person out there..."

[Hooch]

Another example:
"Aren't you afraid of running into some crazy person out there?"

My response:
"Ma'am, I AM the crazy person out there..."

That's the best possible answer to that question anyone will ever come up with.

[TripleG]

" I would not want to walk that whole way, but I would ride it on a Sega".