Where is your motivation to Hike?

[Wise Old Owl]

People hike, others walk... it's getting cold... frustrated? what do you draw upon, what do you do different?

What are you going to do in the next 20 days?

Do you even have a plan?

Positive posts please.

[DrRichardCranium]

I just love to walk. I am almost compulsive about it.

[Wise Old Owl]

Great first weigh in... Mine is going with Rugby to hit the trails - a Dog is my best enthusiasm to getting out there.

[10-K]

I'm running the Kiawah Island marathon on December 8th and a 50km trail run on January 11th.

I roam around on the AT between Carver's Gap and Devil's Fork Gap somewhere at least 3 times a week most weeks.

Going to hike the BMT through GSMNP the last week of January.....

Plenty to do, no problem with motivation over here...

New Balance has a new slogan, "Nothing hurts worse than sitting on the couch." - I concur.....

[Wise Old Owl]

http://www.kiawahresort.com/recreation/marathon/

Awesome THAT"S MODIVATION.

[sbhikes]

I live in Santa Barbara so it's probably not quite as cold here as it is in most places. In fact, this is when the weather gets good around here. This is a great time to go hiking. Nice cool days with warm sun and pretty stuff to look at. I hiked every day over Thanksgiving weekend. I plan to continue that as much as I can.

My motivation for hiking comes from my legs. They like to hike. And also from that blubbery old lady that stares at me through the mirror every morning. Where in the heck did she come from? Maybe if I hike more I can get away from her.

[moytoy]

1> I'm not "almost compulsive" I am a compulsive walker.
2> Nice weather here in Florida( but I walk in the rain too)
3> Star lit nights
4> Cool morning walks on the beach as Venus and the Sun rise

I can think of a lot more reasons to stay motovated.

[moytoy]

motivated..dang I hate not being able to edit my sp.

[Namaste]

I like to cook and eat so I hike every weekend no matter what the weather. I love the cold and if I can't get up on the trail I at least walk or bike around the neighborhood. Not interested in running.

[The Cleaner]

When the sun comes back out and the wind lets up a little,I'm going up to Squibb Creek trail and take a chainsaw to clear some blowdowns.This trail connects with the AT right at Big Butt.Also you can access the Rocky Fork area too.Crawling under blowdowns w/pack is no fun...that's why they call me "The Cleaner"...

[mweinstone]

death. cancer. illness. hiking helps put these in check .

[Mags]

You can't drive to any of these places. And that is why I hike.

EDIT: Just realized you said right now. I play all year round in the outdoors. As the Scandinavian saying goes: There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!

[Blissful]

My motivation are planned hikes next spring. To finish my SOBO in April. And the JMT in July (nice pics Mags)

[Carbo]

We have a real nor'easter blowin in right now. Think I'll head to the beach for a walk and to check the waves. Also a good time to try out some layering and my rain gear. Will bring the camera and if I catch anything interesting I'll post when I return.

[fredmugs]

No hikes planned but in order to not gain 20 pounds over the winter (again) I made a challenge with another guy to get down to my in shape hiking weight (195 lb) before Christmas. Started at 209 two weeks and I'm down to 201 right now. I have to cough up $5 a pound if I don't make it. That's motivation enough for me.

Planning to finally hike GSMNP in May and then knock out my last 300 miles over two section hikes in July and Sept.

[Storm]

I guess my biggest motivation for walking and hiking is to slow down the aging process. Keeping my weight down and keeping active in my senior years so I'll be able to dance at my grandaughter's wedding.

Only plans for the short term is a winter overnight at a local primitive camping area so I can play with the new gear I'm going to get for Xmas.
Honest Santa, I've been a good boy all year please bring my new sleeping bag.

[Ladytrekker]

I organize a hiking meetup group in Florida so I decided to have a training backpack hike for new backpackers and put on a 2 mile hike into a shelter (Florida Trail) and set up and then there is 11 more miles of trail to play on after dropping our gear. I felt that alot of people were intimated by a long hike with gear as a first time. 27 people have signed up so on the 4th I am going on a march not a hike. ha ha. Many of them have never backpacked before so this should be fun.

I also put on an either one of two day backpack trips from Jan - April to make us get up and out and the response is enourmous I have at least 20 on each hike. I think it will be a good hiking season.

[healthymom]

14 miles tomorrow-- D Loop at Citrus
7-10 on Fri--Flatwoods
7 on Sat--Alafia w/ Heartland FTA

I get the hikes from 2 chapters of FTA and the Sierra Club. Check my schedule against the available hikes as soon as I get the emails and put in as many as I can make. Schedule absolutely everything else around hiking. Also, have a hiking partner as nuts as I am about doing as many miles as possible. We have a regular hiking date on Fridays. We do about 7-10 miles every Fri if nothing else.
Go to the gym after night appts to do stairmaster, there are few hills in FL and no mountains.
Winter is prime hiking time here. Few bugs, pleasant temps.
Am prepping for a thru-hike next year.
Amicalola...will...not...kick...my...butt.

[johnnybgood]

My motivation to hike comes from the need to unwind and get away from the real world.

I'm planning to hike the Mar-Har loop trail this weekend , so if there's anyone interested , it should be clear and cool.

[alverhootzt]

Hiking the AT in MD for my first winter backpacking trip this month.

Planning future trips to hike Susquehannock Trial System/Donut Hole Trail/Black Forest Trail and Mid State Trail