Hardcore Hikers

[Southern Breeze]

How many hardcore hikers have we got here at X-Marks? I know there's a lot who get out during the day and weekends. Anyone who thinks nothing of a week to several months in the boonies would qualify.
I've been hiking for over 10 years. In that time I've done the A.T in sections-1988-1994, the Pinhoti trail in Ga & Alabama and the Benton MacKay trail in Ga. Most of my trips are in the Cohutta Wilderness and the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness areas.

[Angus MacSpey]

I've done some backpacking, but over the last several years it's been limited to overnighters and day hikes. That's going to change this summer, I think. I'd love to do a week or two on the Colorado Trail.

[cavscout]

I wouldn't classify myself as hardcore but I'm very comfortable in the outdoors. Done much of the AT in Georgia and South Carolina and a few week long hikes as well as trails in California. Spent a lot of time in canoes and kayaks also. Mostly rivers but did some ocean stuff while stationed in north carolina.

As my kids are now at ages where they can enjoy camping and hiking I'll be getting them into the woods. They already love the woods and spend all day plating in the woods behind our house and exploring the creek. I'm so thankful they love the outdoors naturally.

I'll be participating in the Blue Ridge Adventure race up your way in April. Should be quite an experience to cram a weeks worth of the outdoors into one day

[Randy]

Not hard core but-
My lovely wife and I generally go hiking somewhere every weekend. Our entourage includes includes our children, my best friend since forever along with his redtick coonhound, and another friend. We have section hiked along the AT bteween Wayneboro, VA to York, PA, not completed. We backpacked, bird watched, hiked in the George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Monongahela National Forests.
My little group has photographed most of the C&O Canal mile markers since the children were in preschool. Additionally we go to many NWR and smaller parks to see things of interest. We started the children walking then letterboxing, then made them carry their own packs by 6 or 7. Due to severe vehicle accident last month this years season is in disarray. We hope he gets his new leg in time for the Labor Day trip but maybe we can talk him out before that time.

The preliminary vacation schedule is Florida/April, Iceland? then Scotland/August, AT-VA or CT/September. My vacation bidding is not calendar based.

We are visiting Scotland this August. I have let folks know to bring the backpacking gear.

On a side note the Hudson Trail Outfitters annual get it the heck out the building sale starts March 10 at 10am in Rockville and Fairfax. the listings and prices are at http://www.hudsontrail.com/ . If you need any outdoorsy stuff, this is it. Looking at titanium cookset, my legless friend wants a )degree bag, and I think a 3 and 4 man tent is also in my future.

[James]

Sadly age has imposed a certain toll-but in my younger days I might have qualified.

As a regular backpacker throughout the UK, and with various longer trips in Norway and Sweden-when everything would be carried for over a couple of weeks at a go, and off track/trail.

In addition there would be the Long Distance Walker Events-a norm being 50 miles in the 24 hours-as with the Long Mynd Hike and Lyke Wake Walk.

I also took an army team to Holland for Nijmegen in the early 60's, and went again as a civilian in the 70's-the year when eight entrants died.

However it was neither the distance nor how arduous the terrain-rather the sheer enjoyment-satisfaction. For some of my best days out were short walks in interesting country-where only ten or twelve miles were covered.

James

[caig]

I regularly go hiking ( and always kilted). I live near the North Yorkshire Moors and often go up there. I have walked the West Highland Way twice, kilted. This goes from just outside Glasgow up to Fort william, a distance of about 96 miles. I did attempt the Great Glen Way, which follows on from the WHW, from Fort William up to Inverness, a distance of 76 miles, in mid November but the appalling weather stopped me after the first day. I will try nad do that again this spring or summer.

[davedove]

I mainly do day hikes, but our resident long distance hiker is Andrew Breecher, who is working on the triple crown of hiking - the Appalachian Trail (finished), the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.

However, when they finish the Great Allegheny Passage, I plan to hike it and the C&O Canal from Washington DC to Pittsburgh. The last piece connecting the to trails in Maryland is supposed to be finished this year.

[cessna152towser]

Like James, age has taken its toll. In my younger day I ran the Beatrix Potter Trail (Windermere, Lake District, to Eyemouth, Scottish East Coast - 145 miles) in stages. I also ran from Dunfermline to Gretna Green in stages. Covered sections of the West Highland Way and Speyside Way and most of the old railway trails in north-east England including Robin Hoods Bay to Scarborough; Consett to Sunderland and Bishop Auckland to Gateshead. Many long distance runs and walks over the years in UK and Europe. Now the longest one I expect to complete this year will be the Great North Run - Newcastle to South Shields - just 13 miles.

[646guy]

Definitely wouldn't call myself hardcore but I do a fair amount of hiking. I'm looking to do a hike through the Swiss Alps near Zermatt next year.

[cavscout]

However, when they finish the Great Allegheny Passage, I plan to hike it and the C&O Canal from Washington DC to Pittsburgh. The last piece connecting the to trails in Maryland is supposed to be finished this year.

I'm in process of organizing a bike ride for the C&O fort his fall hopefully.