Hardcore Hikers

[KiltedKnight]

The last time that I really did it upright was 1995. My wife and I took two months off and went back to Minnesota where I'm from. I wanted to canoe the Wildernest area between Minnesota and Canada. My wife chickened out at the last minute and stayed with one of my brothers and his wife in Duluth but I spent a great 29 days in the wilds of northern Minn. and southern Canada portaging from lake to lake, (I had my choice of thousands), and never saw another human being for 28 of those days. Since then I generally have my wife drop me off up in the local mountains and pick me up at the end of the week-end or the end of the week depending on how much time I have. I really don't know if this qualifies as hiking but...

Chris.

[Kilted KT]

28 days without all the BS associated with large groups of people?! That is fantastic. You take any good pics?

[cessna152towser]

28 days and never saw any other humans. No chance of that here. I think the furthest I've trekked without meeting another human was the ten miles from Loch Stroan to the Big Fleet Viaduct on my Port Road trek in 1994. And while the Port Road was a derelict closed railway in 1994 it has now been made up as a cycle track so I would see more people if I returned today.

[davedove]

Here's a warning to all the hikers out there.

Since the prevalance of bear attacks has gone up in the past two years, the Parks department suggests that campers attach bells to their clothing and carry pepper spray in case a bear actually comes at you. You should also know what types of bears are in your area. Black bear scat is small and round and has no discernable odor because of their mostly vegetarian diet. Grizzly bear scat is bigger, has little bells in it and smells like pepper spray.

And remember to always hike with a partner. That way, if a bear does attack, you don't have to outrun the bear, only your partner.

[Southern Breeze]

And remember to always hike with a partner. That way, if a bear does attack, you don't have to outrun the bear, only your partner.

I've actually had that type of conversation with friends that were new to hiking.
"What do you do if we see a bear"?
"I always run".
" Can you really outrun a bear"?
"I don't have to, just you".


Remember, it's not about where you go,how much you carry or how long you stay. Just get out there and enjoy yourself.

[Andrew Breecher]

I'm not hardcore, I just like to hike. A lot. At a time. I actually think I'd be unhappy on a short, overnight trip. I keep glancing at the trips that the Appalachian Mountain Club offers, so I could meet up with other outdoors-types in the area, and I just can't stand the thought of an eight-mile backpacking trip.

[...] he told me that the place he see the most kilts on a regular basis is in the hiking community.

It's true - at least in long-distance hiking circles. The Sport Kilt tent sold out at Trail Days in 2004, and a lot of guys wore kilts up the trail. I constantly run into guys who see me wearing a kilt, and you can just see the light clicking on behind their eyes.

Hmm, someday I should finish the Long Trail in Vermont. I've hiked the lower third (about 100 miles from the MA border to Rutland, VT) three times now....

Andrew (at about 2,600 long-distance miles).

[Kilted KT]

Hmm, someday I should finish the Long Trail in Vermont. I've hiked the lower third (about 100 miles from the MA border to Rutland, VT) three times now....

Andrew (at about 2,600 long-distance miles).

when I move back home ( s.e. mass) we need to hook up for a hike somewhere.

God I miss the northeast.

[KiltedKnight]

28 days without all the BS associated with large groups of people?! That is fantastic. You take any good pics?

I almost went broke paying to have the pics developed. They're all in storage packed away since my move back from Las Vegas but I'll run across them and post some soon. If, that is I ever figure out how to post them on this forum, I have all the instruction I just have to get motivated.

Chris.

[KiltedKnight]

P.S. Did I mention having to find lakes with islands in the middle of them to sleep safely on because of the wolves and moose that didn't like having to share their forests and lakes with intruders?

Chris.

[Kilted KT]

The moose I know about first hand.

I was en-route to northern Maine to raft the Dead River, when a female moose ran out of the woods,charging the shuttle-bus I was on. The moose kept pace with the bus for about a mile, headbutting the side of the bus the whole way. I think were going around 30-35mph, but don't remmeber. Scared the bejesus out of the girls on the bus ( it was a high school trip for the senior class).

No way I'm going to tangle with something that headbutts a bus while it is moving, and can keep up with it.

Moose are mean. Plain and simple.