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South Surrey, BC
Canada
626 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2005 : 10:01 AM
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And is interested in allowing an inexperienced slow hiker to tag along? I don't have a tent either. Warning - I may whine a bit (though I'll make an effort to keep that at a minimum ). I really don't like being left behind so a bigger group is best for me (so that there is a better chance there is someone as slow or slower than me).
I'm sure that my little plea here will be rivetting and intriguing to most everyone on here who I've noticed are all practically professional hikers and probably do trails meant to take 3 hours in 15 mins. ;)
I'd be interested in the West Coast trail for example.
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Edited by - idealistic74 on 02/27/2005 10:03 AM
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 Alberta-based choss climbin', flame throwin', rappel lovin', ass talkin' hater who doesn't like "Gumby" for a descriptor
1100 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2005 : 10:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by idealistic74
I really don't like being left behind so a bigger group is best for me (so that there is a better chance there is someone as slow or slower than me).
Even in a small group, any one who leaves an inexperienced hiker behind is not some one you would want to go with anyways. |
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 Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5465 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2005 : 11:57 AM
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Well, I posted this one a few weeks ago, looking for people to hike the West Coast Trail with this summer:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9641
I did post that I wanted to stick to experienced backpackers, but really I only wanted to weed out people who had no clue whatsoever about what they were getting into, and things like proper footwear, etc. etc. One person has responded so far. He sounds like he might be a fast hiker. I tend to be kind of medium. I'm no speedster. I tend to do a hike in about exactly the amount of time predicted by "103 hikes". I also have some getting in shape to do in the next 5 months or so.
Would you like to try a day hike first, and see how you do? You don't want to get stuck out on the West Coast Trail and find it's too much and you can't keep up, with 5 or 6 more days to go. I don't mind slow, but too slow could be problematic if it means problems reaching camp at a reasonable time. On the other hand, if you get a few more hikes under your belt before going, you might be surprised how much easier it gets. It's also nice to do a "trial run" with a one-nighter before tackling the WCT (or any other multi-day trip) so you can get the hang of carrying a full pack, sort out what gear you didn't bring but could have used, or conversely what you did bring that proved to be useless weight. I'd be happy to do that with you too.
Anyway, send me an e-mail (as in my other post)and we can discuss! I'd love to get in touch.
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South Surrey, BC
Canada
626 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2005 : 2:15 PM
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hey there wilderness seeker - I actually read your post earlier and did not respond because of the experienced hiker bit in there.
There is no email for you on your profile (that I noticed... it may be there?) so therefore I have to respond here.
Anyway... I did the Juan De Fuca trail (last summer) which is supposedly (according to some people I've spoken to) more difficult than the West Coast trail. It took me five days. It was my very first backpacking I had ever done... and I made it in one piece, with a heavy backpack. My only problem was that I went with someone who consistently left me behind and did not realize it was a negative thing for an inexperienced backpacker to be left behind to virtually hike "alone" in bear/cougar country. It was at the end of Sept and days from when the trail was to close for the season and there was virtually no one on the trail. I had a talk with him and he did try to slow down for me... but I could tell he was having a problem slowing down. And everytime I wanted to stop to rest he pushed me to keep going - which some might argue is a good thing, but it was difficult on me. I need to go with people who are more considerate with such things and ok with hiking slowly.
I'm gun shy to go hiking again (as much as I want to) unless the people I am going with are very clear about my level of experience (or lack thereof).
I went hiking with "Slim" off this site on Thursday to the chief and he was really great about the pace. Always kept around 10 feet or so from me whether he was ahead or behind and I got to rest whenever I wanted to without feeling rushed to keep going. It was ideal for me. Gotta go hiking with people like him! It made me realize that not everyone has the same style of hiking as the first person I hiked with on the Juan De Fuca. |
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Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5465 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2005 : 3:16 PM
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Hi idealistic!!
Sounds as though you are not totally inexperienced then!! You've already been on a multi-day trip. I just didn't want someone who thought they could come in running shoes and jeans and no raingear (extreme example but you never know). I have since edited my post to state "prefer some experience".
I agree it's no fun to be left behind. Or to catch up and immediately have everyone else (who have had their rest) say, "OK then? Let's go!"
I don't think I'm that fast but it's hard to gauge because it's all relative. I have relatively little experience organizing trips.
I don't mind taking it slow to a certain degree. There will always be people with different speeds on any hike. But one time I organized a hike with another club, and one member was really, really slow....the slowest hiker I've ever seen. I waited, and sent the rest of the group ahead to wait at the lunch spot. By the time we got there everyone else had been waiting around for a VERY long time, they'd all finished their lunch an hour ago, and they were freezing and wanted to get going. And this was a pretty flat, easy hike. I don't usually mind waiting for people, but not if the difference is TOO enormous as it was in this instance. I'm a bit nervous about repeating that particular scenario.
On the other hand, when I joined a group going to Unnecessary Mountain from Cypress Bowl, I and this other woman were about half an hour behind the rest of the group going up, and about an hour behind coming down (I tried to speed up, but I find going downhill really difficult). In that instance I was the one people had to wait for.
Best thing is to hike together sometime and check out compatibility before committing to a week of hiking together. Who knows, maybe we're actually about the same! And if not, at least we've had a pleasant day's outing.
My e-mail address is wilderness_seeker at hotmail dot com. I haven't got around to adding it to my profile yet, but I should. |
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Anyone going on major hiking trip spring/summer?
