Social Hiking: Share Your Passion for the TrailThere are many ways to enjoy social hiking, and each of them has its own rewards. When it's not just you on the trail, you need to think through more than your own boots, pack, water, and food. Use these resources to make the most of your shared time on the trail. HIKING WITH A FEMALE FRIEND: "You drive to the trailhead, I'll buy dinner on the way home", or how to share the logistics and expense of hiking. Laughs and gossip optional....HIKING WITH A MALE FRIEND: Guys usually have a different hiking style. Be prepared, and be prepared to talk it through if style differences are interfering with your enjoyment of the trail together.HIKING WITH A SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Romance on the trail? Definitely! Here's a woman who has some ideas for you, and a book! Be sure to check out her 9/1/2010 blog post, it has some detailed information you might be searching for. HIKING WITH GROUPS: Advantages and disadvantages of being part of the pack.HIKING WITH BABIES: Start 'em young!HIKING WITH CHILDREN: Thanks for raising the next generation of humans. They have a tough job ahead of them, caring for the land. Here's how to entice them into loving the trail.
HIKING WITH TEENS: HIKING WITH DOGS: Start by carrying extra water and food, or how about a doggie back pack?HIKING WITH LLAMAS: Pack animals remove the burden of a heavy pack, but add responsibilities to your hiking. I've never tried it, but in another few decades, I might be ready for someone (thing?) else to carry my load up the trail.Social hiking requires a different sort of concentration. When you're solo, you can concentrate on the cool breeze lifting your hair off your sweaty neck and the screech of the hawk in the distance. On a social hike, you're concentrating on the conversation or on how your trail buddies are holding up. You have a responsibility to be tuned into your companions (otherwise, you should be hiking by yourself). And sometimes, you'll need to motivate them to get back to the trail head, or to a campsite, before dark. Here's another thought: maybe you're new to hiking, and your current circle of friends does not include another hiker. Or maybe you just moved to a new area and the hiking trails are calling out to you, but you don't want to venture onto them by yourself. Let this site, aptly named WannaBuddy, help you make virtual connections with like minded hikers. I'd love to hear what you think is essential for sharing happy trails with friends and loved ones! Drop me a line using the text box below. |