Anybody here outdoorsy?

[Baby Hercules]

I'm going hiking in Muir Woods this weekend for the first time ever! It made me think of this thread. I hardly ever go hiking, so I'm really looking forward to it.

You lucky duck! I saw a documentary on Muir and all the natural places he helped establish, especially through his friendship with fellow nature lover, President Theodore Roosevelt. Muir Woods was the first private parcel of land that was named a national monument; the story is kind of funny, read it in Wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muir_Woods ... l_Monument

The Pacific Northwest above California is my current haunt and our forests are pretty much a spitting image of Muir Woods except much, much denser and wetter. The movie "The Hunted" was filmed here for the near-impenetrability of the undergrowth and the darkness of it's interior. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunted_(2003_film) There are places so dark and dense that at noon, you can barely see where you are going. It's the reason I stick to the volcanoes for hiking--at least with rock, there's a view! Ha, ha!

Have lots and lots of fun. Post a pic.

Baby Herc

[LisaB]

Lisa, that is awesome! Mt. Hood is so amazing; I'll be up there, myself, all summer, bagging the rest of the trails that connect to Timberline Trail. It's the closest place that offers above-treeline views and actual geothermal activity. I'll be scoping out fumeroles as I hike. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumarole

Regarding summiting Mt. Hood: know how to tell when you are ready to summit something? When it seems like the most natural thing in the world to do and you are so excited, you look forward to it constantly. If your mind is mostly filled with fear and what-if's, you're not in the sweet spot yet. When you get to the place of "I was MADE to do this! Why haven't I done this earlier?" you know you're there. You can get someone else to teach you climbing technique but only you can train you mentally, and trust me, that's the biggest part of scaling a mountain. Ain't nothing like standing on that summit, girl! You're gonna love it! Woo-HOO!

Plenty of good stuff to do on Hood in the meantime--as soon as they open up Cloud Cap Road to vehicles this spring, get up to Cooper Spur and hang out as much as you can at elevation. It will condition your body as well as acclimate your mind to that kind of topography. When it feels "normal" to be hangin' out with eagles and glaciers and rocky precipices, it'll be an easy walk over to the wilder side. Barrett Spur is another fun little pointy spot that you can get to from Elk Cove Trail, Pinnacle Ridge Trail, or Vista Ridge Trail. The roads for those will suck for a while yet, though. If you can get to the Sisters, I have a lot of friends who like to train there, too. Then, there's always the ultimate, Smith Rock. http://www.smithrock.com/

Baby Herc

Thanks Baby Herc! Sounds like you have some awesome hikes planned out for this summer! I am not sure if I am quite at the sweet spot yet, unfortunately. I need some more time to get in better shape I think to not have the "can I really haul my fat ass up a mountiain?" thoughts. If they do the trip again next year I will be ready for it though! I really want to move out the Pacific NW sometime, to have all that amazing stuff out in your backyard to play in would be so cool! Ocean and mountains, doesn't get better than that. But its not like I lose if I don't go on the Mt. Hood trip, the other option is a week long kayaking trip down the Main Salmon River in Idaho, so still an amazing trip!

[michaelhobson]

Thanks for this thread. Love the outdoors and hearing about your adventures. I'm not a mileage junkie or peak bagger. I'm more likely to take the shortest trail to a waterfall, cave, swimming hole, panoramic view or whatever else is interesting. Love to hike rivers and creeks, rock-hopping, wading and swimming rather than following a trail.

As for hot showers and clean sheets, I'm fine without them. Have lived outdoors for months at a time and never showered, just dipped in some creek, river, lake or ocean every day. I'm just as likely to sleep on the ground under the stars as to bother with a tent. My favorite was in New Mexico a couple of summers ago, sleeping on the ground in a thunderstorm, dozing in and out catching glimpses of the amazing light show in the sky. The best part was that by the time I got out of my sleeping bag, almost everything was completely dry including me. Gotta love the desert!

We're planning some hiking and camping in Shenandoah National Park this summer. It's the park in Virginia where I first started hiking and backpacking over 20 years ago. Can't wait to share it with my wife and kids.

[LisaB]

As for hot showers and clean sheets, I'm fine without them. Have lived outdoors for months at a time and never showered, just dipped in some creek, river, lake or ocean every day. I'm just as likely to sleep on the ground under the stars as to bother with a tent. My favorite was in New Mexico a couple of summers ago, sleeping on the ground in a thunderstorm, dozing in and out catching glimpses of the amazing light show in the sky. The best part was that by the time I got out of my sleeping bag, almost everything was completely dry including me. Gotta love the desert!

That sounds awesome Michael. Were you living outside for months just for fun, or did you have some type of guide job?

[michaelhobson]

That sounds awesome Michael. Were you living outside for months just for fun, or did you have some type of guide job?

Thanks Lisa, it was just for fun. Intentionally jobless and homeless summer of '07, living out under the trees. My two youngest daughters don't remember it very well, hopefully we'll get to do it again.

[LisaB]

Thanks Lisa, it was just for fun. Intentionally jobless and homeless summer of '07, living out under the trees. My two youngest daughters don't remember it very well, hopefully we'll get to do it again.

Sounds awesome! I would love to do something like that.

[San Swan]

I'm from Russia, from Siberia. In our area we have high mountains, the highest point of 4506 m, Belukha Mountain ( info about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belukha_Mountain ), because of it with childhood, with parents or friends, go hiking. Different types of outdoorsy, on horseback, rafting down the mountain rivers, rises to the top. hiking is a super puper!!!:)

[michaelhobson]

I'm from Russia, from Siberia. In our area we have high mountains, the highest point of 4506 m, Belukha Mountain ( info about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belukha_Mountain ), because of it with childhood, with parents or friends, go hiking. Different types of outdoorsy, on horseback, rafting down the mountain rivers, rises to the top. hiking is a super puper!!!:)

Nice mountain! Hiking in Russia sounds great, maybe someday.

[michaelhobson]

We had a relaxing adventure on Big Wheeling Creek a couple of summers ago. Planning to do it again this year. This section of the creek runs through a few miles of completely uninhabited area. No roads, no houses, no people. Surprisingly, nobody tubes, kayaks or canoes this area. Oh well, all for us!

Photos: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.88751442450.81761.553697450&l=1b6c63d4ae

[SAR]

Hey from BC! I live in the bush and love the outdoors!! Waiting impatiently for Grouse Grind to open this year, there's still a ton of snow at the top! http://www.grousemountain.com/Winter/va ... ils-trips/

[melrae]

You are all so inspiring! I actually did my first ever "mountain" hike over the last weekend, up the Appalachian mountains. It wasn't extreme by any means (there were man-made trails for much of the trip), but it nonetheless gave me serious motivation to get out and try it again on a bigger level. Any recommendations for a beginner challenge in the midwest?

For camping I'm blessed to live near such a beautiful part of the country. If you've never been to the Appalachian mountains they are simply stunning. There are lots of great places to camp (state parks, county parks, and rogue sites, too).

[LisaB]

I agree, the Appalachians are very beautiful! Where were you doing your hiking at?

[melrae]

We started in a little town called Cumberland Gap; it's on the TN side, but within a mile or two of both KY and VA. It was simply gorgeous.

[Baby Hercules]

Did my first 10+ mile solo dayhike in over 15 years. Wasn't even all that tired, just a tad sore in the sciatic, which was gone in the morning--but that's what hiking almost 32 miles in a week will get you. It'll probably go smoother next time when I actually bring food. Ha, ha!

Is everybody getting out there? How did that Muir hike go?

Baby Herc

[Tribe]

Among the woods, waters & winds is where I thrive ... My research, work, waking hours, professional & personal time is in the elements ... I do My workouts outside, weather permitting ...