Going Watchless

“I unexpectedly woke up early yesterday (Saturday) morning, and decided to do a dayhike up at the Ocala National Forest. It was a good, relaxing time, except for what appeard to be an allergic reaction I had out in the middle of the woods. Long story short, my wrists and hands swelled up bad, but it was confined to just those areas. Anyway, I took off my watch because it was irritating the skin, and I forgot it in my car. I'm now finding myself less worried about time, and enjoying the moment more. I'm going to see how long I can last without it, but for now, I don't miss wearing a watch. My work is very deadline oriented, but I can adjust to looking at the clock on my desk.

So long, wristwatch.”

“if it's a rolex, you can send it my way so i can hock it for more gear”

“Hmmmmm....did you happen to see any stick people?”

“I use to wear a watch but stopped about 20 yrs ago. I bought one for backpacking but after one hour it drove me crazy being on my wrist nd I haven't worn it since.”

“I just ordered a new watch because I broke the one that I used to have. It still works, but one of the dogs that the wristband pin goes into broke off. My new watch should get here tomorrow!”

“Nope, no stickpeople. But I did come across a HUGE pile of bear skat.”

“The battery on my watch pooped out on my months ago - haven't bothered to replace the battery because I found I became less obsessed with time - and enjoyed it. Besides, that's why we have computers, desk clocks, palm pilots, cell phones, etc...”

“does anybody know what time it is eastern standard time? we dont have daylight savings time in indiana, but my pc doesnt know that, and tv programs didnt come on when i thought they were supposed to , so im chronologically confuzzled”

“it's 5:45pm”

“except on trailtalk, where its a half hour behind or half hour ahead, depending on where you are”

“Yeah - I noticed - tried to figure out how to configure but I guess that's at Matt's end?”

“women. they want to control everything.”

“If ya go backpackin' with Tarabull, and ya forget yer watch, beware...if you should ask what time it is, you'll have to play a game.”

“"does anybody know what time it is eastern standard time? we dont have daylight savings time in indiana, but my pc doesnt know that, and tv programs didnt come on when i thought they were supposed to , so im chronologically confuzzled"


i hate daylight savings time, lucky you!”

“"if you should ask what time it is, you'll have to play a game."

strip-beat-the-clock?”

“Sometimes my hands and wrists do the same thing. For me it's 'hyper-cooling' at the wrists. I have narrow wrists and so in certain weather conditions the blood/fluid flow between hands and arms reduces because my wrists are cold. Then my hands swell. I have found success in using the terry cloth wrist bands that keep my wrists warm and thus the fluids flowing and swelling goes down.”

“It was 85 degrees out, so I don't think that was it. Whatever happened to my wrists and hands, it was bizarre as heck. It itched like mad, but I think the benadryl cream I had in my first aid kit helped (see? always carry a first aid kit, even on dayhikes).”

“For some reason I can't hike with a watch on. Especailly when it's a peice of crap Timex alti/berometer watch that doesn't work. LOL! I always end up putting it on my shoulder strap.”

“I usually opt to leave the watch at home when I hit the trail (unless there is a reason for a timeline). Part of getting out there is to let all of that crap go...just go at my own pace and enjoy it all, without worry.

Watches can cause anxiety.

fuhhgitaboutit”

“I agree Amy but I use my watch to judge distances too. I have a rock solid 2 MPH pace and I can set a watch by it.”

“It drives me nuts to hike without a watch.
I need a watch to tell how far I have walked. I can usally guess pretty close to how far I have come by knowing how long I have been walking.”

“Let's see. My cell phone has a clock. My Palm Pilot has a clock. My car radio has a clock. My laptop computer has a clock. Of course, I have the mandatory alarm clock. The stove in the kitchen has a clock.


When I can actually take time away from all of those, "the clock" is one of the things I want to escape from the most.

I don't wear a watch either.”

“That's exactly when it happens to me. When it's warm but my wrists feel cool to the touch, something about air movement across the wrists. Okay, maybe I'm weird, but the wrist bands really make a difference.”

“I'll keep that in mind, stump. It's never happened before, hopefully it'll never happen again. My hands became so puffy, I couldn't close them all the way.

It boggles the mind.”

“If I'm hiking with only one pole, the hand that isn't on the pole tends to get puffy. If I'm using two, it doesn't happen. I've always just assumed it was because the unused hand spent a lot of time hanging down to my side.”

“My regular watch died a year ago. I never replaced it. I did buy a cheapo watch for hiking, tho. It's the only time I wear one.

And, yes, if you fail to wear a watch, but constantly need to know the time, and therefore constantly bug the sheet outta me by asking over and over, I will constantly bug the sheet outta you by making you play the game, lol.”