Power hiker or meanderer?

“I noticed some of you guys really like to churn out those miles. Then there are some that just meander along. Which type are you?”

“I have a tendancy to be a power hiker. I'm always blazing by people on the trail, mostly to get away from them though. Once in a while I'll meander, especially when I am in a new place when there are great views.”

“Can I say a power meanderer?
I'm not a fast hiker, <2 mph, but I hike long days. 15 miles a day seems to be about the minimum to avoid too much sit time at camps”

“Like LS, I'd rather hike than sit in camp. I hike in spurts, covering good territory, and slowing when the view or terrain demand it.”

“I love to sit in camp but when I get going I get going--don't much like to mosey.”

“I mostly meander, but I will meander from sun up to sun down. I do end up setting up and taking down camp in the twilight time but that is O.K. I like to see alot of nature during the time I get to hike.”

“I fall right inbetween. Sometimes I wanna go fast. Other times I like to go slow and enjoy the scenery.

It really depends on how far I'm going in a day.”

“I'm a power hiker. I like long miles and fast paces. I also enjoy heavy loads. It just gives you such a feeling of accomplishment when you're done.”

“I like to mosey along and take breaks to soak up the solitude. This helps prevent too much dead time at camp. I have found that a good book helps me relax and let time slide by if I arrive too early.”

“I'm a slow hiker who is more interested in the wildflowers and other plants than in actually getting anywhere so put me down as a meanderer.

HOI”

“I walk fast all the time, sidewalk or trail or hallways. Unless I'm fatigued or really burdened or on a steep slope, I actually find it hard to walk slow. Plodding is my least favorite part of backpacking, but until I get into full trail shape and can breeze along on flats or rolling terrain, I'll endure and push myself. Which means the last day of a multi-day trip, unless on significantly harder trail, starts going pretty fast.

But on the trail, I don't hesitate to stop frequently, whether for views, nature observation, catch my breath, or soak up a particularly nice moment ("smell the flowers").”

“I usually hike at a little better that 2mph. But I prefer to slow down rather than speed up.

I don't go into the woods to accomplish goals or achieve objectives. I have enough achievement satisfaction in my job. On my leasure time I relax.

I really enjoy the gestalt of different places: the trees, undergrowth, animals, smells, all of it. I don't have fun if its all a blur. People who go too fast miss too much. I like what
Harvey Manning said, "Make your world larger by going slower."”

“I'm a medium speed hiker. I need to start out slow and then I pick up some speed as I go along. When I hike with group of people, I get to the destination after some and before others. There were 15 people on the same Whitney permit as me in July and the fastest person made it to the top in 6 hour. It took me almost 9 hours and I was the 6th or 7th in the group to get to the top. When I put a heavy pack on, my speed goes way down.”

“I like to soak up the scenery, so I don't hurry. I don't mind sitting around camp, there's always a good view or a scramble to do or good conversation or maybe some fishing...

I do hike out of a place fast, especially if it involves travelling over the same route as the one I came in on. Not in a hurry to get back to civilization especially.”

“Depends.
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
I just hike.”

“HPM, So you are saying you are a halfast hiker?

If you didn't see this coming from a half mile away, you are a slow hiker.”

“For my total lack of body build to the sport I have chose to pursue.. I'm a power hiker.. but to anyone else?.. I'm just a energetic meanderer..”

“depends on who I am with. i can have a good time either way. when solo i would say less of a meanderer. i do like to stop and check things out.”

“Slow, fast, whatever

I like to get away from people

they talk too much about nothing”

“I am a stealth hiker. I try to move down the trail like an invisible being, letting nature happen around me.”

“I started this thread and never told what I am. I am a meanderer that would at least like to have the ability to power hike. Most of the time I just like being out there. Like to spend time taking pictures. If I see wildlife, I will stay long periods watching. Love the scenic views from the higher elevations. We have some great views here, but you are not very often looking down on them.
I would sometime at least be able to power hike. Like when time is short, dodging a storm, etc. However that's just not happening yet. Living at sea level on flat ground just doesn't do much for your ability to run up or down mountains.”

“Power, Power, POWER!

Uphill, downhill, or whatever.
I prefer to RUN from sunup til sundown. Sometimes I will be totally dissatisfied with my mileage (<30 miles), and will opt to strap on the 'ol headlamp and keep on truckin'.

I have covered as many as 50 miles per day for 20 to 25 consecutive days. I am, indeed, a helluva man!

I have actually slept (briefly) while walking.

Sometimes, Sarabelle will tucker out, and I will hafta put her and her pack on top of my pack. I will lash her down with her leash. She can sleep for hours like that.

When I was a kid, my dog and I would follow the caribou during their fall migration. We would sometimes cover 80-90 miles per day. I spose that's where I picked up my love for mondo mileage.”

“LOL, gojo. You da power hikin' man!”

“And exactly HOW much coffee do you drink, gojo?”

“I guess I can do either, but, I find a rhythm is important. I have trouble with go.. go.. stop people. If I'm packed heavy, six or seven hours is about it. Regardless of distance- I wanna set that thing down!

Like Pekka, I am a very fast walker, by nature. Put me in a green tunnel, with no pack, and I am gooonnne!!”

“I drink from 7 to eleven pots of coffee every day. I do this because I cannot afford Ritalin.”

“Power Hiker!
I'm not much into camp time unless there is some good company. On solos, I usually break camp and am on the trail within 30 mins of waking up. I'll walk till dam near dark too. I get board taking breaks when soloing too. lunch is usually about 10 to 15 mins and I'm off again. I LOVE going up hills! Down is OK but I prefer ups. Flat is just........well, flat.
If I'm with a group (like a TT trip) I usually pull back on the raigns a bit. I have been very impressed by several people from this site as far as speed & stamina.
Naked Ape is the only one to leave me in the dust so far. He has more gears than me though. He seems comfortable at any speed.”

“Kleetn-

I will now clarify what I said..

Don't talk to me while I'm hiking, cause, well, I'm hiking”

“anti-social”

“My slowest/shortest day was a 3 mile stroll. My fastest day was 24 miles in 7.5 hrs. I enjoy them all. Just depends on my goal and my company. Usually I am 2.5 mph.”

“I was always a speed walker. It runs in my family. But put on a heavy pack and I slow down to 2 mph. Hopefully with training that will get faster. But I like to walk fast and take breaks. I probably will never be boasting about my mileage per day totals. I was thinking a lightweight rope hammock to take a midday nap would be really nice!”

“Hey, I have a good story from this weekend up in the A-B Wildernes. On my friend's Almost annual Birthday Hike, he discovered he forgot his boots when we got to the trailhead 70 miles from home. All he had were Tevas so he decided to try the 11 mile hike in anyway. Since it was his birthday, I couldn't in good conscience go in with my boots, so we both wore sandals. We thought we'd be meandering but actually we really cruised; even on the last, rocky stretch where we gained about 2,000' feet in a couple miles. I'd always wanted to do a whole trip in Tevas so I finally had the chance. i'd do it again!”

“Didn't Le Subtil do something like that barefoot because he forgot his boots? And then Buddha was thinking that his tevas would be good, if barefoot wasn't a problem. Now don't try this on the PA trails, though. Some of the trails are nothing more than piles of rocks.”

“Actually it was pretty rocky, but you're a lot quicker and more nimble in sandals. it helped that they were the right size with a little extra at the toe so you don't end up kicking rocks with your toenails. Neither one of us had any blisters, cuts or bruises.”

“Benevolent meanderer.

My ideal hiking scenario is 4-6 miles/day, mostly in the morning. I like to find a steady pace and keep it with stops for majestic views. Usually make camp around lunch time or early afternoon. Then, spend the afternoon exploring, fishing, grabbing peaks, and fixing dinner.

In fact, that is exactly what the 7-day group did on the llama hike. It was a special time.

I have backpacked 15 miles in one day with 50+ lb pack. Can't say I would like to do that very often.”

“Nigal hikes barefoot.

It all depends upon the day, load, trail and bug/temperature conditions. I can be a bit of both. I don't think I'd want to keep up with the likes of walkindude though. I'm too clumsy to go that fast; I'd get hurt.

Gojo, you're a riot! :o)”

“There was a time when I thought I was a pretty fast hiker but then I had to keep up with that TT bunch at Fiery Gizzard. I guess I'm a meanderer. Now, if you were to put gojo in front of me, there would be no stopping me! I could do eleventy fifty miles in less than two pots of coffee with a carrot like that in front of me. ;o)”

“Phil, that sounds really great! I like camping at an interesting place. If you are deep in the woods with nothing scenic to look at, then I could see hiking until dusk, if you physically could do it. But scenery is more enjoyable without the packweight and neckache. I haven't backpacked yet but I love the morning. I can't imagine rushing to get packed up and move on. Coffee and enjoying the smells and sounds of morning is more me. Of course, the morning stretching takes 30 minutes by itself. I envy those of you that can jump up and exercise without any break in time.”

“I prefer to meander although I can put miles behind when I ned to, I enjoy being where I belong too much to pass it by. I would far rather spend my time whistling up birds or watching wildlife than seeing how fast I can rack up miles.Too damn many folks in a rush anyway!”

“We had a thread like this on another long gone bb. I find I like to get up and get going, dry or cold breakfast is good enough for me. I am good for 8-10 miles for several days in a row, then I need a half day for rest. My longest was 16 in a day because the intended spot was "cow-ed" out. It looked like a barn yard. So we trucked on to the end, when I dropped my hiking partner off at his house he didn't even take his pack inside, left it right there in the drive way till the next morning. My butt was dragging too.

Pace is a pretty personal thing, I don't care have mine tinkered with, nor do I care to try to change anyone else's.

But I find the ones who kick my butt down the trail are usually the 2% body fat women, some whom I've hiked with are literally wonder-women. Go girls!”

“if i were a racehorse my description would be....."slow out of the gate,never winner, but strong to the finish"

In truth, backpacking is my highest practice of yoga and meditation...attaining liberation , joy and bliss when I get "out there" is my aim. LIBERATION of mind.... by not trying to control my pace or have a goal or meet or compete with someone's expectations... just aware of steps and breath..... steps responding to my lungs' needs at any particular time. ....the JOY of mindful walking... feeling trees, rocks, water, colors, sounds and scents, BREATHING! observing every square inch of the path, the breath-holding views or wildlife spottings, which may just be a bee collecting nectar in a tiny flower.. or frolic in a meadow.. ...I want to drink in and get drunk on all that beauty..THEN AND THERE!
...ya never know which will be the last breath or step in life after all.........
Naturally , I have toSTOP to give thanks for all these sensual treats!
Guess all that attention to the moments does tend to make me the last to arrive into camp if I am not hiking solo.......but ecstatically last!
To see all the magnificence of what has been created for me is a deeply personal interaction of spirit and nature, so I don't much converse or respond to others while enthralled in walking....i have no concept of slow or fast or first or last
However.. i truly LOVE the brake for views, snack stops and evening camp gatherings with fellow trailbuddies and the sharing of experiences that takes place while being a part of a group, saying goodnite and goodmorning...ah.... it is a peaceful comfort.....
...mmmmmmmmmmm ...the icing on the hiking cake.

"if you are waiting on me........you are missing YOUR experience,.. be happy in knowing someone is behind and will be along if you need help, I WILL be along... unless i croak....but it's ok...it will have been a peaceful croaking"
~~~~~~~~~~om~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”

“Ya, what I-am-OM said”

“Hiking with OM is a positive experience. It is exhilarating to watch someone enjoy the outdoors so much.”

“I just take my time and enjoy the scenery. Rushing is for when I'm working.”

“So, I'm trippin along through this thread thinking to myself, "Now who would I like to hike with?" Arclite sounds good -- "the gestalt of the trail"! Biz sounds like the right attitude. Now Phil... that makes sense. And then I hit I-Am-Om...and that's what I was looking for. It is the rhythm of the walk that is important and each person has his sor her own -- some folks see things better as a blur while the miles speed by. Others see the world in a flower. Me, I tend to the meandering and think I would enjoy hiking with any of the folks mentioned above, though solo has been my first choice to this point. So, GoJo, see you back in camp -- in a few days. Put me down in the "meander" column!”

“I dilly-dally but I can kick it if I dilly-dallyed too long.”

“Yes, very eloquent, i-am-om. We should kayak together some time.

I also like bacpac's description of "stealth hiker."”

“I gotta meet you i-am-om.”

“OM you really described hiking as eloquently as I have ever read anywhere. You da man!!”

“wo-man”