Would you rather hike with someone of the same sex, opposite sex, a dog or by yourself and why?
I seem to like to hike alone as others seem to have some sort of schedule or pace they have just got to keep. As for a dog, that could be okay if they were well trained and you could control them super good.
See you out there.
Maintain
As much as I always feel the need to find girls or feel like Rico suave…If it were allowed the whole trail, I’d have a dog hands down!! I plan on getting my first dog the moment I end my thru-hike. The key is having a well behaved trail dog.
love dogs!
James Kinney
As far as dogs on the trail Im aware many have thru-hiked along side there owners and a few were well behaved but I think its problematic for three reasons, At shelters the dogs tend to bother the other hikers and many dont want to be licked, barked at, or deal with the constant movement.
also, packing out more supplies to facilitate the dog even if it has a pack and carries its own food. And last forcing a dog to travel more than 2000 miles could be seen by some as in-humane for the creatures foot pads tend to get worn crack and bleed which could add to the cost with vet bills along the way. Besides these as you know you cant travel with the dog through the National Parks.
I know that if I had a dog I would leave him in the comforts of home and look forward to that waging tail when I return.
Neandertal
You CAN have a dog in SOME national parks and national park units. The only national park that the AT goes thru where dogs are totally forbidden is GSMNP. Dogs are permitted anywhere within Shenandoah National Park except 10 specific blue-blazed high-tourist-count trails, and NPS units like Harpers Ferry do not have a no-dogs rule.
If you check, you’ll see many national parks do not forbid dogs, and rules regarding dogs vary wildly among those that allow them.
On the AT, the other place where dogs are not allowed is Baxter STATE Park in Maine.
For welfare-of-dog issues, I agree that it is not a good idea to take a dog on a long hike. But something in the 3, 5, or even 7-day range shouldn’t be an issue so long as you watch out for the dog’s safety, health, clean up after it, and keep it leashed. Also, it’s wiser to tent than use shelters if you have a dog with you.
Skyline
Bringing a dog is the ultimate selfish act. I do not fear dogs. I simply hate them. Dont bring your stupid dog. If it bothers me I will kick it and then you.
Richard
umm. focus people. the dog thing has been beaten to death.
answering the question? depends on the purpose and mood. i love hiking w/ my dog but she won’t thruhike. as for company w/ others or alone… i think it’s all about balance. variety is the spice of the experience.
greenie
The Choices are hiking with other guys, girls, dogs or by your self.
I heard a joke once, a woman builds a house way up in the mountains clearing a spot for her new home. Shortly after she moves in she wakes up one morning and sees a bear on her back lawn. After getting all hyper after seeing a bear she calls the game warden and say “there’s a bear on my back lawn come help me please!” The game warden say to her Ya will right over after I take care of my first call. I just got a call from a bear that said there a human on her front lawn.
Morel of the story That ain’t your back lawn out there and little critters aren’t chew toys for you dog. Ther also don’t like to play catch me if you can with your mut so leave him to home. I’d have to agree with Richard on dogs.
Hiking with Girls, Great hiking partners if you can find one. They may be a little slower than a guy, thats OK. They may be a little faster than a guy that kind of OK as long as they don’t notice it a rub it in. (Get the idea)
Hiking with other guys, Depends on the other guy and most of all you. If your matched well with the same temperament it’s OK (same with girls by the way)
Hiking alone, I you have the frame of mind to do it it’s a lot of fun. Most people are uneasy doing it though.
Crusoe of Lonesome Lake
Like greenie said, it depends on the purpose and mood. Most of my hikes are either alone or with my kids.
I don’t get much time in the woods, so when I do I like to either have no distractions if I’m trying to see nature, or have fewer distractions if I’m trying to hang out with my kids (which is why we’re in the woods instead of at the mall).
Every now and then I’ll go with a male friend, rarely with a group, and since my wife doesn’t like to camp much I don’t go with a girl unless they’re in a group.
Jeff
Jeff
With a very few exceptions)involving people I’ve hiked with before), I’d rather hike alone or with my dog. On the AT, except during deep winter, I’ve always been able to hook up with other humans within a day or two, and can then choose from among those I encounter the people (gender irrelevant) I want to develop more than a casual hello-and-goodbye with. It’s almost always worked out very well.
And “Richard,” once you meet my leashed, well-behaved dog you won’t want to kick her or me. She’s won over hikers tougher than you. As I wrote above, I also think taking a dog on a long hike–longer than a week–is unwise for a number of reasons and might even be a bit selfish, but shorter than that can be a plus for dog and hiker alike.
Skyline
I like hiking alone…it’s kinda the whole reason I’m out there. No complaining (except by me in my head), no loooong breaks (except by me when I want to), no too fast or too slow pace (except when I want to…)–see the pattern here? Alone, you can do what you want, when you want, which is my idea of nirvana! I prefer to camp near other people at night though, just as a security thing. That way, maybe the big black bear will eat one of them instead of me… :lol
Jonna
I like Jonna’s idea that unattached hiking is like nirvana. Hiking alone allows me to go places in my mind more quickly and more deeply than if I’m with a dog or another person or both. Being alone is an aid to meditation in that sense. Or I can just enjoy the moments of the act of hiking.
But I love taking the dog out on day hikes, which automatically makes them a shared experience. When I take the dog, it pretty much always winds up being mostly HER hike, more than mine. We watch out for each other, but the burden of her care is on me. But even a relationship with a dog has days that are more harmonious than other days. My hiking dog loves to walk, but I’d never consider a thru with her.
Hiking with another person depends completely on the chemistry between them and me, our hiking styles, speeds and tendencies, physical condition, type of relationship, etc., whether male or female, friend or acquaintance. Things get more and more complicated the more people you add to a group. Some people enjoy the complications, but I like to keep it simple. Easier that way, which is why I’m out there in the first place. More depends on the relationship dynamic than on whether the other person is of the opposite sex, IMHO.
Tyger
Why is it every few days someone brings up this same issue.
PLEASE leave the Dog home !!! If had more dogs charge at me when I was out on the trail.Most just want a good scratch or pat,but sometimes it means business.I now carry some MACE in a holster on my pack strap.I mean to use it from on.
I agree with 'Richard",Its a selfish act.Maintain,if your a guy,get a girl.If your a girl give me a ring.lol
old&in the way
Go to most any Bike shop and pick up some “Holt” its made for dogs.
I’ve used it biking quite a bit when Dogs runs after me. It will stop them in their tracks. No dog I sprayed has ever made and noise and they retreat every time. It has a red stream so even if you don’t hit them they don’t know what it is and they slow down. If you get them in the face some times they act like they have been sprays by a skunk and do the nose in the grass thing.
Best of all it’s cheap something like $4.00 a can and is very light. Has a little clip on it too so you can clip it most anywhere. I stead of them pestering you, you can now pester them what a concept.
Crusoe of Lonesome Lake
Kiss my ass, Old.
Tell your family what to do, but keep your suggestions to yourself.
Dogs have been loyal human companions for thousands of years and will be long after you’re gone. Keep your bitching and your personal peeves to yourself. Hit my dog with mace and it’ll be the last thing you ever do while standing upright.
Tyger
Stool Sample:I was just kidding about Macing the dogs.Actually,first I am going to Mace the obnoxious,irresponsible,bloviating,owner.Then I take out the dog.Much easier that way.
old&in the way
I hiked alone but was in a group of sorts. Most dogs were cool. But Id have to say the women were the greatest. Most of them were self sufficient and smart. They also looked a hell of a lot better. Well ,most did.
Virginian
sometime don’t they! Everybody should take a deep breath and relax for a minute.
Some people care more about the wildlife and their property than they do about someone’s dog. Other people care more about having their dog along then they do about the wildlife or other peoples property. It’s as simple as that. I blame it on T.V. My bother hasn’t swam in the ocean once sense he saw Jaws, honest. People see spooky stuff on T.V. and its just natural, if they are ignorant to the facts, they think they need a dog or some boogie thing will get them if they go in the woods.
I don’t blame them, I blame T.V. My son hiked the whole state of Maine all alone at age 16 one summer. Of course he was raise in Maine and knew as long as he had a good no-see-um screen on his tent he would be safe from the most blood thirsty thing in the state. I’ve seen people from away that would not get out of their car at night on a dark country to take a pee, honest.
So just remember the next time a dog gets your sleeping bag all muddy or gets some crap in your food, or humps your leg, or slobbers all over your hand, or chases wildlife, or barks at night when your trying to sleep, or craps where your walking, its not the dog that’s ignorant and selfish and doesn’t care about your experience out there it’s his owner.
Crusoe of Lonesome Lake
I think it is inhumane to both the dog and other hikers to bring one along. From what I have seen, those who takes dogs always will claim their dog is “perfectly behaved”. Bull####. As far as a woman, I stay at home to be with them. I’m not interested in being with a woman after hiking for a week in a sexual way. So I would vote to be alone.
A-Hole