I thought I'd stay on the walking and hiking theme in honor of the Cool Bloggers Walking Club! Speaking of, in October, I've been out hiking this month and have been out of service for most of the time, so I've been a bit absent in the old blogosphere! I promise to come back in November and tell you all about it.
Actually, speaking of November, as I've been away, I haven't kept up with the NoBloPoMo current events, but will say for sure that I will not be taking part in it this year! However, I will be checking on y'all's blogs at least once a week during the event! However, this November I'll be doing some visiting, more hiking and other travel and I just can't commit to being present and engaged for it this year.
You can see other posts in the Twenty Questions series here. Also, if you want to be featured in a future list, don't forget to fill out --> THE QUESTIONNAIRE!
Without further ado, here are 20 things about hiking and walking that I think are better than their alternative. Chime in at the bottom: which do you prefer and why??
2. Dry feet > wet feet
3. Dirt path > paved path
4. Forest > desert
5. A bit too cold > a bit too hot
6. Trail runners > hiking boots
7. Wool socks > cotton socks
8. Starting early in the morning > finishing late at night
9. Snow > rain
10. Cold feet > cold hands
11. Flies (non biting) > ticks > mosquitoes
12. Camping under a tree > camping in a meadow
13. Swimming in a freezing Alpine lake > no shower/bath
14. No underwear > wet underwear
15. Battery died in camera > battery died in phone
16. Falling going uphill > falling going downhill
17. Lost toenail > multiple blisters
18. Wearing sunscreen hoodie > putting on sunscreen
19. Warm meal in morning > warm meal at night
20. Trail mix (GORP) > most other hiking snacks
Which do you prefer and why?? Or what are some that I've missed where you think that one thing is better than another!?
YES to swimming in an Alpine lake vs. going without a shower. I am also with you when it comes to cold vs. hot and morning vs. night.
ReplyDeleteHere's one preference: bears > snakes. Even though a bear could eat me, I am less afraid of hiking in a forest than I am hiking in the prairie.
Hmmm, that's an interesting one. I guess o would pick snakes over bears but to be honest, I am not super afraid of either one. I've hopped over many a snake! Not to say I love it, but I'm not dreading it! Although snake in the (hidden) grass is pretty spooky.
DeleteThankfully most of your lists falls in "never have I ever" territory.
ReplyDelete- I never thought that I would say this, but if we're talking extremes, then uphill>downhill.
- For winter hiking, I need hiking boots. It's so muddy that I need a strong shoe to stand up to the boot sucking madness.
- My answer to flies/ticks/mosquitos is also winter hiking.
- My sunscreen habits are pretty shoddy, so I'm better off covering up. Winter hiking goes a long way here. However I finally got a facial sunscreen so I'm in the process of trying to change my ways.
What do you listen to when you hike? Podcasts/audiobooks or music or nature? My big guilty pleasure is listening to podcasts or audiobooks.
Yes! Steep uphill is better than steep downhill! But basically your main strategy is: don't hike in summer!
DeleteI listen mostly to audiobooks but if I'm having trouble focusing I listen to podcasts. I rarely listen to music anymore, except when I'm cycling if I have a really hard "head down" uphill climb.
I was with you until 12. I mean, I assume camping under a tree is better, but you know me and camping. Also I don't know - I have never swam in Lake Minnewanka or anything, so I can't tell you my feelings on 13. I think I'd skip a shower for a day if that was my option. I also always have panties on but how would wet underwear not be also wet pants? I'm guessing if my panties are wet then my pants are too, so I'll just keep the panties. I'll agree with 15 and 16, I'd rather have blisters than a lost toenail (as long as I have appropriate bandages), I have no opinion about 19, depends on the temp at 18, and I do love trail mix!
ReplyDeleteYou've got a point with the wet panties! I actually often will strip down to my underwear and swim (in the Alpine lake) then if I want to start hiking again I usually take them off. Otherwise it's chafe city!
DeleteCamping under a tree is warmer! Meadows are cold and damp!
1. Walking/hiking uphill > Walking/hiking downhill
ReplyDelete2. Dry feet > wet feet
3. Dirt path > paved path
4. Forest > desert
5. A bit too hot > a bit too cold - because I get cold so easily
6. Trail runners > hiking boots
7. Wool socks > cotton socks
8. Starting early in the morning > finishing late at night
9. Snow > rain
10. Cold hands > cold feet
11. Flies (non biting) > ticks > mosquitoes
12. Camping under a tree > camping in a meadow
13. no shower/bath > Swimming in a freezing Alpine lake - again because I get cold so easily
14. No underwear > wet underwear
15. Battery died in camera > battery died in phone
16. Falling going uphill > falling going downhill
17. Lost toenail > multiple blisters
18. Wearing sunscreen hoodie > putting on sunscreen - I do both
19. Warm meal in morning > warm meal at night. I need warm meals all day long. hahah
20. Trail mix (GORP) > most other hiking snacks
I am seeing a theme here! You like to be warm! Warm hands, warm meals!
DeleteI am in agreement with you on all of these! Although I do not like cold swims so I have to feel quite gross to jump in a really cold lake and it needs to be warm and sunny out. Otherwise I will freeze and struggle to warm up. I am a total wimp!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind cold swims if it's warm out. Otherwise it's hard for sure. I guess if it were winter, I would probably choose no shower for a long time before jumping in the water!
DeleteI'm with you on most of these, especially wearing a sunscreen hoodie (or hat) over sunscreen. I love sun protective clothing. But I'm not ever going swimming or bathing in a lake of any kind, freezing or not! I would have to go home or to a hotel at that point!
ReplyDeleteWait, I need to know more! Do you not like swimming, or do you find lakes gross? Or, is it something else? Curious minds must know.
DeleteI agree with a lot of these. although I think I could go a few days without a shower and avoid the freezing cold lake. Also although I don't love putting on sunscreen, I'm used to it because we have to wear it most of the time here. I don't think I could do a hoodie, I get very sweaty and I think that would just make it worse.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, the hoodie is sweaty sometimes, but you have to find a nice light one! For me it really depends on how hot it is and how many days I'm out in a row. It gets old, especially when you don't have a shower, layering sunscreen on top of sunscreen every day!
DeleteI don't own a sunscreen hoodie, but if I did I'd vote for that over applying sunscreen. Is this the right place to admit that I'd probably go without either? No underwear over wet underwear - sure, I guess. I'd camp under a tree vs in a meadow. I don't even know why - maybe I'd climb said tree if an animal showed up. The blister and the toe nail missing, well - now I might never ever go hiking again. The thought of either. Yikes. I think I'd rather have hot dinner food. Can't imagine what I'd eat for breakfast, since at home it's always oatmeal. Maybe I'd eat trail mix.
ReplyDeleteTrail mix is an excellent breakfast! Also tortilla with peanut butter is good but for you I guess you'd need something GF. Re the blister vs toenail I definitely think that both are avoidable so don't stop hiking yet!
Deletei agree with almost every single one of these. I did hesitate over the freezing cold lake... it depends on how sweaty I am. I might opt to skip a shower. Also... I don't want to camp in a forest or a meadow. Is there a hotel for me?
ReplyDeleteI think the answer for Younis hiking in Europe! They have huts in the mountains with beds and everything!
DeleteYou really put a lot of thought into this (well, which probably is because you've done a lot of hiking/camping!). I definitely would say warm meal in the evening > in the morning (coffee and bread is fine). I also think that I prefer cold hands over cold feet (although preferably neither).
ReplyDeleteHuh you are coming up with some interesting things here.
ReplyDeleteIt took me a while to understand as I was looking for an explanation but then it clicked...
I am appalled you choose ticks over mosquitos. Never
Here are a few answers
1. Walking/hiking downhill
2. Dry feet > wet feet
3. Dirt path
4. Forest
5. A bit too cold
6. hiking boots
9. Snow always
19. warm meal at night