You may have wondered what kind of hiker you are or how to describe
the hiker you meet on the trail or at the shelter or hostel. Below
are descriptions of the types of hikers I have met while hiking.

The Casual Hiker - some people refer to these hikers as "weekend
hikers" or "section hikers." These hikers only get to hike on select
weekends and try to hike during their week or two vacation from their
jobs. This is by far the largest hiker group and they are important
members of the hiker community. These are hikers who read a lot about
hiking and about equipment and purchase as much gear as their
finances allow.

The Trophy Hiker - some people see hiking as a competition with
themselves or the time clock or the date book or another hiker. These
are hikers who try to hike the fastest, the farthest, the most miles
or the most trails in any given time period. These hikers will spend
countless hours working to reduce their pack weight so that they can
hike just a little farther "next time." Many of these hikers author
their own books about hiking and lightweight gear.

The Naturalist Hiker - some people set no hiking goals. Their
enjoyment is just in "getting out there" and communing with nature.
They may hike into the woods a certain distance and set up a hammock
or tent, lay back and enjoy the scenery. For them, Nature is more
important than miles traveled.

The Social Hiker - some people just enjoy the camaraderie of the
hiking community. They frequent as many online hiker forums as they
can locate. Whether they actually hike anywhere is not as important
as owning the gear and sitting around at Hiker Rucks, Gatherings, and
Trail Days talking about hiking and trails they'd like to hike.
Actually hiking with a group at one of these hiker festivities is an
added bonus to these socializing hikers. Ownership of a computer is
paramount to this group.

The Quality Hiker - some people like to have the best, the newest,
the lightest, and completely handmade or homemade gear. Never
satisfied with one "soda can stove," these hikers try to create a
lighter stove that uses less fuel and boils water faster than the
last stove. Not satisfied with commercially made backpacking gear and
clothing these hikers will design lighter weight tents, packs,
sleeping bags/quilts, clothing, rain gear, camp shoes, etc. Most of
these quality hikers will post their designs on hiker websites so
that other like minded hikers can use their designs or improve upon
them and make their own gear. Some of these hikers will start cottage
industries and sell gear to other hikers. Occasionally, a quality
hiker will write a book about how she incorporated her gear into her
hiking experience. If a quality hiker is fortunate, she and sells her
cottage industry to a gear manufacturing company.

The Meal Hiker - some people believe that food eaten in the out of
doors is much more palatable than anything eaten inside four walls.
These hikers dehydrate their own food and repackage it so that even
an "add hot water" meal becomes a culinary treat to their taste buds.
On the first night of hiking, they cook fresh foods they carried in
their bulging backpacks: steak, corn on the cob; baking potato. These
hikers carry the weight of a variety of spices, cook with "real
butter," have more than one stove and usually two or three pots to
cook in. Mini-whisks are included in their kitchen utensils, as are
fry pans, and the occasional backpack oven and espresso coffee maker.
These hikers are not always carrying the lightest packs, but they
definitely seem to be the best fed hikers on any trail.

The Mentor/Youth Hiker - some hikers want to pass their knowledge on
to the next generation by introducing their own and other families to
the hiker community. These hikers are Boy Scout and Girl Scout
leaders, work with 4-H Youth, church youth groups, inner-city youth
and anywhere or with any group where children, teens and their
parents can benefit from a little time outdoors. These hikers may
initiate hiker groups among their peers or for a select demographic
group. Occasionally they work at 'alternative outdoor schools.' These
hikers are often found among the ranks of the Peace Corp, AmeriCorp,
and non-profit or for-profit hiker or outdoor related organizations
or magazines.

You may be one or more of these types of hiker at different times or
at the same time. You're all a part of the hiker community and the
world is a better place because of you.

(Special thanks to Daryl Ratajczak of TWRA for the idea.)
http://auntiecoosa.blogspot.com


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