May 23, 2017
So, what do hikers talk about when on the trail? Mostly, conversations revolve around topics of immediate concern:
Terrain: “Dude, did you think that hill was ever gonna end?”
Resupply: “Are you going into town? I heard there’s an all you can eat pizza place just a mile off the trail!”
Weather: “Are we supposed to get any sun this week?”
Gear: “Is that a Zpack? How do you like it?”
Occasionally, a hiker shares a narrow escape or harrowing experience: “So there I was, soaking wet and freezing, trying to put up my hammock. Only I was so cold, my thumb and fingers wouldn’t work. I couldn’t grasp the ropes to tie the knots! I had to use my whole arm, and my teeth, to loop the rope around the tree! When I finally got the hammock up, I just crawled into it and shivered.”
Sometimes, a nugget of conversation turns out to be a gem. While eating breakfast at Wilson Creek Shelter, we enjoyed speaking with a section hiker named Sunshine. She told us, “I’m getting off the trail today. My son is getting married, and the shower for his fiancée is Saturday. I’ve got to get a pedicure before then! Wonder if they’ll be able to get all the duct tape off my toes?”
Sarah and Jay Hike 