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I am pretty much a new-bee to HAZ so I don't really know how to define what is normal and typical for the type of terrain people prefer. I only like to hike in areas that are extremely remote, wild, and rugged. Most of the trails I hike on are so lightly used that there really isn't any trail left. I actually like that kind of stuff. Am I nuts? I am starting to wonder if I am. The few hiking partners that I have cringe when I come up with a new hike to go on. Surly I am not alone out there. Am I the only completely whacked out wilderness junky out there?

I hate bushwhacking, so I didn't choose the last option. My general preference is to go up. I like to summit peaks, or go to a really good view at the end of my hike. According to the people who know me well, I like to do only hard-core hikes. I guess thats true, but most of the other stuff is pretty boring. Sandy's Canyon, what is that? I enjoy hikes most when up high, say over 10,000' . I have more energy down low (under 5000') but I don't get the same high as being up high, literally.

ssk44 wrote:Surly I am not alone out there. Am I the only completely whacked out wilderness junky out there?

I am sure you are not alone out there! For me I do like the same, but I also like to see some remnants of a trail and/or a cairn once in a while!

I picked the last option. Although bushwhacking gets on my nerves, the sense of accomplishment and solitude afterward is generally worth it. However, I'm fairly new to most areas where I hike, and I like to get the established trails out of the way and become comfortable with an area before I start to venture off-trail.

Also, I do a fair amount of my hiking after dark and a good trail is always nice in those situations.

Trail hiking/backpacking is for sissies except for use to get to a point to go off trail. And you don't find those interesting items and experiences very often on trail. In the 1970's while crossing over (off trail) Peters mesa in the Superstitions I found a deceased fellow with his skeleton still pretty much intact. And just in the legends of the Superstitions he had died from a gunshot to the side of his head and died with his shoes on. Yes I said with his shoes on, as it was a horse.

I wouldnt say trail hiking is for sissies, I like to go to hike on trails and off trails and switch it up. There are advantages to both. I would say there are some trails that lead to really nice places, and sometimes you learn that there are areas where it is near impossible to get anywhere by going off trail for various reasons.

I'm one of those guys that sticks to the known trails whenever I'm hiking alone, but love to get off and explore when with others so we have help/support in an emergency. I've found that many of the existing trails are there because they lead to interesting areas.

I appreciate all of the replies. I feel that I should mention that this topic was not created to belittle those that enjoy a well-maintained popular trail. If that's your cup of tea, by all means proceed. Everyone has a comfort zone and an overall experience level. Anyone that is currently really good at something started out as a rookie. There's nothing wrong with that. That's the way it works. Hiking deep into rugged and remote areas should only be done by individuals that have the experience to do it safely.

I feel let down if I'm not bleeding from at least 5 places when I'm done with the hike, like I didn't try hard enough or something. The Supes make you build up a tolerance or something.

I enjoy some off-trail hiking now and then, but I like to cover a lot of ground, so I save the slow going for special destinations.

I will enjoy being off trail more often when I have my GPS as a nice backup crutch...map and compass are the way to go, but the GPS is a NICE crutch!! ;)

nonot wrote:I feel let down if I'm not bleeding from at least 5 places when I'm done with the hike, like I didn't try hard enough or something.

I echo that sentiment. In the Catalinas and Tucsons, I have a tendancy to want to hemorrhage for some reason.

I don't recall losing sleep over any "trail" hikes. There's been plenty off-trail hikes where it was mighty difficult falling asleep before and after the hike! On the same token sometimes a flat out boring hike with the right company beats 'em all.

Sounds like I'm not nuts after all! I can cancel my appointment with the head shrink. I can certainly relate to the bleeding comments. After my last recent cross-country hike I looked like I had spent the day fighting off a cougar.

Sun Ray wrote:I'm one of those guys that sticks to the known trails whenever I'm hiking alone, but love to get off and explore when with others so we have help/support in an emergency. I've found that many of the existing trails are there because they lead to interesting areas.

I'm with you on that! Just think of all the great places we've been on trail (Camp Creek Falls, Weaver's Needle, Mogollon Rim, Watson Lake, Siphon Draw to name a few AZ hikes - and so many more trailed hikes I haven't even tried yet). And since I hike alone a lot, a trail is about the only way I can hike since I'm not a topo reader nor a GPS carrier.

As long as the sun is out, I can more or less find my way because I have taken a wrong turn here and there . On the other hand, if I'm with others that might be familiar with off-trailing; I'm game.

Someone already said it: trails already exist to take you to some of the best spots. Ironically, many of the trails Nick and I hike might was well be bushwhacks because some sections of them haven't seen traffic in months. However, If I look at a topo and see some point of interest, something with an intriguing name, or a peak I must do then I'll usually be willing to whack through whatever nature throws at me to get there because I have a destination in mind. The mountains are a much different story. They tend to be *way* more conducive to off-trail wanderings and that's usually where I'm willing to blaze into the unknown. One place I'll never go off-path or trail is in deep ice\snow...