Hiking is my sickness, Is there a cure?

[jeremy77777]

I have discovered over the past few years that all I want to do in my spare time is hike. Why is that? There is just so much to do here at home and around town. Why do I feel I need to be in the middle of nowhere? What is this sickness called? Does anyone else have it?

Go to the movies or hiking...HIKING

Go to a concert or hiking...HIKING

Hang out with fun "city dwellers" or go hiking...HIKING

How can such a sickness be cured? :pois:

[dennisbench]

Sorry man, but it is incurable. I contracted the disease a few years back. The positive thing is that the disease causes those who have it, oftentimes to be in great shape. This is both physically and mentally speaking. A weekly or daily dose of wilderness solitude can help keep the disease tolerable.

[Sredfield]

I've noticed a similar malady, and it seems to be getting more severe. The relief is much more appreciated, but the deprivation of treatment is getting increasingly more unbearable.
This weather seeks to exacerbate it.

[cactuscat]

I've got it, too - but I don't want to be cured!!

[montezumawell]

Speaking for the "j" side of "J&S," I have a raging case!

Today was my 70th straight day of hiking. So far this year, I have logged 276 miles.

If there was an antidote for this incurable disease, I would refuse it.

Maybe I will get lucky and die with my boots on.

j

[joebartels]

I've got it, too - but I don't want to be cured!!

You said it!, me either. I wouldn't shake it if I could!

Today was my first spare-day off since mid December
Guess what I did


It's kind of funny how you "jump" out of bed on your day off at 4am

[arizonaheat]

I pondered this very subject, Friday, sitting by a swimming hole in Lower Barks Canyon. In fact I was going to start a post of "What hiking means to me", so thanks for bringing it up.

I definitely have a bad case of the disease and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I've thought about words to describe it and came up with things like passion, or addiction, but I look at this disease as more of a GIFT. I've made marvelous friends, seen and experienced fantastic things, reeked the theraputic benefits, both physical and mental and get exhilarting enjoyment every time I step into my mistresses baliwick, Lady Superstition. She has a hold on my heart like none I have ever experienced before. I just returned from my third marvelous day in a row with her and already looking forward to our next encounter. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.

I agree whole heartedly with each and everyone of you that have posted, and like Montezumawell, when the time comes for me to meet my maker I hope I'm on the trail (off trail) doing what I love. I will go with a smile on my face.

Teva, a special thanks goes out to you, for if it wasn't for this site giving me the intial motivation I would have never became addicted, or ever met the great friends I have made. Now I'm incurable with all types of crazy ideas for hikes brewing in my mind.

[montezumawell]

jeremy77777: I have discovered over the past few years that all I want to do in my spare time is hike.

dennisbench: Sorry man, but it is incurable.

Sredfield: I've noticed a similar malady, and it seems to be getting more severe.

cactuscat: I've got it, too - but I don't want to be cured!!

arizonaheat: Now I'm incurable with all types of crazy ideas for hikes brewing in my mind.

TEVA: It's kind of funny how you "jump" out of bed on your day off at 4am

Ain't it GREAT!

j

HIKE ON!

[Nighthiker]

Day off, all chores done. Threw a dart at the map, hiked part of the Saddle Mtn. trail this morning, mtn. biked a portion of the Great Western Trail near Mesquite Wash.

[kurthzone]

Spare time? Man, I'd like to do it all the time, like J&S did last summer, or like a 25 year old named Mike Shapiro did recently: he hiked the entire length of the Pacific Crest Trail in five and a half months. He told this story at an REI clinic on the 18th of February. I found it amazing and very fascinating. He talked of hiking and backpacking outside of the box; changing the paradigm of what it takes to go the distance. Can you imagine consuming six to seven thousand calories a day and still being hungry and still loosing wait? This is the epitome of the desease/addiction we are all refering to here. Here is the most amazing statistic he threw out and I'm still trying to comprehend it: In the entire five and a half months that he was hiking there were only two days of non-hiking. The hike included summits of Whitney, Shasta and Ranier. And the most amazing thing to me of all was the average miles hiked in a day for five and a half months was 22 MILES A DAY! I think I'm all bad when I do a fifteen miler in a day. WOW! I love it though.

Someone tie me off, I need a spoonful now.

[Glitter]

I don't think there is a cure for this sickness. I just got the bug again recently and I am averaging 20 miles a week and feeling better than I have in years. HAZ is a great tool in helping me with my reborn passion and I wanted to say thanks to Teva for doing such a great job. See you on the trail.

[jeremy77777]

It's great to hear that others have my same disease! And if I do die, I sure hope it is sitting under a tree in the middle of nowhere with a big smile on my face!

[fatoldsun]

I have just caught this sickness, o darn. :roll:

[montezumawell]

This topic is GOOD!

J&S

[plummer150]

70th straight day of hiking. So far this year, I have logged 276 miles.

Wow! Good job there. As soon as summer comes along, I'll come somewhat close to that, but only by half. If I had more time in my busy life/schedule, I'd go everyday! However, there is no cure and thus should be none!

[youngboy]

How can such a sickness be cured? :pois:

I hope this love for hiking wont go away. I rather enjoy it.

[jeremy77777]

I've done some research and have come to the conclusion that it can only be caught outside the city limits. So when you are going to be leaving town, Watch out! The sickness could be coming for YOU!

[montezumawell]

Maybe the backside of those "Phoenix City Limits" signs should have a warning!
Not sure what it would say. Ah, a COMMITTEE, of course, could figure it out!

Happy Trails

J&S

[MaryPhyl]

Outdoor addiction permeates every thing I do. I check the weather way too often. In the grocery store I am always looking for new hiking foods and checking things like calories and salt content. I weigh everything I can lay hands on. The only interesting things on my calendar are hikes. I frequent several hiking forums. Yesterday I went shopping for some clothes that look feminine--I realized almost all of my wardrobe consists of hiking appropriate clothes. I went hiking last weekend and scraped up my hands, got some cactus in them, got a couple of nasty bug bites, whacked my elbow on the ice and all I can think about is doing it again. >GRIN<

[GTG_AZH]

Hi, my name is Todd and I'm a hiker.

I wish I had a job that involved hiking. Instead, I work on computers all day and daydream about the next hike. Maybe someday when I grow up like evenstar3, I'll be able to hike whenever I need to. in the meantime I'll settle for weekends and vacations.

GTG