[at-l] Tall Trail Tales

[Bluetrail@aol.com]

The problem with being tall and on the trail and hiking with a group is that 
they want to put the tall one out front.  That way you (the tall one) gets to 
run face first or front first into all the spider webs.  You can clear the 
trail for those behind you. 

In Florida in the fall spider means these humungo things we call "bananna 
spiders."  The spiders are harmless and rather pretty, usually yellow and 
brown; however, every encounter leaves you marching on while picking spider 
silk off your face for about 5 minutes.  Not to mention trying to figure out 
if that tickle approaching your neck is your imagination or the spider.  No 
matter how hard I try, it is impossible to avoid every web.  Sometimes you 
just don't seem 'em.  

This leads to a very peculiar way of hiking called "blessing the trail" in 
which the hiker holds his hiking pole or stick out in front of him while 
bobbing it up and down or sideways.  

I prefer to look for the webs and duck under them if possible.  In the years 
when I owned a tall half-Thoroughbred/half Clydesdale, I rode hunt seat but 
wore a cowboy hat so that I could tuck my chin in and catch the spiders on 
the hat.  It's a lot easier to brush them off a hat than get them out of your 
hair.

Problem #2 for me is hiking along watching everyone else walk under some 
angled deadfall and realizing a step too late that I am too tall not to hit 
it with my head.  
You'd think I'd learn, but I'm very slow and ...

Very close to 5'11"
Joan
bluetrail@aol.com
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