[at-l] why aren't hikers like this?

[Slyatpct@xxxxxxx (Slyatpct@xxxxxxx)]

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LOL....

I don't know what it is, but I just love the challenge, nasty weather poses.
I remember a similar experience going over Mt Moosilauke, my first time above
treeline, in ages, in a complete whiteout (fog).  You had to trust youself to
hike far enough in order to see the next cairn and the wind was howling.  All
of a sudden and out of the mist comes a southbounder.  We both burst out
laughing, at nothing in particular, each remarking at what an awesome day it
was, and wished each other the best.

Sly


In a message dated 2/5/2003 2:47:40 PM Eastern Standard Time,
sloetoe@yahoo.com writes:

> In '79, when I was crossing the top of some name-un-remembered
> Maine bald in the middle of Hurricane David, all turtled up in
> my baby-blue GoreTex shell, pack cover lashed completely 'round
> pack, beard attempting to wriggle out of the parka's tightly
> battened hood, I came across a southbounder so similarly
> esconced he could have been my mirror image. Now, by this point
> in the trip, I am thoroughly nutz-in-love with the whole deal,
> even and especially including the day's ridiculous weather (50'
> visibility; torrents of rain; winds gusting 30-50mph), so that I
> am running through the valleys so that I can get back up in the
> "thin" stuff to have the weather buff me up again. But I thought
> I was the only one like this.... (This was '79, folks. Not a lot
> of other hikers around with whom to socialize.)
>
> But as I'm bopping across the tops of this high nub, I turn a
> grey corner and into view floats my SOBO doppelganger twin. We
> approach, stand nearly boot to boot and cheek-by-jowl, and I
> notice he's got the same shit-eatin' bearded grin pasted on his
> face as I had on mine. I scream into his ear "Nice weather we're
> having, ain't it?" He responds with a laugh, then yells "Yup!
> Sure is! Can't beat it for refreshment." "Yep!" I says, "Happy
> Trails!" and we parted ways with a wave and a laugh that was
> swallowed by the roar of the wind.