getting a little tired of the crack/meth heads

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Hiking is over rated as ####. I love my girlfriend, but I cannot fathom why someone wants to hike that much. It is hardly getting away from it all. Drive two hours, just to walk 20 steps in front and behind of people up hill for a small glimpse of the same mountains you just drove through for 2 hours.

You must be doing it wrong. There are thousands of mountains. Only a few are crowded.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Clearing the trail? If there was a bear on the trail in front of you now it’s running towards that family.

So we can never warn a bear (using a bear banger or anything else), lest it might run away and into someone else hiking that we're not aware of? What kind of logic is this?

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

You must be doing it wrong. There are thousands of mountains. Only a few are crowded.

I'm just talking ####. Hiking is a fine hobby. I understand why people want to do it. I just don't think it is that fun.

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by Slava

So we can never warn a bear (using a bear banger or anything else), lest it might run away and into someone else hiking that we're not aware of? What kind of logic is this?

It's the bears damned trail anyways.

Stay alert.

[btimbit]

Sounds like we need a Bear Patrol

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I'm just talking ####. Hiking is a fine hobby. I understand why people want to do it. I just don't think it is that fun.

I used to agree with you. Put me on a mountain bike instead of in some hiking shoes any day.

But now that I hate everyone, finding some secluded corner of the world to forget people exist is just wonderful. I refuse to day trip though, the driving 2 hours there and 2 hours back thing is the opposite of what I like about it.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

It's the bears damned trail anyways.

Stay alert.

Fk that, they're my trails, too.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Flacker

So just to clarify, you are setting of bear bangers at an established trailhead, with no bear sign in the area? And then are amused at negatively impacting someone's day out in the mountains?

AITA thread winner...

Yes, I do this every time.

Usually let my kids take turns shooting them off. It's a fun little tradition to start a hike and I like letting wildlife know we're coming through so they can sort themselves out. Like...maybe blame Canadian Tire and all the other outdoorsy places that sell them? It's not like I designed these things in my garage. They're literally sold in stores everywhere so you can scare bears away haha. How am I the #######?

[Sliver]

I also have some flares in my backpack that shoot coloured smoke or something. I'm dying to blast one of those off, but I don't want to have a helicopter show up or for somebody to think we're in need of rescue. Maybe I'll shoot one off from Invermere at the lake when I'm there this winter. I always blast some fireworks on Family Day weekend there and that's probably my best time to try out the flare.

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Fk that, they're my trails, too.

Bear vs Sliver: Battle for backwoods supremacy.

[2Stonedbirds]

Bells work too. Or fat kids.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I used to agree with you. Put me on a mountain bike instead of in some hiking shoes any day.

But now that I hate everyone, finding some secluded corner of the world to forget people exist is just wonderful. I refuse to day trip though, the driving 2 hours there and 2 hours back thing is the opposite of what I like about it.

I really enjoy driving on strange, secluded roads surrounded by mountains and wilderness. Gravel or dirt roads that very few people go down where you might not see anybody for an hour. Maybe finding a spot along the way to stop and relax for an hour and just enjoy the complete silence.

I enjoy mountain biking and think hiking is just OK, but for that sense of seclusion, nothing beats driving a little back road in the middle of nowhere.

I also really enjoy driving, though, so that probably adds to the allure of it for me.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I really enjoy driving on strange, secluded roads surrounded by mountains and wilderness. Gravel or dirt roads that very few people go down where you might not see anybody for an hour. Maybe finding a spot along the way to stop and relax for an hour and just enjoy the complete silence.

I enjoy mountain biking and think hiking is just OK, but for that sense of seclusion, nothing beats driving a little back road in the middle of nowhere.

I also really enjoy driving, though, so that probably adds to the allure of it for me.

If I'm bored and have an afternoon free, I love just going out and doing the highway 40 loop.

In fact, might go do it on Tuesday now that I think about it

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I really enjoy driving on strange, secluded roads surrounded by mountains and wilderness. Gravel or dirt roads that very few people go down where you might not see anybody for an hour. Maybe finding a spot along the way to stop and relax for an hour and just enjoy the complete silence.

I love driving too, but highway one is now such a miserable experience.

This year I drove out to Vancouver Island and did it mostly with early starts and on weekdays, and it was awesome. Last time I did that I took the old Trans Canada route back instead of the Coquihalla and was lucky enough to get most of the twisty Fraser Canyon stretches all to myself.

Mostly now I find driving on the major highways out west just awful. So much traffic, full of strugglers not using cruise, and sprinkle in a few suicidal maniacs risking the lives of everyone around them for that questionable single lane pass that will save them 3 minutes of trip time.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by btimbit

If I'm bored and have an afternoon free, I love just going out and doing the highway 40 loop.

In fact, might go do it on Tuesday now that I think about it

How long does that loop take roughly? I should consider doing that someday.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I love driving too, but highway one is now such a miserable experience.

This year I drove out to Vancouver Island and did it mostly with early starts and on weekdays, and it was awesome. Last time I did that I took the old Trans Canada route back instead of the Coquihalla and was lucky enough to get most of the twisty Fraser Canyon stretches all to myself.

Mostly now I find driving on the major highways out west just awful. So much traffic, full of strugglers not using cruise, and sprinkle in a few suicidal maniacs risking the lives of everyone around them for that questionable single lane pass that will save them 3 minutes of trip time.

Yeah, the sooner I can get off the 1 or the QE2 and get into something enjoyable the better, as they are both complete slogs (1 at least has nice views unlike the QE2, but the traffic is awful and makes enjoying the views mostly impossible).

Speaking of the 1, I will never not find it funny watching tourists stop to take a picture in front of the cement plant. I will also never, ever understand it. Drive just a little bit further and there are countless areas to take a picture of the family in front of the mountains, or rivers, or waterfalls, or lakes, or trees, or whatever. Why must people stop after 45 minutes for the cement plant picture? What about this cement plant lures them in?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

How long does that loop take roughly? I should consider doing that someday.

Probably 3 hours ish I think, if you don't stop

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I'm just talking ####. Hiking is a fine hobby. I understand why people want to do it. I just don't think it is that fun.

I think you're letting preconceived notions/attitudes keep you from actually enjoying the experience.

Also might not help that it sounds like you're doing one of the more basic touristy trails when there are hundreds of options that provide all the seclusion and views you could ask for.

Being in nature is a serotonin activator so I'll never believe people who so they hate that part. But I totally understand how having people in front/behind you can kill that experience. I usually do whatever i can to get away from any crowds, if that means speeding ahead, taking a side trail for a bit, or hanging back and waiting for them and their noise to fade into the trees.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Yeah, the sooner I can get off the 1 or the QE2 and get into something enjoyable the better, as they are both complete slogs (1 at least has nice views unlike the QE2, but the traffic is awful and makes enjoying the views mostly impossible).

Speaking of the 1, I will never not find it funny watching tourists stop to take a picture in front of the cement plant. I will also never, ever understand it. Drive just a little bit further and there are countless areas to take a picture of the family in front of the mountains, or rivers, or waterfalls, or lakes, or trees, or whatever. Why must people stop after 45 minutes for the cement plant picture? What about this cement plant lures them in?

First instance of: Water - tree - mountain - traffic pullout - other people doing it!

[Engine09]

Past few years I've started doing longer backpacking/camping trips. The overcrowding has just ruined any enjoyment of the usual mountain spots, you gotta get far out past the crowds for some peace and quiet.

Most people are lazy slobs who don't walk more than 50 feet from their car. You don't run into a single one of these loud talking annoyances when you hike 20km on a trail an over a few passes. Yeah, it's tough at times but always worth it.