Anyone go hiking... ever?

[Gelgarin]

So I've been overcome with a sudden and inexplicable* fascination with hiking, and I'd like you guys to serve as my fix.

Do any of you hike, occasionally or regularly?
If so, can you recommend any locations, doesn't matter where. Alternately, do any of you have any tips for a newbie to hiking, or any delightful hiking anecdotes. Doesn't even really have to be hiking, any kind of outdoor exploration or nature appreciation will do - camping, fishing, dogging, that kind of thing.

Spoiler

*OK, it's totally explicable. Someone is paying me money to write articles about outdoor activity. After the first half dozen my knowledge on the subject is starting to wear a little thin so I figured "Hay, you guys have to be good for something".

So yeah, any hiking locations, advice, stories? Rep for anyone who posts anything worth stealing, if that's your idea of a good time.

 

[Tiger Chaos Theory]

SSC will be here soon.

 

[Fizzy]

During high school, my science teacher would regularly take groups of students to the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Most of the hikes entailed us following a set path, but three or four times a year he would take us to meet a park ranger and we would help that park ranger carve new paths by cutting down small trees and shrubs. I don't quite remember the details, but there were four tools, each had its specific use. Other times, we would meet a park ranger and replace old, dying trees with seeds and such.

I'd suggest looking up information on the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Supposedly, there are some awesome stories that come from that place, some of which could potentially help you with the paper.

 

[IHW]

I go a couple of times during the Summer months. I always go around the Rocky Mountains. Anywhere in that area is great. A lot of wild life too. Great thing to do for small family's.

 

[Hyorinmaru]

There's some nice hiking trails in the parks around Upstate NY I've used.

My 2 favorite are Taughannock falls state park as well as Buttermilk State park. Both in Ithaca

 

[ABMorales787]

The backyard. There's a waterworks canal on the far side of the road nearing the hills that goes for miles. Hell of a place for walking, bikes or to just feel the breeze.

 

[Bernkastel]

I went hiking last October. The time before that [I think August] my friends and I got lost in the woods for roughly two hours in the dark before we made it back to my car.

Good times.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Went hiking some time ago. Through the mountains and it was a 6 hour trek. A real out of body experience asI was certain was gonna die by the end of it.

Worst part, we hiked to get to this hill station from where the Himalayas are very close and you get a spectacular view.

The day we arrived, overcast. We stayed for the night. Next morning, still overcast.

There is no God.

 

[Smooth Sexual Chocolate]

SSC will be here soon.

I do love me some hiking.

I regularly hike the hills of Las Trampas, part of the East Bay Regional Park district. Lots of great trails, wildlife and all that jazz. It's about 20 miles east of the San Francisco Bay, so on a clear day you can view both the Bay & Golden Gate Bridge. There's a semi famous trail that goes by the name "The Devils Hole", rated one of California's top 25 must hike trails. Lots of cool fossils in the rocks, as much of the trail used to be completely underwater. The trail distance checks in right at 6.66 miles and is adjacent from Mt. Diablo, another staple of the East Bay Regional Park District. Las Trampas is also located on multiple fault lines, and has some Native American history attached to it. I'm sure you could milk yourself a fine article with plenty of information readily available.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Sounds smashing SSC.

 

[Smooth Sexual Chocolate]

Sounds smashing SSC.

Certainly is, there aren't many things I'd rather be doing than Hiking a day away.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

I can think of one.