What kind of Hiker are you?

You may have wondered what kind of hiker you are or how to describe the hiker you meet on the trail or at the shelter or hostel. Below are descriptions of the types of hikers I have met while hiking.

The Casual Hiker - some people refer to these hikers as “weekend hikers” or “section hikers.” These hikers only get to hike on select weekends and try to hike during their week or two vacation from their jobs. This is by far the largest hiker group and they are important members of the hiker community. These are hikers who read a lot about hiking and about equipment and purchase as much gear as their finances allow.

The Trophy Hiker - some people see hiking as a competition with themselves or the time clock or the date book or another hiker. These are hikers who try to hike the fastest, the farthest, the most miles or the most trails in any given time period. These hikers will spend countless hours working to reduce their pack weight so that they can hike just a little farther “next time.” Many of these hikers author their own books about hiking and lightweight gear.

The Naturalist Hiker - some people set no hiking goals. Their enjoyment is just in “getting out there” and communing with nature. They may hike into the woods a certain distance and set up a hammock or tent, lay back and enjoy the scenery. For them, Nature is more important than miles traveled.

The Social Hiker - some people just enjoy the camaraderie of the hiking community. They frequent as many online hiker forums as they can locate. Whether they actually hike anywhere is not as important as owning the gear and sitting around at Hiker Rucks, Gatherings, and Trail Days talking about hiking and trails they’d like to hike. Actually hiking with a group at one of these hiker festivities is an added bonus to these socializing hikers. Ownership of a computer is paramount to this group.

The Quality Hiker - some people like to have the best, the newest, the lightest, and completely handmade or homemade gear. Never satisfied with one “soda can stove,” these hikers try to create a lighter stove that uses less fuel and boils water faster than the last stove. Not satisfied with commercially made backpacking gear and clothing these hikers will design lighter weight tents, packs, sleeping bags/quilts, clothing, rain gear, camp shoes, etc. Most of these quality hikers will post their designs on hiker websites so that other like minded hikers can use their designs or improve upon them and make their own gear. Some of these hikers will start cottage industries and sell gear to other hikers. Occasionally, a quality hiker will write a book about how she incorporated her gear into her hiking experience. If a quality hiker is fortunate, she and sells her cottage industry to a gear manufacturing company.

The Meal Hiker - some people believe that food eaten in the out of doors is much more palatable than anything eaten inside four walls. These hikers dehydrate their own food and repackage it so that even an “add hot water” meal becomes a culinary treat to their taste buds. On the first night of hiking, they cook fresh foods they carried in their bulging backpacks: steak, corn on the cob; baking potato. These hikers carry the weight of a variety of spices, cook with “real butter,” have more than one stove and usually two or three pots to cook in. Mini-whisks are included in their kitchen utensils, as are fry pans, and the occasional backpack oven and espresso coffee maker. These hikers are not always carrying the lightest packs, but they definitely seem to be the best fed hikers on any trail.

The Mentor/Youth Hiker - some hikers want to pass their knowledge on to the next generation by introducing their own and other families to the hiker community. These hikers are Boy Scout and Girl Scout leaders, work with 4-H Youth, church youth groups, inner-city youth and anywhere or with any group where children, teens and their parents can benefit from a little time outdoors. These hikers may initiate hiker groups among their peers or for a select demographic group. Occasionally they work at 'alternative outdoor schools.' These hikers are often found among the ranks of the Peace Corp, AmeriCorp, and non-profit or for-profit hiker or outdoor related organizations or magazines.

You may be one or more of these types of hiker at different times or at the same time. You're all a part of the hiker community and the world is a better place because of you.

(Special thanks to Daryl Ratajczak of TWRA for the idea.)