Hobby Thread - October 19, 2024 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread.

Blogging is happening live from a semi undisclosed location among Hordelings gathered in real life. Thanks to all for everything. You know who you are. If you are not here, you are missed.

We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) a spin and it landed on a theme of hiking for this week. The theme of Europe last week had a few hints of hiking in the content an comments and the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) apparently thought that a dedicated hiking theme was in order for the Hobby Thread.

Are you a hiker? Where do you hike or have hiked? Do you have favorite places to hike? Some hikes get headlines because they are known for being difficult or lengthy. Other hikes are an opportunity to get out for a day and enjoy the great outdoors. Do you have stories of past hikes? Do you have bucket lists of places you would like to hike?

Content below to get the conversation started, but looking for Horde participation. This is not a competition, so do not worry if your hikes are not the fanciest, most exotic, most difficult, or lengthiest. If meaningful to you, it will be meaningful to the Horde. The content is also not a ranking or a best list.

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hiking. Politics and current events can wait for other threads. Play nice. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls. As usual, wearing pants is optional for thread participation.

Top photo with a top hiking tip: when hiking in the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland, remember that the cows get the right of way.

Great suggestions and great photography:

Twenty Epic Day Hikes in the US National Parks

The Best Hikes in the US, From Family-Friendly Walks to Multi-Day Journeys

Best Winter Hikes in North America

Shameless repeat of content from last week: If you are wondering where to go hiking in Switzerland, the Hobby Thread has you covered. The 13 Very Best Hikes In Switzerland The link has a description of each, associated logistics, and very pretty pictures.

The Appalachian Trail is over 2197 miles in length. The public footpath winds its way through the Appalachian Mountains. It stretches between Georgia and Maine and touches 14 states. The full trail was completed in 1937. Hikers that transit the full length in a single season are called thru hikers. Most start in the spring in Georgia and follow the warmer weather north. Somewhere between 800 and 1200 hikers successfully complete the trip which is only about a third of those who make the attempt.

Here is an interactive map of the Appalachian Trail and here is a link to the National Park Service website.

Have you hiked some or all of the Appalachian Trail? If you did the full trail, how long did it take you? What was memorable? If not and you are a hiker, is it on your list to do someday? Mark Sanford was not available for comment.

For many, hiking is life changing. Personal journey documentaries of various lengths are common on YouTube for those finding deep and meaningful truths along the Appalachian Trail.

Pacific Crest Trail is the west coast analogue to the Appalachian Trail. It spans 2650 miles from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. Estimates suggest that between 700 and 800 people per season make the full journey, only about 20 percent of those who make the attempt. It takes the average hiker between five months to complete. Inhospitable and potentially fatally cold weather in some parts dictates timing. Most start from the south and a maximum of 50 permits per day are issued to avoid crowding.

Pacific Crest Trail Hiking Advice for 2024 (and Beyond)

Hiking into the Grand Canyon is a lesson on scale. You can walk several hours and not be anywhere near the bottom and barely get a glimpse of the river. Some hike all the way down and spend the night at Phantom Ranch. The more hearty hikers to a rim to rim sprint from the south to the north rim or visa versa. The Bright Angel Trail is the most traveled and well known. Every step takes you further down and extends the uphill trek on the return. There are other trails as well.

90 percent of Kauai is inaccessible by road. Hiking is one way to see more of the island. The most famous hike on Kauai is the 11 mile Kalalau trail along the Napali Coast. Beginning at the end of the road at Ke e Beach, most people hike in and stay at least one night before returning. Others limit their hike to the first two miles, which leads to Hanakapiai Beach. Either way, you will get amazing views of Kauais North Shore.

Yosemite has an abundance of marvelous trails. While the park is breathtaking from the roads and easily accessible viewpoints, rewards await those who are willing to hike further into the park. Vernal and Nevada Falls Trails are worth every step. You will get alongside and on top of the falls. Make sure to pack for spray and slippery footing.

Hiking books:

Hiking with the Boss (Ingrid Wood)

Hiking with the Boss tells the story of a special bond shared by two sisters and their hike to Neumagen, a little village in Germany's beautiful Mosel valley. While taking the reader on a hike through the scenic German countryside, the author weaves fascinating facts about German history as well as cherished family memories into the fabric of her journey. Some of the adventures of the sisters will make you laugh out loud. Others will make you wince and marvel how much they are willing to endure to reach their goal. You don't have to be a hiker to enjoy reading this book.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Bill Bryson)

Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The AT offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings.

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week with a European travel theme? The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

How about this? A Moron Meetup idea for Bavaria? For Oktoberfest? What say you, Horde? Ja? Do we have many Horde members in or near Bavaria?

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

If walkabouts through nature are not your thing and you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different hobby next time around. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. No we are not there yet. If you are going to complain, you can stay in the car.

posted by Open Blogger at 04:30 PM

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