Backpacking Partner Compatibility Test
.jpg "Backpacking Partner Compatibility Test")
If you stick with this backpacking thing long enough, there will come a time when everyone in your family and all of your friends refuse to hike with you because you hike too fast or too far in a given day. When that happens you are going to have to go solo or find a new backpacking partner who's compatible with your skill and fitness level.
If you prefer to hike with someone else, here's a set of screening questions that I've devised to determine if someone is a good candidate partner.
How do you protect your food from bears?
- Wrong Answer: I sleep with a loaded hand gun and scream "Make my Day" if I hear anything moving around camp at night.
- Right Answer: I hang it from a tree, use a bear canister, or Ursack.
How much do you drink a day?
- Wrong Answer: About a fifth of vodka.
- Right Answer: Four to six liters of water per day.
How do you make your water safe to drink?
- Wrong Answer: I've never done that. Can you do that for me?
- Wrong Answer: I don't trust that stuff. I carry all of the water I'll need for the entire trip plus a little extra.
- Right Answer: Chlorine dioxide tablets, bleach, a water filer or water purifier, etc.
What would you do when you get a black toenail?
- Wrong Answer: I set up an emergency pedicure.
- Right Answer: Not a problem. Most of my other toenails are already black.
- Right Answer: I wear black toenail polish, so it doesn't even show.
What the most dangerous thing on a hiking trip?
- Wrong Answer: Snakes.
- Right Answer: Hypothermia.
- Right Answer: Getting a speeding ticket.
- Right Answer: Setting your shelter on fire with your stove.
How do you screen out the newbies and weirdos?
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- backpacking partners
- partner compatibility test
- (backpacking partners | backpacking partner)
- partner for backpacking
- looking for backpacking partner 2010
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love the photo! did you take it?
yeah, a couple of years ago while backpacking in the Adirondacks. The guy is an aspiring writer in New York. Perfect shot.
Aren’t we all weirdos? If they can keep up and don’t seem like psychos maybe you’ll get to know an interesting person.
I thought of you when I put together this list.
Well you would’ve flunked me out right off.
Anyway you might add some kind of bladder capacity test; I remember a guy who must have had a bladder the size of a grape and urine the consistency of molasses. I couldn’t say anything to his face but if he’s out there, GO SEE A DOCTOR DUDE!
What a great photo. My wife dragged three of these on an overnight hike.
They burned really well.
It’s more than that.As we age other limitations come into play-fewer partner possibles,energy levels,strength(go light!),stamina,family commitments,etc.Keep up the good web site work.Do we all become Walter Mitty?-Reading about backpacking at our computers,but not actually hiking?
Dude – I’m out hiking and you should be too. Just say No to housework, gardening, car washing, shopping, family time, and get out there and pound some miles. You’ll be a better Dad/mom/son/daughter, gardener, etc. when you get home.
I recently had to bag a trip because my friend, a good hiking partner, wanted to invite her husband – a bad hiking partner who likes to play “one up” even though he’s the only one playing. The thought of stepping into the woods with him was shudder-inducing.
I have since found a good hiking partner without an annoying husband. I actually took her up her first mountain ever. There was something so awesome about rounding the bend that brought us to our first vista and hearing her explain “Oh my gosh, we are above the trees!” She’s already asking what our next mountain is.
I’m with L. If you train your own backpackers, you can catch them when they are still impressionable, and bend them to your will.
I like to catch them ofter they’ve returned to the sea.
The more I think about this, the more I like it. I once spent the night with a backpacker who cuddles in her sleep. Not cool.
That could be bad.