Pet peeve of mine. Almost everyone who does this is like “oh hey you finally caught up!” and then immediately starts walking again. Leading to a situation where the people who are in good shape are constantly taking breaks, and the people who are out of shape never get a break and get more and more tired and slow all day
I get you. It was so frustrating being the less in shape one when I hiked a giant cliff face. I’m pretty stubborn and ‘strong-willed’ or whatever, and even so it was a definite struggle to demand (because the little happy bouncers don’t get any subtle suggestions) to take a break when I made it to the meeting point… and then they get frustrated because their break is now “too long.”
But I’m also one of the people that’s often bolting ahead, so let me provide my context:
I’m not fit (by any means), but I do have long strides. I go to nature to find peace and tranquillity, but normally I’m wound-up pretty tight.
I’m like a beagle, bouncing around - I need to burn off that energy. So, at the beginning I’ll bolt on a head and wait, bolt off again, etc. Eventually, I’ll “tucker myself out”, I’ll have found the peace and tranquillity that brought me to nature and then I can walk with the group.
If I don’t “bolt off” and stay with the group, I’m either clipping the back of their heels (not fun for anyone) or I’m tripping over my feet. And if I’m in front, well I’m going to eventually bolt-off. Either way, it’s not peaceful or fun for anyone.
That said, I am not one of those “oh hey, you finally caught up” type people. In fact, I make it a habit of waiting until the group is ready to go. I understand, they probably feel more pressure to take a shorter break (cause I’ve had an addition 10 minutes), but I can’t control this.
For me it’s also that it’s far more exhausting to walk outside of my “natural” pace. I quickly feel like shit and tire out if I have to hold back and walk slower.
When hiking you always go at the slowest hikers pace.
Nah, you go your own pace and then stop at every fork, intersection, and overlook, and let everybody catch up before moving on.
For me it’s shade. I’ll slink from shadow to shadow, adds fun extra challenge.
Pet peeve of mine. Almost everyone who does this is like “oh hey you finally caught up!” and then immediately starts walking again. Leading to a situation where the people who are in good shape are constantly taking breaks, and the people who are out of shape never get a break and get more and more tired and slow all day
I get you. It was so frustrating being the less in shape one when I hiked a giant cliff face. I’m pretty stubborn and ‘strong-willed’ or whatever, and even so it was a definite struggle to demand (because the little happy bouncers don’t get any subtle suggestions) to take a break when I made it to the meeting point… and then they get frustrated because their break is now “too long.”
I get this and you are 100% right.
But I’m also one of the people that’s often bolting ahead, so let me provide my context:
I’m not fit (by any means), but I do have long strides. I go to nature to find peace and tranquillity, but normally I’m wound-up pretty tight.
I’m like a beagle, bouncing around - I need to burn off that energy. So, at the beginning I’ll bolt on a head and wait, bolt off again, etc. Eventually, I’ll “tucker myself out”, I’ll have found the peace and tranquillity that brought me to nature and then I can walk with the group.
If I don’t “bolt off” and stay with the group, I’m either clipping the back of their heels (not fun for anyone) or I’m tripping over my feet. And if I’m in front, well I’m going to eventually bolt-off. Either way, it’s not peaceful or fun for anyone.
That said, I am not one of those “oh hey, you finally caught up” type people. In fact, I make it a habit of waiting until the group is ready to go. I understand, they probably feel more pressure to take a shorter break (cause I’ve had an addition 10 minutes), but I can’t control this.
Then continue walking back and forth between the fork and the group. Its not that hard.
For me it’s also that it’s far more exhausting to walk outside of my “natural” pace. I quickly feel like shit and tire out if I have to hold back and walk slower.
They can rest at the next overlook
Then you are keeping to their pace.
Ah, I see. We’re normalizing it over the course of time spent hiking. I was thinking too simplistically, in an atomized moment-by-moment sort of way
You had it correct the first time. Keeping pace means moving at the same speed, not taking the same total time.
Then they’re out of breath when they catch you and you’ve rested up
but yes I do this too
So pop a squat and let them breathe for a moment. That’s what overlooks are for. Snack time.