adventures in irresponsible hiking

Are you crazy? Don't hike like this.

december 20: solo hike with dog

• Temp: 30F (-1C).
• Snow Depth: 2-3".
• Weather: Dim light (impossible to determine direction of sun), snowing.
• Time: Unknown. Some hours after noon.
• Equipment: Sneakers, socks, jeans, shirt, leather jacket, walking stick, nothing else.
• Safety equipment: Newfoundland dog without leash, nothing else.
• Length: Between 1 and 2 miles.
• Terrain: Deep, untrailed, unmanaged forest. Difficult walking due to many downed trees. Some terrain steep enough to require walking switchback-style to prevent needing hands (I had no gloves).
• Number of people who knew I had gone hiking: 0.
• Number of times I'd hiked that route: 0.
  Took a different route back so I could not track our prints in the snow.

Notes:
Harley, a large newfie over 10 years old was deft even through dense balsam stands or over massive downed maples--the forest is his everyday domain. His pace is plodding, but he never barks or gets distracted by wildlife. I feel he is strong enough to help me crawl back (or at least show me which way to crawl) should something go wrong.

december 25: solo night hike without shoes or light

• Temp: 7F (-14C).
• Snow Depth: 2-4".
• Weather: Chilly (see labels). Clear. Waxing gibbous moon, quite bright on the new snow.
• Time: Approx. 10pm.
• Equipment: sweatpants, sweatshirt, socks, nothing else.
• Safety equipment: None.
• Length: Approximately 1 mile.
• Terrain: Deep, untrailed, unmanaged forest. Difficult walking due to many downed trees.
• Number of people who knew I had gone hiking: 0.
• Number of times I'd hiked that route: 0.
  Took a different route back so I could not track my prints in the snow, even though this meant I had to double-back twice.

Notes:
Snowstorm earlier in the day left every fir tree loaded with new snow. Without a hat or coat, I tried to be careful not to let snow get down my shirt.

One sock had a hole in the sole, so one foot got quite cold very quickly.

Harley, my large newfie refused to go with me even though I took him with me to the forest edge. Too cold. He was on the porch when I got home and glad to come inside with me.