A SierraTopix thread on people you meet on the trail.

The first page of the first chapter of Hiking for Dummies, if such a book exists, you’re apt to find the standard advice: Don’t walk alone.

And yet: everybody does it. How come? Because it’s the surest way to meet interesting people. If you’re in a group you’re sort of obligated to socialize with the group, which is fine in its own right, except if you’ve been with the group for long you’ve already heard all its amazing stories.

Hiking solo means you’re free of social obligations (the downside being, nobody to run for help when you get bit by the rabid coyote). I can’t count the number of interesting people I’ve met. Like the 80-year-old former cop who was in way better shape than I was. Or the Chinese guy with a small backpack who saw me doing a training hike (with about 40 pounds strapped on) and just sort of adopted me, walking along, chatting and offering moral support all the way to the top of Mission Peak. Lately I’ve been seeing people I recognize from meeting on the trail on previous hikes.

Other times I’ll hike for miles and never share a syllable with another living soul. In late September I hiked 10 miles to a campsite I had all to myself; spent the night and hiked back. Met some folks on the trail, chatted for a second; it felt good to tell ’em “You’re the first people I’ve seen since yesterday morning.”