Out on a hike today I noticed a couple going up, while I was going down,

[kairos12]

take the wrong turn up a very steep route that was off trail. Easy mistake to make. Seen many do it.

I kind of yelled go back, "you might want to go down and go left, that's the trail."

The dude looked annoyed that I said something.

I'm old. He was young.

The woman looked up and looked left. Brief discussion followed.

They went left. Bravo to her.

LOL!

[Talitha]

1. Bravo to you!

[2naSalit]

2. Well done!

[triron]

3. Where were you hiking? I live in Albuquerque.

[Native]

4. Typical.

[reACTIONary]

5. I've had many a ...

... "brief discussion" with my spouse. Saved me some much longer discussions further down the trail.

[paleotn]

6. You're a good person.

[bullwinkle428]

7. Dude wanted to do his own research.

A "Death of Expertise" moment.

[yonder]

12. Thanks for jogging the memory.

I was going to read this some 4 or 5 years ago but forgot the title, and eventually about reading it. As I recall, there was a fascinating interview with the author on NPR.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

23. Making note of this title. I hadn't seen it before.

Just checked & I see I can get it in audiobook from my local library in the Libby app. Thanks for posting!

Ages ago Al Gore wrote one about anti-intellectualism, iirc. Not that books will make belligerently ignorant people less belligerently ignorant, but it gives me some small comfort to know I'm not alone in seeing these problems as dangerous.

I just wish there were a way to reverse these awful pro-ignorance movements.

[PJMcK]

8. We're sailing down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

Before we departed New York, I made a point to include my wife in all navigation decisions. I've been sure to ask directions and ask for others' experiences. Whenever we have a question, we both understand the answers.

As the expression goes, if the queen is content there is peace in the kingdom!

[CottonBear]

27. What a cool journey! What kind of sailboat do you have?

Are you using Navionics? Do you have paper charts?
Do you need radar in the ICW?

It seems like y’all have good communication and a good plan for your trip.

Good luck out there!

[PJMcK]

30. We have a Pacific Seacraft Dana 24

It’s a small pocket cruiser designed for long-distance cruising. People have crossed oceans and even circumnavigated using this design. It’s comfortable and manageable by the two of us.

We have redundant navigational aids. In addition to paper charts (which provide large-scale perspective), we have a GPS chart plotter (paired with an iPod for remote control) that runs Navionics. These are supplemented with our iPhones, one running Aqua Maps (fantastic for detailing the the latest shoaling) and the other running iSailor. I know, belts and suspenders! Yet they all provide different views of the waterways.

We don’t have radar but we have an AIS transponder that projects other AIS-equipped vessels onto our devices and us onto their’s. This system, known as Automatic Identification System, shows vessels’ positions, speeds, directions and names. It’s kind of like Star Trek tech! It’s required on commercial vessels and many recreational boats have it, too.

We have the usual sailing instruments including compass, speedometer, depth sounder and apparent wind indicator as well as two VHF radios, one fixed and a handheld. In the event of a catastrophe, we’re equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), a life raft and a fully stocked ditch bag. Our Diesel engine has a simple control panel with a tachometer and warning lights for temperature, oil pressure, etc.

We tried using a Starlink for satellite internet but the power requirements exceed our capabilities without an extensive and expensive upgrade. Instead, we connect through local WiFi networks or through a cell network. It’s a little slow but it’s working for us.

In short, we use a mix of traditional and technological tools to stay safe and find our way. So far, it’s been the adventure of a lifetime. We’ve met lots of great people, seen much natural beauty, visited many historical sites and museums and eaten terrific food. Thanks for your kind wishes!

[CottonBear]

31. Nice! Your boat is totally fitted out for safety! You're ready to cross an ocean!

Thank you for your detailed description of your boat’s navigation and safety features. I would absolutely love to be on a similar journey.

Pacific Seacraft are beautiful, well built classic boats!

I follow Sailing Project Atticus on YouTube. They sail a 1997 Pacific Seacraft 40.

Have fun out there!

Wishing you fair winds and following seas! ⛵️ 🌊 🐬

[FakeNoose]

9. She probably pulled out her phone and googled the trail map to show him

[dai13sy]

10. Sad

Could have been very romantic.

[KS Toronado]

11. At junctions that can be easily misunderstood,

should have some arrow signs up, cheaper than looking for long overdue hikers.

[3Hotdogs]

19. Most trails do have markers (blazes). 97.83% are well maintained and easy to see. BUT

some are not. Some are placed on trees and the tree gets damaged in a storm. Some are just plain difficult to see, even when the intent is there.

MORAL TO THE STORY: Buy a satellite beacon or the iPhone 14 that has emergency locator service and the ability to send for help.

[KS Toronado]

25. yes

[usedtobedemgurl]

13. My first thought would have been...

They are going off the path, to have public sex. If I had talked to them and they seemed to be debating, I would have taken it as them stalling a little, so I would leave, and they could go ahead and have fun. But that is just my perspective.

[LisaM]

14. I was hiking with a friend once on Mt. Constitution (Orcas Island)

It was a pretty easy hike, but we had never done it and had no idea how much father we had to go (pre smart phone). We saw a guy who was clearly very experienced coming down and asked him how much longer we had to go and he pulled out a freaking altimeter and said "1000 vertical feet" and then literally sprinted away. Most. Unhelpful. Response. Ever.

A couple of minutes later we ran across a friendly group of women and they said things like "about twenty more minutes!" and "you're doing great!" and "it's just around that next curve, then you can see the top!"

There are truly all kinds of people out there, see things in different ways.

[Tree Lady]

16. I've hiked so many times and said things like

those ladies and also had people tell me. I remember once on my moms 70th bday going to Vernal falls in Yosemite, I kept thinking its just a little further, poor mom I pushed her little by little till she made it!

The best part was all the people she told at lunch at the Ahwahnee Hotel. She was so proud of herself.

[ret5hd]

18. I was hiking the approach to the Appalachian Trail...

(Amicalola Falls) which has over 600 steps to the top. I had a 45 lb backpack, was already sweating, and had a long day ahead of me.

Here comes this guy jogging up the steps…hardly seemed to be breathing hard. “Wow, he’s in good shape.”

A bit later, here he comes back down, still jogging, still hardly breathing hard. “Well, it is easier going down!”

A bit later, here he again comes from behind me. “Hey, now you’re just an asshole!”

I got to the top, went my way and didn’t see him again.

[LisaM]

22. Ha! We were climbing up Mt. Si once

Also not particularly arduous, but we were passing most people and feeling good about it till a man and his son went past us as if they were mountain goats out for a light trot. And the older man appeared to be approximately 85 years old.

[moonscape]

15. Oh my, if only you were in the forests on all

my hikes! Once my hiking and buddy and I were in a new state park. We had map in hand, no cell service of course, poor/ambiguous trail markings when they existed, and not seeing any other hikers. We are infamous for getting lost. Two people with zero sense of direction should never pair up to hike!

After some time, we were totally confused but pressed on. Thankfully, we came across another hiker! (Maybe it was you.) I asked for guidance on where exactly we were. Well, we were headed in the exact, precise, wrong direction. I mean somehow 180 degrees turned around.

I now have a compass on my dining room table that I’m determined to learn how to use with maps before venturing into new forests/terrains.

[NBachers]

17. The California Highway Patrol Air Rescue Team had to save a couple of people on a Marin County cliff

a couple of weeks back. They found a difficult ghost trail down towards the beach that ended right on a high cliff side. They couldn’t get back up and had to be rescued by chopper. I’ve learned not to take unnecessary risks, because there are plenty of bad examples that didn’t turn out well.

[AllaN01Bear]

20. my late mom was directionaly challenged .. i was her copilot. many times i commited munity

esp on the long island toll way when we didnt have a ez pas s . rental car. should have that as part of the rental aggreement.

[mercuryblues]

21. Some tolls have an idiot pass

Ask me how I know.

[rambler_american]

24. At least 21 deaths

of hikers in NH in 2022. You have to know what you're doing.

[IronLionZion]

26. I use the hiking project app on my phone with gps

it's a common mistake to end up off trail out there in the wilderness. Trail markers get worn out.

Glad nothing bad happened. People get murdered on hikes.

[Victor_c3]

28. I've become a big fan of the "all trails" app

You can download the map of your hike to your phone and everything still works even if you’re out of cell phone range.

Even with the app, I still find myself periodically 10-25 feet off of the trail in some of the not-so-well marked areas.

As a guy who does a lot of hiking, I’ve learned that it is always better to underestimate yourself than be overly confident. I never assume I know more than anyone else on the trail.

Each year, park rangers from the area I hike publish a synapsis of each major rescue they do. Over and over again the same themes present themselves - people aren’t properly prepared and people fail to tell other precisely where they are going to go. I always pack a bag with enough supplies to be able to spend the night and to deal with a medical emergency. My brother, who hikes more than me, has actually saved the lives of two people on two separate occasions.

Even expert hikers die because they make stupid mistakes and aren’t properly prepared.

[Joinfortmill]

29. You did good. Karma will note that 😇

[llashram]

32. lucky

he didn't get shot... trying to help prevent a possible tragedy

[Lucinda]

33. ❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️