How to deal with a weak hiking partner

How to deal with a weak hiking partner

You can say with certainty that Peter is a much stronger and more experienced hiker than I do. On Cotopaxi he jumped at the top of the group, while in the end I trembled and stumbled. He kept me calm on Matavanu when I almost broke out into tears. On the Nevis Peak he tracked down trails for which I was blind.

Of course he is not the first to hike with a weak partner. In A Walk in the Woods, the author Bill Bryson describes how he copes with part of the Appalachian Trail with Stephen Katz, his thick -bellied friend, who appears completely unprepared for the upcoming torture.

Sometimes, as in Bryson's book, the difference in performance can be funny. Usually it's annoying. Occasionally it is well.

they don't lose their patience - even if they lose their loses

It is easy to start someone who doesn't seem to try. After all, only one foot is in front of the other - all you need is the mental determination.

But it's not that easy for everyone. Physical fitness, altitude acclimatization, experience and attitude play a role. A moderate hike for you can be extremely difficult for someone else. Try to stay calm and positive. Encourage the weak hiker and do not show that you are bored or anxious, even if you are. She will only demoralize that.

If you lose patience, you will not be defensive ("Well, I have not asked you to come" or "Most people can handle it"). You can be angry if you have to be angry, but you should stay cool.

give them space, but not too much

don't think that you have to stay at your side. If you continue to hike, this shows that you still benefit from experience.

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Of course you should make sure not to push too far. If you hike in extreme weather or height, you may have to keep an eye on your partner for symptoms of altitude disease or heat creation.

In addition, if you take a break and get you in, spend five minutes with you instead of going back on the way. You may just have taken a break, but you don't have it.

take photos

If you have a camera with you, spend some time to take photos. This gives your partner time to catch up or even hike in advance without feeling guilty that he is.

Do not change the plan

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If you hike in a remote area or in dangerous terrain, you should not be tried to take an abbreviation or deviate too much from your plan. We have heard reports from hikers who went for days because they took an unplanned abbreviation.

Deviations from the plan lead to unpredictable events. The best thing you can do for your hiking partner is a slow but constant progress along a well -planned route.

make the load easier

If your hiking partner has to struggle with the weight on his back, you consider to lose weight if possible. Sometimes the few kilograms can make up the difference.

When we arrived on the Isla del Sol and I was confronted with a steep 30-minute walk on almost 4,000 meters with a weight of 13 kg on the back, I knew that I couldn't handle it. Fortunately, a local boy offered me to wear my bag for me. In this situation, Peter could have done little for me because he wore 20 kg himself, but under other circumstances (Matavanu!) He made my luggage easier, which helped.

will never be complacent

that should be a matter of course, but always pack the ten most important things and always tell someone about your plans - even if you go on a leaked hike.

Last year seven hikers died with helmets, wetsuits and climbing straps after a flood of falls in the Zion National Park. If unforeseen events can meet very experienced and well -prepared hikers, you can meet everyone, so give yourself the best chance.

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at the age of 44, Bill Bryson accompanied his handsome friend Stephen Katz to hike on the Appalachian Trail. In A Walk in the Woods, he tells of his experiences in the huge, confused forests that have been scared of reasonable people for three hundred years.

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