This question has come up a few times lately. My ready answer was “because I can.” Eventually I had to give it some thought and decided that the primary reason I hike is for the camaraderie. Some of you who know my hiking habits will think its strange that a man who likes hiking solo does it for the camaraderie.Let me explain. Even when hiking alone you share a camaraderie with the strangers you meet on the trail. There is a sense of community that occurs because you are doing a similar thing far from others. It always cheers me up to spend a few minutes sharing notes on the trail with a stranger. We talk about distances, what we’ve seen or how much water we’ve got. We often admire each others gear.

More than that there is a feeling of community with the people who built the trail and the evidence of travel that others have left. I pick up others micro-litter without complaining and hope that others will pick up mine.

When I hike with companions I love to try out ideas and puzzle through hiking questions like “what is a switchback?” and non hiking ones like “how big an army is the right size.” Neal said to me in frustration on one hike: “Simon you think too much.” He still hikes with me and I still thinks too much.

I like the challenges and the beauty, the stillness and the wildlife. I like powering through pain and discomfort. I love gorp. But the thing I like most about hiking is sharing it with companions. I hike for the camaraderie.

Simon Rules for Hiking