Chocorua, Bluejeans, and sneakers

[Bigfoot]

On Saturday I decided to hike Chocorua (with all the hiking I have done I had never been on Chocorua)via the Champney Falls trail. I hit the trail at 9am. It was cold.

The trail was good until I hit the switchbacks. There was ice on everything. I carefully chose the location for each step and moved along without any trouble.

As I ventured out into the open ledges I encountered some wind. Since the sun was so strong it was quite comfortable. I made good time. I reached the summit by 11:30.

New Hampshire promised to wave to me from Sandwich. No matter how many times I waved, no one waved back. Thanks buddy.

It was time to head down and now it started. I knew this was a popular trail and mountain. I cannot remember ever seeing so many bluejeans and sneakers on a trail. Packs so small they could only hold lunch or no packs at all. One "Dude" had his IPOD stuck in his ears and said a very loud Gracias as I let him have the right-of-way. I think I could hear him better than he could hear himself.

I guess this is what you find in tourist season on popular trails. Anyone know what the daily limit is? Finally about 1/4 mile from the car a group of about 25 trying to out do each other by making more noise than the next passed by. Sneakers and bluejeans. It was now about 1:30. I hope they were not headed to the top.

Considering all the aforementioned, Chocorua provided beautiful panoramic views. The waterfalls on the way up were very nice and the trail was well maintained. Hiking alone proved to be the perfect antidote and gave this hike some balance.

 

[Tom Rankin]

I guess this is what you find in tourist season on popular trails. Anyone know what the daily limit is? Finally about 1/4 mile from the car a group of about 25 trying to out do each other by making more noise than the next passed by. Sneakers and bluejeans. It was now about 1:30. I hope they were not headed to the top.

Nice report.

I doubt if the blue jeans/sneakers/ill-prepared clan will ever disappear from the hills.

However, I have heard that the NY/NJ Trail Conference has set up a table at popular trail heads on weekends. Their mission is to educate people about trail conditions, hike times, and recommended gear. They can not refuse anyone permission to hike of course, but the local ranger recently said that every time they are at the trail head, they have not had any call outs from 'lost' hikers. And 0 calls is apparently a rare thing in that area.

 

[cooperhill]

Good stuff. Glad you finally made it to Chocorua. It is one of my favorites.

I was on Piper doing trail maintenance and pretty much saw a bunch of the same (people unprepared for cold and ice).

 

[dr_wu002]

Good stuff. Glad you finally made it to Chocorua. It is one of my favorites.

I was on Piper doing trail maintenance and pretty much saw a bunch of the same (people unprepared for cold and ice).

Honestly, I don't think it's a big deal... maybe people want to tough it out or don't care as much about comfort. Who cares? I'm willing to bet that people in "proper hiking attire" are just as likely, if not more likely, to need a rescue as the jeans-and-sneakers crowd that we look down on so much. What'd people hike with 20-30-40-100 years ago? Polyprene? Doubt it. Also, Chocoura is a rinky-dink little mountain, as long as you don't fall off a ledge, it's pretty hard to die up there...

Tired of the complaining about jeans and sneakers. Who cares.

-Dr. Wu

 

[DougPaul]

I guess this is what you find in tourist season on popular trails. Anyone know what the daily limit is? Finally about 1/4 mile from the car a group of about 25 trying to out do each other by making more noise than the next passed by. Sneakers and bluejeans. It was now about 1:30. I hope they were not headed to the top.

Chocorua is a not-too-difficult popular peak located close to large population centers. Plenty of people don't realize that winter conditions may prevail in the mountains when it is warm and green down below.

Add in all the usual beginner behaviors that are considered to be dangerous mistakes by experienced hikers/mountaineers.

Nothing new...

Doug

 

[The Hikers]

We tossed in a quick (2 -1/2 hour) circuit of Welch and Dickie Saturday afternoon after a conference in Waterville Valley. There were busses and cars filling the lot, but, in spite of the numbers of hikers, we really enjoyed the views. It's kinda fun to fly by the sneaker and jeans crews as they are gasping up the steeper parts, anyway.
We did see an Indian couple gingerly creeping down the steep bare granite slopes, and we understand that some of their friends were sent back up to fetch them.

 

[ferrisjrf]

I was wearing a pair of "dress pants" and sneakers (us elite athletes call em trail runners, but they look eerily similar to "sneakers" to me) all weekend. I could tell by the looks I was getting that some folks thought I was an unprepared goofy tourist dude...but then I ran by em.

There's some saying about books and covers that I'm trying to think of here.

Jason

 

[dr_wu002]

I was wearing a pair of "dress pants" and sneakers (us elite athletes call em trail runners, but they look eerily similar to "sneakers" to me) all weekend. I could tell by the looks I was getting that some folks thought I was an unprepared goofy tourist dude...but then I ran by em.

Yet, I was the one who came prepared with the alcohol!!

-Dr. Wu

 

[erugs]

Hey, Bigfoot. I almost thought of hitting that trail myself, but my car wouldn't get off to head in that direction. I saw a few of the jeans/sneakers crowd on the Franconia Ridge loop and the only time it concerned me was on the way out the Falling Waters trail when it was getting late and a man hiking (seemingly) solo wearing jeans where the wet line had reached half way up his calf. My concern was that he might not have a flashlight. I waited for him to catch up to me so I could ask him if he did. He did. But he was part of a group that didn't all have lights and a buddy who had made it down with other friends a bit earlier was on his way back up to meet these people so he could provide additional lighting. It was 6:45 before they were to their cars.

Another young couple, also in damp-bottomed jeans, asked me if the summit was close. We chatted a little and they decided to go on a bit but admitted they had no lights. I said I had left there about an hour ago and left the math to themselves. Before too much time passed they bounded down the trail (in comparison to my representation of an old dog) and thanked me.

 

[sierra]

If the blue jean and sneaker people stopped hiking, think of all the threads you wouldnt have to participate in, I like them, makes me realize how far Ive come.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Next time you see the jeans & sneakers ("tourist") crowd, be sure to thank them for coming to NH and contributing to the local economy.

Tim

 

[Bigfoot]

It is actually good they are out there. As long as they return safetly to their car. I hope they get as much enjoyment as I do being on a trail or sitting on a mountain top. I would never suggest they be denied the very sensuous experience hiking: the sounds, smells, the things to see, feeling the temperature change. Perhaps one or two will get hooked and become a regular.

The trail was tough Saturday. Up in the switchbacks there was lots of ice and more than one person asked, with concern, how much more ice was ahead. Oh what an adventure.

 

[marty]

The jeans and sneaker crowd must have all gone to the Patriots Game in Foxboro, MA yesterday. There were many very cold and shivering folks there. The hand dryers in the bathrooms were working overtime, as many were using them to dry off their jackets, heans, sneakers, gloves and whatever.

My wife and I dressed right and stayed very warm, except for our hands, until we popped in the hand warmers. Sometimes being a winter hiker comes in handy for other things...

 

[Stan]

Tired of the complaining about jeans and sneakers. Who cares

Yet, I was the one who came prepared with the alcohol!!

I'm with Dr. Wu on both felonies.

A few of my early 4000 footers were in jeans and sneakers ... 'til I moved up to Bass walkers ... Finally, I realized I was "peakbagging" and decided it was a good idea to be better prepared and to take better care of my feet.

As far as crowds of any kind, no matter where I travel there are often crowds at the popular places ... the popular places are popular because they offer attractions that attract crowds ... duhhh ... I have also found that it is very easy to avoid crowds in or near the same places just by timing or a variation in your trails, or non trails.

So, my whine is about all the needless whining.

 

[bjc]

We hiked Chocorua on Thursday 10/8 and only saw 3 or 4 small groups of hikers the entire day. I've also been there in large crowds on weekends.

It's a great little hike either way, but it's all about the timing.

 

[--M.]

It's just the beautiful diversity of life we find here.

Besides, every jeans-'n'-sneakers SAR is one in our favor when we get rescued with some actual gear on our backs! A SAR is a SAR and a day without one is a winner, no?

"Peace and love, peace and love" --Ringo

 

[DougPaul]

Besides, every jeans-'n'-sneakers SAR is one in our favor when we get rescued with some actual gear on our backs! A SAR is a SAR and a day without one is a winner, no?

Another view is that they help run up SAR costs and give the authorities incentive to fine victims to recover costs...

(Actually, I don't know off hand if the average SAR costs per hiker are higher for those wearing bluejeans and sneakers than for those wearing better gear.)

But, of course, everybody has to start somewhere and we were all beginners once too. I would hazard a guess that most of us have worn jeans and/or sneakers on the trail once or twice upon a time.

Doug

 

[--M.]

Yes, of course, just kidding.

I've always assumed, of course, that my really cool gear would save me from my bad decisions. I find now that it was really my jeans! Nurture, my ass!

 

[dr_wu002]

But, of course, everybody has to start somewhere and we were all beginners once too. I would hazard a guess that most of us have worn jeans and/or sneakers on the trail once or twice upon a time.

I don't know that you can call anyone in jeans and sneakers a beginner.... some people just might not care but hike a lot (Chocoura is a little peak -- pretty easy to get out if conditions get bad). JF mentioned that he was wearing dress pants and sneakers (I saw him!) on the hike last weekend and we were both off trail, in ravines and up slides, 'whackin all over the place in snow and the cold and we were both dressed light, in sneakers and "inappropriate" pants, at least by this boards standards... hardly call either of us "beginners"

-Dr. Wu

 

[mookie]

hardly call either of us "beginners"

-Dr. Wu

May call you lots of other things, but never "beginners"