Xterraman03053 Interview

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How old were you when you first went hiking and who took you? How did it turn out?

My first actual hike was in the seventh grade on a day long field trip with my classmates. I remember being very disappointed that we did not encounter any lions, tigers and bears.

What draws you to hiking and the greater outdoors in general?

Having a hectic white collar job drives me to want to spend time outside in the beautiful state of New Hampshire.

To date, what is the hardest outdoor adventure you've had to tackle, and why?

I attempted rock climbing years ago. I wasn't very successsful as I was working against my own body weight and dealing with my displeasure of heights. Looking back I am proud to write that I at least tried it.

What is your favorite survival tip?

I never go hiking alone.

What is your favorite trail snack?

I try never to leave home without a fresh banana in my backpack.

What is your favorite national park or forest, and why?

My favorite national forest is the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Enough said.

What is your favorite outdoor retail shop and why?

The answer without question is LL Bean. You have to appreciate their awesome merchandise return policy.

What is your dream international adventure and why?

Someday I would like to visit the outback in Australia.

Which of these do you use to navigate: compass, GPS, USGS topo map, trail map?

Old fashioned trail map.

What other outdoor activities do you like to do besides hiking?

I recently got back into running. I log about 12 miles per week. I find it to be very therapeutic.