On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 14:56:01 -0500, Nancy Young
> scribbled some thoughts:


>Steve Calvin wrote:
>
>> Actually, it's not really all that difficult to get "turned around" in
>> most stands of timber, especially if it's very thick. That's why I
>> bought a good GPS and always carry spare/fresh batteries. I haven't
>> *had* to rely on it yet but it's nice to know I have it. (with waypoints
>> marked of course)
>
>Man, one time I missed a marker on Mt. Washington. No trees, just
>rock piles you're supposed to follow. We were hiking down and
>wound up on the road above treeline. (bad words deleted) Had to
>hike back up to the last marker (I know they have a name). Bad

Cairn?

cairn \"karn, "kern\ noun [ME (Sc) carne, fr. ScGael carn;
akin to OIr & W carn cairn] (15c)
: a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark
cairned \"karnd, "kernd\ adjective

(C)1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster,
Incorporated. All rights reserved.


>enough we had miles to go to the bottom, I sure didn't need the
>extra mile/whatever. But at least I knew, head down. Little
>different in the forest. Still, I'd just read the list of names
>of people who'd died hiking on the mountain due to sudden bad
>weather, and sure enough, it got a little shaky for a while.
>

Ooooh. Mt. Weather, only for the really brave or crazy.

Be prepared for the worst, hope for the best and STILL
prepare for the worst. If I were to thru-hike the AT, I
think I'd steer clear of it, unless it was "my time".

>I also once got completely turned around in a state park. How
>embarrassing is that. It was getting dark, that was scary.
>Where's a park ranger when you need them? (laugh) I coulda
>used a good Mounty.
>
>nancy


Thick woods, no landmarks and you can get lost, especially
in the south.

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