Re: Backcountry Meetings

Great points, Bill. The vast majority of my encounters in the backcountry have been positive. I make a point of greeting everyone I meet on the trail with a hello and a smile. It's usually returned, and sometimes leads to an interesting conversation. Occasionally I'll cross paths with a group who ignores my greeting and just keeps moving, eyes firmly on the ground. I feel sad for them -- clearly they're more habituated to sidewalks than footpaths. But I've never had a negative reaction.

Here in New England, especially at this time of year, you can pretty much count on other hikers to share the latest Red Sox score. I've been the recipient or source of scores and game recaps on the Vermont's Long Trail, atop New Hampshires Franconia Ridge, and just two weeks ago I spent a couple nights backpacking in Maine's Baxter State Park while the Red Sox were playing in the ALCS. On both Saturday and Sunday we met other hikers who were happy to fill us in on the details of the games.

Last summer we were backpacking in the Uintas and planned to camp by a pond in a high basin. There was one other party camped by the pond, and soon after we arrived one of them came over to introduce himself. As he drew near, we both burst out laughing. It turned out to be a business associate -- one of only a handful of people I know in Utah. He and his wife were celebrating their anniversary, but were generous enough to invite us to their campsite to share in their anniversary desert.

So you never know who you'll meet out there. It's a small, small -- and mostly friendly -- world.