In conjunction with an upcoming series of blog posts I have on thru-hiking, I am having another contest.
And the prize in this is a doozy!
It’s an autographed copy of Bill Walker’s book on his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.
It’s a great book.
If you enjoy reading a humorous and — at times — serious look at hiking the Appalachian Trail, this is for you. If you like good stories, this is for you. If you like adventures, this is for you.
This book made me laugh many times. And it really gave me a different view of the Appalachian Trail. It showed the human side and, well, it showed me what it’s like for someone who isn’t a “big time” hiker to give a go and finish the Appalachian Trail.
Over the next two weeks, I’ll be running a series of stories about people who have hiked or attempted the trail. In all, there are four stories on the people, one other as a preview and then I’ll wrap it up at the end with the winner of this contest.
That means, this contest will run until 12:01 a.m. Friday, October 28. The winner will be announced Friday, Oct. 28 in a post on this blog.
So what do you have to do?
It’s simple. All the details are below, but the short of it is this — I want a hiking story! (There are several other ways to earn extra entries, but you must do the first one before the others will count!)
So think deep about it. Decide your story. Enter soon!
The series of stories starts tomorrow, too. So check back to see the start and follow the series of stories!
The contest: Hiking stories.
How to win: In the comments section, give me your best hiking story. It doesn’t have to be major hikes. It could be a quarter-mile hike to find a geocache. Or a 25-mile hike to an amazing view. Just try and make it something in nature. Though I’m sure getting nearly attacked by a house cat on your way to the store would be a funny story, it’s not hiking!
The story can be serious or funny. Short or long. Just give us some details!
Other ways to enter: You have to first do the main contest entry. After doing that, you can earn additional entries by doing the following (a person can do each one, but only once each. So you can earn a total of five entries into the contest.):
- Like A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook (on the right side of the blog at the top of the page. If you have already liked the blog, let me know and I can give an entry that way, too).
- Write a post on your blog about this contest (make sure you let me know so I can check it out!)
- Tweet about this contest by copying and pasting the following (please copy this exactly… it will fit in a tweet):
@softball29 at A ‘lil HooHaa is having contest! Enter at https://hoohaa.com/?p=2491 ! #hiking #contest #skywalker #billwalker #appalachiantrail
What can you win? An autographed copy of Bill Walker’s book, “Close encounters on the Appalachian Trail”!
Who can enter: This contest is open to anyone. (Note, this is a larger package — so if an international person wins and there are any customs, you will be responsible for it. I don’t know if there will be or not. Shipping is on me).
How decided? Random draw.
Entry deadline is 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) Friday, October 28. Results will be announced in a blog post here at noon on October 28.
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!
My best hiking story I have filed in my head as of today is my hike to the upper emerald pool in Zion National Park. The reason this is my best hiking story is because it’s Zion is by far my most favorite place to hike in the country (as of yet).
The hike to the emerald pools isn’t a huge hike but you get so much bang for your hike! You get the two lower emerald pools, you get high desert, you get spectacular views and you get the beautiful finish of sitting by a gorgeous pool surrounded by sheer cliffs that looks like it was a scene pulled from a movie. But the real reason that the emerald pools hike is my best hike is because it’s one of the first “official” hikes I ever ventured out on and it totally changed my world. I was in college at St. George, UT and having grown up in Japan, other than hiking Mt. Fuji, I had never hit shoes on the dirt (so to speak). But after the emerald pools hike that I took with a couple of friends it was in my blood and I’ve had the itch ever since.
Excellent story, Jonna, and thanks for entering the contest. So far, you’re the only one!
I was 20 years old and I went with a group of friends to camp at and hike Mt Washington. My then-boyfriend had done the up-and-down hike every August for ten years so I assumed I was with the safest company! Boy was I wrong. I was under-trained and under-dressed. Our group struggled up the ascent until we broke the tree line and the temperature dropped drastically. It was raining and the wind was enough to knock my small frame off my feet several times. My supposedly water-proof jacket, was, well, not so water-proof. I was furious that all of my “What should I bring? What should I wear? How should I prepare?” questions over the past several months were ignored – and at that moment I thought I would die.
By the time we reached the summit, I was drenched from head to toe, dehydrated, and had mild hypothermia. Oh, and on the way up, Mother Nature had gifted me with a lovely monthly present – something about the stress and rapid elevation change did me in! – so that was lovely. (And by lovely I mean awful.) I refused to hike back down the mountain (was able to drive with a friend – not a big deal) and the then-boyfriend turned my refusal into a huge “You’re such a lazy ass” argument in front of our whole group. Then we got to stay in the same tent for another two nights! Ha, ha.
I had such a miserable time that I totally swore off camping and hiking for years – years! – afterward.
I’m thankful to say that ban has now been lifted 🙂
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The summer of 2002 I headed out to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. This was my second trip so I knew what it was all about. The hiking the friendships the ups and downs. The best part of the trip was when we came across a campsite with rocks that had been moved from who knows where to a circle around the fire pit. They scouts years ago had created couches and lazy boys out of massive stones. Sitting around an awesome fire after a 10+ mile day relaxing watching the stars and chatting about anything and everything. A night that will never be forgotten.
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The contest is officially closed.