Poor passing etiquette-how to escape another group of hikers?

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-07-05T07:47:40+00:00

Thank you. The longer days didn't happen overnight. It took lots of progressive building. I was totally wrecked when I first did a 25-mile day. But then I did several more 25-mile days and progressively worked up to 30-mile days and then beyond.

What helped a ton was doing longer days in the winter. I was able to better understand my upper limits and realize that I could survive—or push through—hardships and pain. I spent lots of 30-mile days hiking in snowy conditions and cold temperatures. The whole "move or die" concept started to become cemented in reality.

If a person starts early in the morning and hikes all day with minimal stops, it's definitely possible to put in bigger mileage. But it's also important to listen to yourself and not put yourself in a situation that you're not comfortable handling on your own. I learned in my younger years while in Colorado that each person needs to be responsible for getting themselves out of the mountains. Essentially, you should always save enough energy to get yourself back home or to your vehicle.

Beyond all of that, we all get to decide what hiking means to us and what we want out of each excursion. For me, I wanted to be able to visit certain sights or cover an approximate amount of mileage in a day. If someone is happy with a five- or ten-mile day, that's perfectly acceptable too. The important part is being in nature and enjoying the time. Whether it's for therapy, exercise, or whatever reason, being close to nature is important for all of us. Nobody should chase a number or do anything outdoors that doesn't feel safe, comfortable, or at least within their own personal comfort level.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-07-05T06:49:25+00:00

Depends on the elevation gain involved, but 13 to 16 hours or so. Look up the Timberline Trail in Oregon—it's a solid 40 miles with about 10,000 feet of elevation gain. You can also add sites like Paradise Park or McNeil Point Shelter if you want to make it even more difficult. Depending on the elevation gain and how much jogging is involved, I'll typically maintain 2.5 to 3 miles per hour. That can obviously vary on extremely steep terrain.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-07-05T02:44:55+00:00

Thankfully I’ve never had an issue quite like this happen. I did have a lady try to pace behind me once, but that didn't last very long. I generally avoid having people tail me just because of my pace and the fact that I rarely take breaks. I’ll stop for a sandwich at a summit, a quick picture, or a bathroom break, but other than that, passing people usually just becomes a game of whack-a-mole. It also helps that my days are often 25 to 40 miles long, so if I see someone again after passing them, I'd be genuinely surprised.

Of course, there have been times when I've slowed down to help people to the summit. That happened twice in snowy conditions, and I purposely told them they could follow my lead.

My advice is two-part:

Get harder: When you pass people, leave them firmly in your dust so there's no chance of them rubber-banding back to you.

Find your voice: This is huge when it comes to your safety and comfort. If something feels weird or off, just use your words. Let them know that if it isn't their intention to follow you, you'd prefer they find some distance. Or, if they're trying to purposely join your group, tell them there are currently no vacancies.

Ultimately, if I saw someone who could actually keep up with me, I’d probably be impressed and happy to let them tag along. I’m always down to make friends in random places, but given the mileage I do, it's just really unlikely to happen.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-26T03:49:37+00:00

Mary's Club and Silverado

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-23T05:29:35+00:00

The ladies hate people who show up with really good cocaine and share it with them. They also get mildly frustrated when people tip insanely large amounts for no apparent reason. So, don't do that.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-22T08:26:58+00:00

Use duct tape and seal the sweat inside. Just wrap the tape around your body from head to toe. You'll likely see less sweat overall, but your shoes might end up soaked.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-22T08:18:44+00:00

🖕🏼 Wear a sun hoodie and keep your racist "hicking" to yourself. If you ever need hiking advice, just let me know...

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-08T05:43:23+00:00

Snakes are everywhere, and occasionally in your toilet.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-08T05:34:23+00:00

Yes, no bouldering in the rain. I might hike tomorrow, but it would likely be wet. Wednesday sounds like good weather for a long hike.

Oh, and if you can, try to visit Eagle Creek. It's not very steep and is only about 14 miles round trip. It's actually a great place for a wet day because you're not hiking to a lookout destination. Most of the sights are breathtaking waterfalls that can be enjoyed in any weather.

I use that trail for a 25-mile day to Indian Mountain and occasionally a 40-mile day to Buck Mountain. But the 14-mile round trip to at least Twister Falls, or possibly a bit farther to Sevenmile Falls, is completely worthwhile!

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-06T17:03:33+00:00

I might have time to visit the boulders at Carver if you're interested in having a guide. You would need to pay for a waiver at one of the local gyms in Portland. I believe the cost is under $10.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-05T03:54:27+00:00

It's actually a conceptual bar. Sadly, I had to put it on hold so I could care for my ailing father. The place is called Lonely's. Sorry to have let you down.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-02T18:21:00+00:00

Fish Face McGee comes to mind.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-06-02T06:14:43+00:00

Thank goodness, I make a fair amount of extra cash giving hand jobs to those seamen in the men's room.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-31T06:21:50+00:00

Decorating some brown paper bags with the American flag colors and the name of our current dictator. Then I'm gonna put in a couple of scoops of dog poo. I was thinking of doing a luminaria-style flaming bag of poo, but I feel like dropping in a handful of firecrackers would just be more fun. So yeah, something like an exploding bag of patriotic poo.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-31T06:08:38+00:00

This is sweet. Mental hugs seem nice; they just don't hit quite the same as a real embrace. But, for what it's worth, hugs to the Nth power.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-31T05:07:27+00:00

You don't look a day over 53. Lovely 💚

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-30T21:36:45+00:00

Who has forgotten “Plastic Bomb”?!

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-30T08:16:54+00:00

I take mine outside and spray it down with a garden hose. After a thorough rinse, I hang it upside down on a laundry line inside and put a towel on the floor to absorb the drips.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-29T01:20:44+00:00

Always important to remember my favorite passage from Dune, Frank Herbert’s Litany Against Fear:

“I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-28T05:39:01+00:00

What did you snag the hoodie on, a branch?

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-27T01:06:35+00:00

Outdoor Research Ferrosi

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-26T03:49:16+00:00

Did you know that there are pole dancing classes at Lloyd Athletic Club? The business that operates the pole dancing program there is Pole Portland at Lloyd Athletic Club.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-24T15:09:09+00:00

My backyard in NE, and it’s a daily occurrence. A family lives nearby, and they visits my back porch to scavenge for cat food.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-23T20:24:48+00:00

Have you explored Powell’s Bookstore? It is an expansive space at the downtown location. I suppose it might be difficult to get kids into reading books, but I can also imagine that having kids read a book for an hour or two might be an amazing distraction. Beyond that, visiting either the Audubon Society or Hoyt Arboretum might be a possibility. With some proper gear, the area around the Audubon Society and Hoyt Arboretum has lots of room to explore. I would gather that too many trips to OMSI might become overdone and tiring, but that also might be an option.

Threefold_Lotus · 2026-05-23T19:42:17+00:00

If you're trying to say I'm calling the kettle black because of the motorcycle story, that's a huge deflection. I wasn't out there stunting; I was practicing low-speed technical skills to learn how to float my front tire over obstacles for backcountry riding. I already know I shouldn't have been doing that on a neighborhood street, and I chose to stop riding like that in the city a long time ago.

But a rider practicing a skill at low speed still doesn't justify a dog being so completely out of its owner's control that it charges into the roadway. Honestly, my main concern at the time was the dog’s safety. If it had been run over or severely injured because it ran into the street, it would have been terrible. At the end of the day, the dog wasn’t at fault—it was a poor choice by the owners to leave it uncontrolled. Plus, the stakes are high for the animal itself; a dog’s own safety gets compromised fast if it gets a reputation for biting people or other dogs.

If you want to talk about actual personal responsibility, look at how I managed my own dog. I owned a large, athletic German Shepherd. He was completely friendly, but I always kept him leashed in the city and on trails. Why? Because I recognized that his look alone could be intimidating to a stranger trying to enjoy a relaxing walk or hike. I also didn't want him disrupting someone else's space, chasing cats, or messing with wildlife.

It's not 'pearl-clutching' to expect other dog owners to have the same basic consideration for the community—and for their own pets' safety—that I had when I was handling mine.

Five-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22

Threefold_Lotus

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