I’ve given away lights too. That’s a critical one to bring because if you get hurt or lost, you may find yourself hiking in the dark.

Knives are heavy. When I go backpacking I usually bring a two inch key chain knife that I keep very sharp. Super light and does what I need.

I have read it helps if you need to cut your arm off because it’s stuck in a boulder.

For a decent day hike, I carry about 4 things. Could be 6 though for some hikes.

1. Water. Yes

2. Clothes — no. Only in cold or rain. Nice summer day, no extra clothes. Other seasons— a fleece and a rain jacket

3. Map. Yes . Phone and always a paper map. I’m old school and always want to navigate by paper in case phone dies.

4. Compass. No. If I’m going off trail I may bring a compass. I’ve never used a compass except for the fun of it in 40 years of hiking.

5. Food. No. Only if it’s an all day hike.

6. Headlamp. Yes. I have a headlamp and extra batteries that I never take out of my pack

7. First aid, no

8. Sunglasses and hat. Yes. If I’m outside doing anything, I have a sunglasses and a hat on

9. Firestarter or matches. No. Not for day hikes

10. Knife. No. Not for day hikes.

So I view it as the 4 to 5 essentials.

Kindness and generosity are in short supply here. I wonder if that’s just the internet or people are like this generally. This woman learned she doesn’t want this guy around her kids and moved on.

YTA. First time meeting her kids and you set off red flags about how you’ll treat them going forward. Mom had you on probation and you failed

Dances with wolves

I’ve hiked the canyon many times in the dark and the light. Agree it’s more interesting in the light but it’s spooky at night. There’s something to it, especially with moonlight.

It’s so easy for men. And it’s not even permanent most of the time

I’ve done north to south leaving at 5 pm before. It’s an easy trail to follow in the dark

Only way to do this is if You leave the rim at midnight

Stay with it. And embrace being slow.

In my mid 40s I developed sarcoidosis which scarred my lungs. I figured I just had to get the most out of what I had left.

I was not going to run 6 minute miles anymore, or even 9 minute miles, but I wasn’t going to sit on the couch. Having a positive attitude was the key. I’ve done a lot of really hard hikes over the last 10 years. I’m a lot slower but I’m also mentally stronger.

Go early

And most of the nightclubs and dayclubs are one company too

Vegas is built for the 40 plus crowd. You will absolutely fit in

You won’t get a poolside room anywhere without paying big $. But not really needed.

I think Vdara is a great strip hotel at a reasonable price. All suites. Beautiful quiet pool. No casino but attached to Cosmo and Bellagio through skywalks and shares its entryway with Aria.

Buy it regularly and let it ride. Throughly good times and bad. That simple

You probably didn’t have chafing problems because you’re in the UK in the Spring. America in the summer is a lot sweatier

Awesome. Once you’ve walked that far in a day it completely changes your perspective on walking distance.

Assuming you keep your cash in a money market fund

My second home is the greatest thing I ever purchased. But it’s not an asset

Changed my life. It got me to work less and led me to a huge group of friends.

It has also doubled in value since I bought it. I won’t give the number but it’s a beach house steps from the entrance to the beach in a wealthy northeast beach town. So it’s worth a lot.

But I don’t consider it an asset because I’d never sell it. In any foreseeable future I have that house. My wife would also never let me rent it for income.

I have no mortgage but it still costs me $50k a year in taxes, utilities and maintenance. Everything rusts and wears out at the beach. So I view it as a cash negative item, but well worth it.

I don’t think only at night. But I like to start before dawn, especially in the fall.

I’ll only list hikes I’ve done myself. Hardest day hikes I’ve done in the East:

1. Presidential traverse in White Mountain. 22 miles (ish). 4000 plus gain up to Mt Madison then pounding, rock hopping up and down over the rest. You gain and drop 1500 feet again and again. You think it’s all downhill at Washington but Monroe and Eisenhower hit you when you’re exhausted. The footing wears out the bottoms of your feet

2. Pemi Loop, White Mountains. 31 miles. You could also say this is the hardest in the east. I’ve done it twice but was in better shape both times for this one than Presidentials. Again it’s the footing that wears on you. The Stretch from the top of Lafayette to S. Twin Mountain really grinds you down. I did less than 2 miles per hour during that part.

3. Katahdin. I went up the Abol trail and down the Hunt trail. I think a harder hike is from the other side, across the knife edge. There was a 30 mile an hour wind and everything was covered in ice when I was up there so we didn’t risk the knife edge. This part of Maine is really worth a visit. I did a solo backpacking trip through the 100 mile wilderness that I loved.

4. Devils Path. I love hiking in NY but I didn’t love this hike. It was a cold dark rainy day in November and the gloom got to me. It’s a 24 mile scramble up and down six small mountains. Much harder than the elevation suggests

5. Burroughs Loop in the Catskills. Near Devils path. Less famous but I liked this hike a lot more. Better views. A loop hike. Just overall more fun even with a half mile road walk

6. My Sterling NC. 5500 foot mountain in Smokies. 4000 foot gain on the hike. And most importantly no road to the top. There may be better day hikes in the Smokies but I haven’t done them.

7. Mt Mitchell. Highest mountain in the east. We did it as a two day trip in winter but it would be a good day hike. 4000 foot gain. Road to the top was closed when I was there so we had the summit to ourselves.

I’ve also done Mt Washington in February which is a different beast. Winter in the Whites can kill you quick

Four Seasons is top 4 floors of MB. Very nice.

There’s a place called Doodletown in Harriman State Park in New York. Was a town in the early 1800s but swallowed by the forest. Stone foundations and walls are scattered about. Short hike to get there.

If I know the trail and it’s summer then only water and my phone.