What are your Hiking Patterns?

[SherpaKroto]

The "double counting 4K's" thread, and last weekend on Mt Adams had me thinking about lists, hiking patterns, etc. I keep a lot of statistics on my hikes (although nothing like MikeP!). Those who know me know I'm anal.

I took out one of my spreadsheets and I looked back at each month's tally. In 1999 I created it from a bunch of hand written notes that I kept in my 1972 AMC White Mountain Guide and have maintained it since. I found that I have a weird "summit" pattern (though anyone who hikes a lot might have similar patterns for April and November). April is easily explained by a lot of Tuck's skiing when I was young. October had me a bit stumped - at first. My wedding anniversary falls in October, so my vacations are typically non-hiking. I also pushed real hard to finish my NEHH in 2003 and quite a few of the later ones fell in October.

Here is a breakdown of those summits that I can be near 100% certain on dates. I have another dozen or so repeats, but can't be completely sure (like Washington in April) when, so I omitted them from the monthly breakdown (all would be in summer months). What I found ("unique" summits in parentheses):

NE4K _____ NEHH/111er
Jan 14 (13) 19 (18)
Feb 12 (12) 12 (12)
Mar 15 (14) 15 (14)
Apr 02 (02) 02 (02)
May 08 (07) 17 (14)
Jun 29 (21) 31 (22)
Jul 36 (22) 50 (35)
Aug 36 (21) 45 (30)
Sep 22 (20) 30 (28)
Oct 03 (03) 13 (13)
Nov 07 (07) 09 (09)
Dec 06 (06) 06 (06)
TOTAL 190 (148) 249 (203)
I certainly have no illusions of grandeur: it pales in comparison to many VFTT'ers. . We all know of MANY here that have done WAY more summits than any of us EVER will. I'm just anal, and like to look at this stuff. I guess it does explain why my knees are shot

I also looked at which summits I had climbed in the most different months. Adams came out first at 8 (I need April, October, November and December). Washington was next at 7. Jefferson and Eisenhower tied at 6. It would be nice to be able to climb Adams in all 12 months (a recent personal goal) before I hang them up. It boggles my mind when I read about those who've done all of them in every month.

So, what does your hiking pattern look like? Does anyone else keep tallies like this? Does anyone else care? I'm interested in hearing from all who keep this kind of stuff.

EDIT: A funny thought just passed through me head: I wonder if I've been thinking about this stuff because I just turned 50? Ther might be something to that

 

[sapblatt]

Wow

SK -
that seems like a lot to me...I think your Adams goal is admirable and you have already done three of the hardest months on that peak! I am going to look at my numbers tonight...they are much lower but there are certainly peaks and valleys!
No need to hang your boots up...if they could fix the bionic man we can certainly get you new knees!

 

[Gris]

I KNEW it! Sherp IS a "List-aholic!"

 

[dr_wu002]

NE4K _____ NEHH/111er
Jan 14 (13) 19 (18)
Feb 12 (12) 12 (12)
Mar 15 (14) 15 (14)
Apr 02 (02) 02 (02)
May 08 (07) 17 (14)
Jun 29 (21) 31 (22)
Jul 36 (22) 50 (35)
Aug 36 (21) 45 (30)
Sep 22 (20) 30 (28)
Oct 03 (03) 13 (13)
Nov 07 (07) 09 (09)
Dec 06 (06) 06 (06)
TOTAL 190 (148) 249 (203)

OMG. Sherpa, I'm hurrying on those lists, don't worry. I'll have the Wu-Lists to you in a month, hope you can hold out. From the looks of it above, things don't look good.

You can't just crap Wu-icity out into a box -- you've got to finesse it!

And subsequently others are "post-a-holics"

OMG. AFKA_Bob is that you!? What did Darren do to your brain!?!?

-Dr. Wu

 

[Bjarni]

I turned 50 three years ago. Unlike yourself, I've never written any of my trips down since I did the NH 4Ks in the 60's. Consequently, my mind is filled with half accurate memories of routes taken, weather endured, and peaks climbed that all kind of swirl around in a hazy, satisfying mess.

This is the kind of behavior that could lead to an atrophying brain, so I compensate by doing crossword puzzles and reading like a fiend. But patterns? No, I just know that I go to New Hampshire a few times a year and do solo hikes that I mostly forget by the time my 6 hour drive home is done. But I definitely enjoy myself, I think.

 

[Gris]

And subsequently others are "post-a-holics"

YIKES, I've been found out!

"Post-A-Holism a/k/a "Desk-Jockey-Ism" inversely related to number of hikes!

 

[THORUTON]

Never hang them up , I didn't walk due to an accident for 18 months and 3 surgeries and a replacement hip later and I am able to hike again , just took a little while to build myself back into shape

 

[sapblatt]

"Post-A-Holism a/k/a "Desk-Jockey-Ism" inversely related to number of hikes!

Gris - Sadly, that statement rings way to true!

 

[Mike P.]

me lists on excel, nnnoooo

In NH
tracking 48 for all four seasons, all done in two different, 23-25 in three different & about 1/4 done in all four, oddly have not done all 48 in any one season yet & Fall Summer & Spring are very close; 35 in both spring & fall, 37 in summer not counting duplicates in each season, with duplicates it;s 50 in Spring & 48 in Summer & fall as of today.
Don't get to ADK's as much but I've got those & Catskill list too

Have top 10 for each months list, April & December are last two, one for weather & holiday's other for family reasons. October is one of the higher ones, a trip to NC hitting Mitchell & Craig & several birthday hikes for my B-Day helped. July & August are top 2 a European trip helping & if I get everwhere I want to in TN this July, top 10 average will be higher than 6288.

Keep track of new peaks reached each year as a way to visit ADK's & NH under 4K's. Solo list, all peaks over 4k, a paltry 231 when compared to Ed's 2001+ top 22 for each year & averages for each year of top 10 & 22 (Mt. Elevation) also cut data by state & number of times.

Monadnock is top of the most times list followed by Bear in CT, Greylock is at 11 same as Lincoln at the most of the 4K's followed by Washington & Lafayette at 10, Last time this came up Dave mentioned he has no idea how many Moosilauke trips he has but guessimates I believe over 200 thansk to the DOC. If Ed has done the 111 evenly he'd be over 18X for the 111 (assumming through the time he did it averaged 111 peaks. not the current 113 or the prior 109 back when NH had 46.

Greylock I've been on all but August saving for doing with kids
Monadnock & Bear close behind, Lincoln i think is most in NH although 4 May trips & 2 in September. Have not done loop in 4th quarter planning on doing this year.

How did all this insanity get started? Many years ago I had taken basic & 2nd level Excel classes. Did not have any current work project so in order to keep skills I needed some type of data set to practice graphs & formulas. Hiking was obession at the time & still is. (a couple of years earlier & I'd have every Volleyball stat of every game I've ever played )

Been keeping tabs the last 2+ years on working out too. Miles per week, month , average, miles walking/jogging/hiking/treadmill/biking with comparisons for each month & week & compared to prior year, (by month & week)

Some people will do anything to take up time so they don't become real handy with power tools....

The season list:

Name Order Elev. Spring Summer Fall Winter
Wash 1 6288 1 5 4
Adams 12 5798 1 1 1 1
Jefferson 11 5716 2 2
Monroe 10 5372 4 4
Madison 13 5366 1 1 1
Lafay 22 5260 5 1 2 2
Lincoln 4 5089 6 1 2 2
S Twin 16 4902 2 2 2 1
C Dome 39 4832 1 2
Moose 14 4802 1 1
Ike 9 4761 1 2 1 1
N Twin 17 4761 1 1 2
Carrigain 28 4700 1 1
Bond 20 4698 1 1
M Carter 43 4610 1 1 1
W Bond 19 4540 1 1
Garfield 15 4500 1 1 1 1
Liberty 3 4459 3 1 1 2
S Carter 40 4430 1 2 1
Wcat A 45 4422 1 1
N Hanck 25 4420 1 1 1
S Kinsn 33 4358 1 1 1
Field 6 4340 2 1 1 1
Osceola 23 4340 1 1 1 1
Flume 2 4328 1 1 1 1
S Hanck 26 4319 1 1 1
Pierce 8 4310 1 2 1 2
N Kinsn 32 4293 1 1 1
Willey 41 4285 1 1
Bondcliff 21 4265 2 1
Zealand 29 4260 2 1
N Trip 37 4180 1 1
Cabot 47 4172 1 1
E Oscola 24 4156 1 2
M Trip 38 4140 1 1
Cannon 5 4100 1 1
Wcat D/E 46 4062 1 1
Hale 30 4054 1 1 1
Jackson 27 4052 1 1 1
Tom 7 4051 1 1 1
Moriah 48 4049 1 1 1
Passa 35 4043 1 1
O Head 36 4025 1 1
Ghead 18 4024 1 1 1
Whiface 34 4020 1 1
Waumbek 42 4006 1 1
Isolation 44 4005 1 1
Tecums 31 4003 1 0 1

Oder is how I did them the 1st time, hopefully thisprints like it looks on my screen as I type it.

 

[Mike P.]

Lost all formatting, oh well, doesn't really matter

 

[MattC]

Never hang them up , I didn't walk due to an accident for 18 months and 3 surgeries and a replacement hip later and I am able to hike again , just took a little while to build myself back into shape

That rocks. Keep on walkin.'


As for the thread topic, I too have starting keeping track, albeit only for the Catskills. I'm pretty new to all this stuff-I had never heard the word "peakbagger" until I starting using this site last fall. Since last August, I've hit all of the Catskill 35 at least once, 21 in winter. Monthwise it looks like:

August 6 (6)
September 9 (9)
October 13 (13)
November 8 (6)
December 1 (0)
January 6 (0)
February 13 (0)
March 3 (1)
April 3
May 0 so far

I used SherpaK's system where the peaks in () are "unique" or first visits.
This is only for 3500'ers. I'd estimate another lesser peak or two per month, plus assorted Gunks walks. Obviously I can't really look for "patterns" in less than a year or frequent hiking, but I will say that so far April has probably been my least favorite month. Which is to say that hiking is slightly less unbelieveably fun in April.

It also seems that overall the folks on this site have been out much less in the spring than the fall and winter. This is just judging from the # of Trip Reports. Basically I think the only thing that has affected my hiking frequency so far other than weather was the late fall rifle hunting season, in which I've avoided the Catskills and hiked a lot in the Gunks. I don't plan on moving or getting married any time soon, so it'll be interesting to see if any trends develop. I hope to get the ADKs and to a lesser extent New England in the coming months and years. I'm sure the seasons and weather will affect my driving patterns.

Matt

 

[SherpaKroto]

mcorsar: by "unique" I meant of "x" number of summits were on different mountains. So there could be 2 or more summits of the same peak covered in one month, but it would only be counted once in .

I'm glad that Miek P helped this thread out by coming out of the closet with his stats. I hope more of you will chime in, then we'll have a support group

FWIW, I have no intention on hanging them up any time soon. I was just commenting that I'll be psyched when I look up at Mt Adams (or any other peak) knowing I've climbed it in every month of the year. Small potatoes for sure, but it will make me feel good.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

My hiking pattern on the NH4s has been similar to Sherpa K's, with April, May, and November my weakest months, probably for similar reasons in April and May, which has been lots of time skiing Tucks; not sure why I have been such a hiking wimp in November.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

So, what does your hiking pattern look like? Does anyone else keep tallies like this? Does anyone else care? I'm interested in hearing from all who keep this kind of stuff.

I'm not nerdy, and I don't care, but I figure that us old guys have to stick together, so I went to my old lists and counted by hand. I only have the ADK46 and NH peaks there, so I have this:

ADK46 NH48
Jan 7 6
Feb 5 6
Mar 50 5
Apr 0
May 23
June 30 1
July 26
Aug 68
Sept 40 1
Oct 39
Nov 10
Dec 1

I only have successful climbs here. Most of my trips are solo, and my turnaround times are conservative. I have a lot of winter trips where I turned back without getting a peak.

It might look weird that I'm have very little in Jan/Feb, then it jumps in Mar. This is due to XC racing, and the season ending in Feb. April has nothing. After skiing every weekend in Dec, Jan, Feb, then climbing every weekend in Mar, I kind of have to stay home a bit... You know.. kind of reverse squaters rights. If I'm gone too long, I loose the house. I didn't ski this winter, and did all my hiking in NH, so my jan/feb numbers there are higher than 15 years of those months in the adirondacks.

The past 8 or so years I've done almose no hiking in the summer, due to trailwork (15 weekends a year), so if my patterns would be mapped over years, it would be quite different.


Happy Sherpa?

 

[MattC]

mcorsar: by "unique" I meant of "x" number of summits were on different mountains. So there could be 2 or more summits of the same peak covered in one month, but it would only be counted once in .

Doh! Sorry, I'm not sure why I misinterpreted that in your original post.

 

[Mr. X]

Just wanted to take this moment to remind everyone that I don't "do" lists...

 

[Double Bow]

WOW!!! I knew that some people had a lot of extra time in their day but...

 

[SherpaKroto]

Happy Sherpa?

I try to always be happy Sometimes it works! We have to get you out in April! I need Adams in April...

 

[Eric Savage]

I'll confess. I also have an Excel spreadsheet going (but I'll spare the details).

Being a fair weather, May 15- Oct 15 hiker for many years and in college/grad school out of state, June, July and August are clearly the most numerous although July started falling behind when I started a six-days-a week summer job. October was next due to Fall Break.
January, April and December were the last to register a 4K climb. December remains light due to the holiday season and April as the rest period after winter.

Interestingly, my first four-season peak was my last summer peak: Garfield!

 

[ken]

i just kept the list the first time (with the dates) - after i finished the lists, i stopped keeping track - although i can always remember how many times i have been up each mountain, i don't always know the date (but i do remember what months).
the "mission" is over - now it is just for fun... but most of my hikes now are to help fill someone else's list.