One of my bad habits on days when I’m not hiking is watching the gyrations of the stock market. Hey, it’s very interactive. I suspect after this week there will be lots of people thinking of walking off into the woods, and perhaps never returning.

Hiking is about as cheap as it gets, considering you really don’t need much more than a pair of comfy shoes, though backpacking, geocaching and other variants can chew through a lot of coin. Then there’s the issue of long drives to trailheads, which do not mix well with $4 a gallon gas.

I’m curious as to how the rest of y’all are weathering the current econo-turmoil and if it’s taking any toll on your hiking. Are you seeing more or less people on the trails?

Your contributions welcome, as always.