Two-Heel Drive

(There used to be a poll here asking people which wildlife they’d seen, but I took it down because it seemed to be causing system difficulties. I’m leaving the text intact because the questions generated interesting feedback).

I haven’t seen any bears and wolves (the latter of which I’d just as soon never see, truth be told. Wolves are too much like people).

I have seen one juvenile mountain lion — it had spots and a long tail, and was trotting across Calaveras Road one morning when I used to live up that way.

My favorite coyote encounter happened at Henry Coe State Park. I was hiking back to the park HQ in the rain and came upon a coyote out for a stroll. It did a big shake just like every wet dog does, sending water flying from its fur. I couldn’t have been more than 20 yards away.

My best skunk story didn’t happen to me; it happened to a guy I used to work with. He was walking on the Mercury News’ outdoor exercise path around dusk when he got too close to one without noticing. By the time the word “Skunk” made it to his brain, he’d already been sprayed. Turns out you don’t have to bathe in tomato juice, he says; there are other methods that work without buying gallons of V8 (here’s one that allegedly works).

I also used to work with a woman from Alaska who had no respect whatsoever for bald eagles — there are enough of them in some places up north that they’re considered a nuisance or pest.

(There used to be a poll here asking people how high they had hiked, but I took it down because it seemed to be causing system difficulties. I’m leaving the text intact because the questions generated interesting feedback).

My highest is California’s White Mountain, site of last year’s famed 4WheelBob wheelchair summit.

I know lots of you have been on sexy hikes to high peaks around the planet, so what how about cluing the rest of us in on your exploits?

Vote and comment on the adventure if the mood strikes.

(Don’t worry, the polls aren’t going to take over around here — it just seemed that yesterday’s poll on distance begged for a follow-up on elevation gain.)

Extra credit to those who list the most elevation gain they’ve ever experienced in one day.

Useful link: Outdoor Action’s Guide to High Altitude Acclimatization and Illnesses.

(There used to be a poll here asking people how far they preferred to hike, but I took it down because it seemed to be causing system difficulties. I’m leaving the text intact because the questions generated interesting feedback).

I’m conflicted on this one, because there are times when it seems like it’s too much trouble to suit up and drive to a trailhead for a hike of less than five miles, but there are tons of great little walks in the 2- to 3-mile range.

For awhile I figured it wasn’t really a hike unless I logged 12 or 14 miles. Then I started writing a column about hikes and being out there all day started feeling like work instead of recreation. And since most of my hikes include the time spent editing down photos and writing my weekly essays, hiking for seven hours and adding a few more to tell about the experience starts seeming like even more of a chore.

So I’m drifting back to preferring hikes in the 5- to 8-mile range, with the occasional butt-kicker thrown in there just to punish my lower extremities (because the good deed of allowing me to walk upright cannot go unpunished).

So anyway, click on your fave distance and explain yourself in the comments if the urge hits.

(Editor’s note: 30 people voted in the last poll .. which was better than 29, but still: humor me, play along and vote already. It’s just one click.)

(There used to be a poll here, but I took it down because it seemed to be causing system difficulties. I’m leaving the text intact because the questions generated interesting feedback).

I figured out how to add polls to the ol’ blog here. I know these are really just brain candy at best, unscientific at worst and a disgrace to the very concept of reliable opinion research (all the more reason to do it, since almost all opinions are woefully uninformed — present company excluded, naturally).

Thing about polls is, I look like a pathetic wretch with an audience consisting of his wife and mother-in-law if nobody votes in the damn things. So: do your duty and vote (Chicago-style not allowed — only one vote to a customer).

If your fave isn’t in the poll, add a suggestion in the comments.