So what are the qualities I am looking for in a hiking partner?

Loves to hike for hours and hours.

Good conversationalist on any topic.

Plays cribbage or other card games.

Can make a campfire with wet wood.

No snoring or farting in the tent please!

Can tell jokes or riddles and will laugh at mine.

Can eat oatmeal every day for 14+ days.


I hiked the JMT with a programmer from Intel two years ago. I really enjoyed hiking with him, and we had lots of fun on the trail and around the campfire at night. But when it came to telling jokes, he couldn’t think of even one joke. I teased him about being so serious, and then one evening he says, “I remember a joke” and begins to share the following. Today it is my favorite backpacking joke. Sometimes I tell it to strangers I meet on the trail.


There was a bear taking a dump in the forest when a rabbit hopped by. The bear said, "Hey, rabbit, does poo stick to your fur?" "No," said the rabbit. "That's great!" said the bear as he picked up the rabbit and wiped his butt with him.