Note: This post serves as an example for students as to how a blog post can be written. Notice: Paragraph 1 begins with an introduction to the text recently read. Paragraph 1 ends with a grabbing reaction to something in the text (This is what many of my students identified as an area of research on a Free-exploration Friday.) Paragraph 2 briefly states why I chose to research my selected topic. Paragraph 3 introduces readers to what I researched (This can include questions I looked up or ideas I was curious about.). Paragraphs 4-6 goes a little deeper into the research and gives my own insight and experiences. Paragraph 4 can also reflect on my experiences in the research process (What part was fun/interesting? What part was difficult? Did I find what I needed? Did I find anything interesting that I didn’t expect to find?. Finally, the last paragraph offers the reader something to think about or asks a question. This is a great place to ask your readers to respond in a certain way. It’s fun to generate discussion. Notice that paragraph length usually varies in blog posts to maintain readability and interest. Oh, and if you need a picture for your blog post, see my list of creative commons licensed photo sites here. 

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This week my teacher introduced me to Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.” The protagonist of the story wouldn’t be the kind of person I’d want to travel with. Besides the fact that the man sets course to travel through the frigid -75 degree Yukon Territory with his dog and very few supplies, he seems so unrepentant of his poor choices and so bent on a dream of finding gold that he’d be unlikely to work with me to survive. He’d die and leave me alone, or he’d leave me to die.

Dying in a frozen wilderness is not on my to-do list, so I’ve decided to look up some information about carefully selecting the right kind of hiking partner.

Backpacker.com warns hikers to avoid these types of partners: the slacker, the foghorn, the moocher, the germ-y chef, the re-arranger, the thrasher, the worrywart, the perfectionist, the space hog, the in-house snacker, the nightlight, the tailgaters, the doorstop, the soloist, the slob, the pyro, and the party fouler.

You’d have to visit the article to get a full idea about what some of these are, but two partners that would drive me crazy are the slacker and the moocher. A slacker as a partner would never carry his load of our responsibilities. I’d be the one making sure the food is cooked, the bug spray is packed, the tent is set up, the trail is marked, the surroundings are safe, our decisions are good, etc. It isn’t that the slacker can’t or won’t do anything; it’s just that he’ll wait for me to do it first.

Not much different, a moocher for a partner would be worse than a slacker. This moocher probably would come entirely unprepared — not enough clothes, food, supplies. And guess who he’d bug to get his needs? Yeah, me.

The main character in “To Build a Fire” is a “chechaquo” — this is, a newcomer who is seeking gold in Canada’s Yukon Territory. He makes the unwise decision to travel alone with his dog. And he dies. He classifies as a slacker. He didn’t come prepared for the terrible cold and repeatedly made decisions that just made his situation worse.

So, what kind of hiking partner should you seek? Backpacker also gives some recommendations. You should find a person who enjoys the same things while hiking (caving, birding, photographing, etc.). You should also find a local hiking club to plan trips with experienced, skilled hikers who know the trails, know what to take, and know how to adapt and survive under special or extreme circumstances.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post as much as I have enjoyed researching a topic related to this story. Have you ever had a bad hiking experience as a result of someone you traveled with? Maybe you’re experiences have been good. Maybe you have a tip for my readers. Leave me a response below!