Hiking is generally thought of as a peaceful time to get away from people, and to enjoy nature. This is true if you are strictly going to a forest location. When hiking along the Oregon Coast, you are sure to do that too, but also along with it comes terrain that changes as the miles go on. As the miles stack up, so will they types of people that cross your path. Able to communicate better than a bear, but maybe surprise you more than you expect!
1. Park Rangers
They are nice, generally older, and have a love for the outdoors. While staying at a state park you will be cared for by these people a lot. For telling you the best hikes to take, to warning signs to watch out for, to their preferred camping spots, these people know their stuff and are there to help you enjoy your time in the wilderness if you have any questions. It is not rare for them to see if you need help finding anything around the area.
Kindness is what they show, and nature is what they love!
2. RV Convenient Store clerks
They take the time to talk to you, and to help you find spots are available for tent use. Trying to find a camp spot that hasn’t been affected by the non-stop rain can be difficult and there is only so much that they can do though when water is of the plenty and solid dry ground is lacking.
These people are the type to guide you to the places where you can get dry. Where else would you want to go but to the closest town with a laundromat to dry your soaked clothes? Giving directions to the bus stop and which line to take is not the only tip of advice that they might give, but also the warning of when the last bus leaves to come back.
Service they provide, and camping is what they do!
3. Average Town Folk
When hiking from town to town, you are sure to run into people along the way. Some of these people will mind their own business, but others will be eager to strike up a conversation. The type of people who do the latter seem to have honest intentions, but don’t always come across as so. Generally found on the outskirts of each town, are those classic folks who like to talk politics and seem stuck in their "glory days." They might come across as rude, asking you your political view and being super arrogant about theirs. Not to mention, these are also they type who might be stuck in the ways of thinking that women are weak and incompetent, while men are the only ones who can watch out for themselves.
Business they need to know, military is their pride!
4. Starbucks Customers
While hiking along the coast in the rain, one is surely going to be cold and tired from the adventure. Why not make a pit stop at the nearest Starbucks, if you are passing through a town anyway? It is an interesting observation to seem others observing you as a hiker in a Starbucks. Some might stare at you, trying to figure out what type of people are crazy enough to venture out in the rain that occurs this time of year.
Others might strike up a conversation, asking you where you are going. In fact, they might even have experience “backpacking” too. Some of these people will tell tales of the traditional sense of the word, while others will share stories of runaway.
Coffee is what they love, but adventure they are not always sure of!
5. Trail Maintenance People
Hiking along the coast gives plenty of opportunities to scale across the sand of doom, as the wind blows harder than ever, and the water sprayed in your face comes from multiple directions. It also gives the opportunity to hike through the forests that follow that coast at a higher elevation. Hiking along the Tillamook Head Trail to the hiker camps takes a while, especially when parts of the trial is diverted due to falling off of the cliff, and the rest is a mess, but the hike is well worth it when the cabins are sighted ahead.
Hikers are not the only ones who think that this location is worth checking out, but volunteer trail maintenance folks do too.
Hiking is what they love, a compass is what they lack!
6. Beach Dwellers
After a long four days of hiking through the rain, sleeping in puddles and having a great time, you might find that you conclude your journey at a beach location such as Cannon Beach. Oregon is known for being rainy most of the time, and coastal locations are no exception. Although, when the sun does come out to play, all feel blessed and come out to the beach to play. On the nights that follow days of sun, the sunset too is beautiful. Just beware of the crowd that too is trying to enjoy the view. People strolling on by with their dogs might not realize that they are blocking the wondrous view from you. They might even stop to admire the beauty right in the middle of the Kodak moment set before you.
The beach is what they love, and awareness they have not!
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If hiking along the coast is an adventure that you wish to take upon yourself, go for it. Rain or shine, a blast is sure to be had. A word of advice: Don't expect to be alone the whole time along the journey because you truly have no way of knowing who might cross your path. This is even true for the colder and wetter seasons where others may assume that no one else in their right mind would be partaking in such an adventure as well.
Overall, the people that you encounter along the coast have one common characteristic: kindness. This is true for even those who seem rude on the outside (they mean well). So, the next time you encounter one of these six types of people, check to see if you have enough dehydrated food because you might be on an Oregon adventure that will leave you without a shower and with memories that are worth more than gold!
