Wow, hope I didn't leave the wrong impression about my buddy. He is pretty hard-core when he hikes alone. But, when we hike together, he's very laid back and relaxed, and our styles mesh very well. He understands, and accepts, that I'm not hard-core (never have been, and never will be), and our hikes have been truly memorable as a result.

We talk freely and openly about what we want from a hike, how hard each of us (mostly me) want to hike, what kind of terrain and daily distance we want to cover, and what kind of bail-out plan we need.

Mike is one of those rare guys who's physically able to push himself, loves hiking for the sake of hiking, and willing to adapt to those he's hiking with. In short, a perfect hiking buddy.