More would hike with Oprah than President Bush

Would you rather spend a day leisurely hiking and chatting with Oprah, Bill Gates, the Pope, George Clooney or President George W. Bush? According to a national survey on the outdoors and recreation, Oprah is the most preferred trail-chat partner, garnering 28 percent of the vote. Only 11 percent pointed their hiking stick at President Bush ... no sense in hitting the trail with a lame duck.

Here are other public attitudes about outdoors and recreation reported in a survey of 1,027 adults conducted by Open Air Magazine and Massachusetts-based public relations firm CGPR:

• Overwhelmingly, the most cherished weekend time is spent in the outdoors (48 percent) -- encouraging news to this granola girl! Church, the kitchen, the bedroom, the mall and the gym didn't even score close.
  
• Nearly half of respondents listed running shoes as their most prized sports equipment. It's true ... I'm lovingly glancing at my new pair of Sauconys. Nearly one in four chose their bicycle.
  
• When recreating outdoors, people look forward to exercise the most (38 percent). One in five cited companionship, and nearly 18 percent utilize their appointment with nature to forget about work.
  
  

If you were snowed in at a cabin for a month, what would you most want to have with you? Find survey answers here. Sadly, I'd have to say my computer.