SteveM:

There are already all sorts of celebratory events planned for the time period co-inciding with Smitty's probable finish date.

Most people call this "Christmas." :D

Ho Ho Ho now that was funny.


Enjoyed the Thai Coup also.

While we're waiting....

Tanks by the palace
Prime Minister in New York
The King said O.K.

Thai Coup poem.


Carpe Pad Thai.

minnisota smith farted. comments questions opinions?

Well, I assumed it wasn't, say, a decorative protective cover for a public toilet seat, which is sorta what it looks like, but what kinda gear? Something to keep rain from somehow blowing under a jacket??? I've never seen anyone wearing anything like that before... :-?

It is a head restraint.

It keeps his head at the proper pressure level and attached to his body. Otherwise, it would overinflate and float away.

minnisota smith farted. comments questions opinions?

aaaaaaand minnisota smith is safe on first base with short hopper into left field.

:D

Where are you MS...........................................?

blue dots are people on the knife edgehttp://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=956&stc=1&d=1156193892

allright, I was doing some ciphering this morning while sitting on the toilet....if things work out correctly, and MS does not finish up till 2007, then we may be able to carry this whole thread forward for Matthewski.....

just throwing the idea out there.

Go Minnesota Smith, Go Minnesota Smith.

This thread has helped out in the real world too, there are people getting married and having children that met on this thread.......

peace
mf

Where are you MS...........................................?

Is it possible to put one of those hunting dog collar things on him? I doubt that we would have to worry about a female hiker removing it.

Is it possible to put one of those hunting dog collar things on him? I doubt that we would have to worry about a female hiker removing it.OK. This is my new favorite post on this thread.:)

mom? is that you andy? if there was a thread about me it would suck.

the hiker named mat has left the gate. the hiker hat passed miss janets. the hiker is out of floss. the hike is stoned and forgot to care about his very own thread. the hiker just got straight. stoned . straight. stoned. straight. ..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

So where's Minnesota Smith?

International law requires that he post here immediately.

Enjoyed the Thai Coup also.Thanks, Gator. If I was smart I could write a personalized one. But I'm not.

So there's no high IQ Thai coup haiku for you.

i had to erase my post cause it was a funny story but in the end the townspeople called for a possy and to bring in ms you know what or you know what. and i thaught aout the world we live in and how some geek freek in a celler somewhere is reading and plotting. so i figured storys containing wanted dead or alive dosnt cut the muddy muddy must any more. so there you have it. censorship has us scared to create. wow. im gettin more beer.

minnisota smith found to be right about everything!

What are you saying Private Weinstone? You lack the controversy to carry a thread? Or that I lack the creativity to come up with quality content?

because it could be both. or neither. either way, I am going home soon

peace
mf

Mother's Finest, Please don't go home, keep posting. Your post #2275 even made me smile, although the start of the first sentence had TMI for me.;)

So where's Minnesota Smith?

Maybe he's become a S&H thru-hiker.:-?

yo m fer

of course i need my own thread. in big lights. and lots of dancing bannanas. and i want atroll to post alot on it for validity and i want ice cream and,......

Thanks, Gator. If I was smart I could write a personalized one. But I'm not.

So there's no high IQ Thai coup haiku for you.

Liar. You probably thought of this response first and wrote the Thai coup to justify it.

So it's a wry lie high IQ Thai coup haiku.

Just going home for the evening.....I will be back.

and I agree about the TMI...but it really painted a picture.

peace
mf

why santa ? why?

So it's a wry lie high IQ Thai coup haiku.. You knew?

I was contemplating Skidsteer's comments while playing an old Basque fast-paced game so it must be about a Hai Alai wry lie high IQ Thai coup haiku

. You knew?

Knowing is one thing
Writing is O.K. for most
Hiking is better

its in andover maine and owned by ceti.http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=957&stc=1&d=1156201327

Hmmm.....the spaceship that's come to take you home?? :-?

Knowing is one thing
Writing is O.K. for most
Hiking is better

I know. MS on his worst day has been on more of the AT than me this summer. And I had an opportunity to volunteer for the GATC with another W-B member this weekend at Unicoi but the wife had already, uh, 'invited' me elsewhere so I'm bummed.

mweinstone-"its in andover maine and owned by ceti.http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/atta...1&d=1156201327"
I believed it has been removed. Our first ear to the sky was the Telestar Earth Station at Andover, Maine. It was built by Bell Labs (AT&T) and even had a hit instrumental by The Ventures about it. The skin was Daycron and it was inflated by low pressure fans making the outside one big balloon. I visited it once after doing a section hike in the area in the late 1980s.

I know. MS on his worst day has been on more of the AT than me this summer. And I had an opportunity to volunteer for the GATC with another W-B member this weekend at Unicoi but the wife had already, uh, 'invited' me elsewhere so I'm bummed.

Gadzooks Man! Really?

We must remedy that before the end of the year. You bring the okra/habaneros, I'll tote the, uh, chaser.



How's that for a 'Most off-topic post of the thread' entry? ;)

Is it possible to put one of those hunting dog collar things on him? I doubt that we would have to worry about a female hiker removing it.Now that I have blown a mouthful of soda out my nose and all over my keyboard....

This is the funniest post I've seen in a long time.

Still no MS? Sigh. We wonder why? Perhaps on the loo he dreams the Thai coup haiku.

minnesota by bus takes awhile.

its in andover maine and owned by ceti.http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=957&stc=1&d=1156201327
It's the Andover earth station that once had something to do with international communications -- or space communications, or something. I don't think it still exists, since it long ago became superceded by something better.

It's the Andover earth station that once had something to do with international communications -- or space communications, or something. I don't think it still exists, since it long ago became superceded by something better.

I once tried to build Robbie The Robot out of a 55 gallon drum, the top of a 1960's hair/perm/dryer thing whateveryacallit, and some vaccuum cleaner hose.

I was 8... mom was pissed. :D

The Andover station has been removed.

Still looks like enough hardware (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=44%C2%B037%2758.0%22N,+70%C2%B041%2757.0%22W&ie=UTF8&om=0&t=h&z=13\) on site that the engineers who have to work weekends there probably don't miss any Patriots games.

Switch to satellite view & zoom in a couple of clicks.

Now that I have blown a mouthful of soda out my nose and all over my keyboard....

This is the funniest post I've seen in a long time.

The Thread continuously exceed itself.

'er, exceeds, I mean.

So. No Minnesota Smith.

He doesn't write. He doesn't call.
Is someone going to call it?

It's the Andover earth station that once had something to do with international communications -- or space communications, or something. I don't think it still exists, since it long ago became superceded by something better.

This brings back memories from 45 years ago. My dad had returned from the USAF and went to work for a company in NJ named McKiernan-Terry. They had the contract to build and install the mechanical systems which rotate and aim the antenna.

I believe there were several of these built around the World. I specifically remember the one in Maine and another in Alaska. My dad was away from home for 2-3 years working on these Earth Stations.

I haven't thought about it in 20 years. My dad often talked about his work on this project, it was one of the highlights of his life.

Thanks to all for the reminder.

He doesn't write. He doesn't call.
Is someone going to call it?Patience, possums. He's not AWOL, he reported in at the new duty station and is continuing his mission. Entertaining W-B is not his top priority right now.

That's the thanks he gives The Thread, his best friend on the Trail?:-?

The old, "Kiss me, stay away!" ploy? Fine then...


Pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffftt!:datz

And we have a report!

He's at East Beehill Rd, about 256.5 miles from Big K, 25 miles into Maine.

Made it through the Notch & Arm and Baldplate mountain that he thought was worse than the Arm.

He spent last night in a privvy, says it's a long story. So stay tuned!

Tomorrow's goal is S. Arm Road.

He's with fellow thru-hikers Boulder & Charlie Foxtrot.

Oh, yee of little faith....

He spent last night in a privvy, says it's a long story. So stay tuned! I'd rather not hear that one.:eek:

He spent last night in a privvy, says it's a long story. So stay tuned!



:eek: Now THIS I gotta hear. All that gear and he couldn't rig a shelter? Or perhaps a hoarde bearded ladies was after him and the privy was his only means of escape. :D :banana

:eek: Now THIS I gotta hear. All that gear and he couldn't rig a shelter? I fear this story for a different reason.:-?

DWM-"He's at East Beehill Rd, about 256.5 miles from Big K, 25 miles into Maine."MS arrived in Gorham(~298mi) on the morning of the 11th and in 10 days he has covered about 42 miles to East B Hill Road for an average of 4.2mpd. If he is serious about finishing he better start thinking about a flip to Baxter. At this rate it will take him close to 2 months to finish Maine, although he can probably pick up some speed now he is through the Mahoosucs.

He spent last night in a privvy, says it's a long story. So stay tuned!

Wasn't he slacking? If not, how did he get caught without his gear?
Which privy was it?

The Thread mooonbats demand details.

Now, now. Let's not speculate before we get the details or this could turn into a really long thread.

DWM-"He spent last night in a privvy, says it's a long story. "The most likely story (I've heard of it happening before) is that, as others have said, he was going to be slacking out of Andover for 4 days. The distance from Grafton Notch to East B Hill road is 10.3 miles and he took a chance of slacking it without any overnight gear. He found the going tough and only made the 5.8 miles to Frye Brook lean-to and had to stay in the privy, doing the 4.5 to East B Hill road the next day and then he got a ride back to a hostel.

The next 10.1 miles from East B Hill road to South Arm road is probably harder so unless he plans better he will do the 6 miles to Hall Brook lean-to and have another night in the privy there.

Geez, worst than I thought. He must have went into Andover from Grafton Notch (where the privy is) or perhaps before from a blue blaze trail (no maps in front of me).

He's just arriving in Andover, after how long? He still has two (or perhaps more) not so easy slacks til the next leg!

Little of Maine is easy, if it's not mountains, it's rocks and roots. Curious to see how he compares it to Pennsylvania? LOL...

The most likely story (I've heard of it happening before) is that, as others have said, he was going to be slacking out of Andover for 4 days. The distance from Grafton Notch to East B Hill road is 10.3 miles and he took a chance of slacking it without any overnight gear. He found the going tough and only made the 5.8 miles to Frye Brook lean-to and had to stay in the privy, doing the 4.5 to East B Hill road the next day and then he got a ride back to a hostel.

The next 10.1 miles from East B Hill road to South Arm road is probably harder so unless he plans better he will do the 6 miles to Hall Brook lean-to and have another night in the privy there.

Well he said its a long story...your explanation is way too short for an MS 'long story.' But hopefully we'll know soon enough.

Well he said its a long story...your explanation is way too short for an MS 'long story.' But hopefully we'll know soon enough.

Here's the story, he got to Grafton Notch with only 2 gallons of water. Even though the next source, a crystal clear spring, is only 4 miles away his filter was clog and he didn't want to chance it. Waiting by the road for trail angel #232 to come by and bail him out, his magic runs out and he was forced to stay in the privy becuse it was getting dark and he forgot how to set up his tent, it's been so long. Next morning he flags down the 1st car, begging for a ride. The guy takes pity and buys MS breakfast in Andover and delivers him to Pine Ellis.

Weary,
The communication bubbles in Andover are still their. I think a mobile phone company owns them now, but I could see them from the ridge just above south arm road right before Moody Mt. Mr. Obrien from Gull Pond told me NASA tracked satalites from them.

The most likely story (I've heard of it happening before) is that, as others have said, he was going to be slacking out of Andover for 4 days. The distance from Grafton Notch to East B Hill road is 10.3 miles and he took a chance of slacking it without any overnight gear. He found the going tough and only made the 5.8 miles to Frye Brook lean-to and had to stay in the privy, doing the 4.5 to East B Hill road the next day and then he got a ride back to a hostel.

The next 10.1 miles from East B Hill road to South Arm road is probably harder so unless he plans better he will do the 6 miles to Hall Brook lean-to and have another night in the privy there.

Its clear to me that there are too many philosophers and engineers posting here. The answer is obvious, his azz got stuck in the hole.

Here's the story, he got to Grafton Notch with only 2 gallons of water. Even though the next source, a crystal clear spring, is only 4 miles away his filter was clog and he didn't want to chance it. Waiting by the road for trail angel #232 to come by and bail him out, his magic runs out and he was forced to stay in the privy becuse it was getting dark and he forgot how to set up his tent, it's been so long. Next morning he flags down the 1st car, begging for a ride. The guy takes pity and buys MS breakfast in Andover and delivers him to Pine Ellis.

lol, sly, that sounds very plausibile!:D

Originally Posted by Sly
Here's the story, he got to Grafton Notch with only 2 gallons of water. Even though the next source, a crystal clear spring, is only 4 miles away his filter was clog and he didn't want to chance it. Waiting by the road for trail angel #232 to come by and bail him out, his magic runs out and he was forced to stay in the privy becuse it was getting dark and he forgot how to set up his tent, it's been so long. Next morning he flags down the 1st car, begging for a ride. The guy takes pity and buys MS breakfast in Andover and delivers him to Pine Ellis.Nice (and believable) story but the timeline doesn't fit. SteveM reported MS arrived in Grafton Notch on the 18th and stayed at Pine Ellis that night, so the outhouse at Grafton Notch is out. He apparently attempted to slack the next 10.3 miles from Grafton Notch and got to the East B Hill road the second day(20th) so the smart money is on the Frye Brook privy for the night of the 19th.

Nice (and believable) story but the timeline doesn't fit. SteveM reported MS arrived in Grafton Notch on the 18th and stayed at Pine Ellis that night, so the outhouse at Grafton Notch is out. He apparently attempted to slack the next 10.3 miles from Grafton Notch and got to the East B Hill road the second day(20th) so the smart money is on the Frye Brook privy for the night of the 19th.

Logical. I can't ever imagine spending a night in a privy anywhere, unless it's clean and heated, like the one at Fontana dam.

With all the slacking and riding around in cars it's no wonder MS doesn't have time for posting. :p

Nice (and believable) story but the timeline doesn't fit. SteveM reported MS arrived in Grafton Notch on the 18th and stayed at Pine Ellis that night, so the outhouse at Grafton Notch is out. He apparently attempted to slack the next 10.3 miles from Grafton Notch and got to the East B Hill road the second day(20th) so the smart money is on the Frye Brook privy for the night of the 19th.

OF, Sorry to further complicate this debate, I have no idea of the logistics in this area. MS as I recall (though not part of my post) did not walk into Pine Ellis. His plans for slacking therefore included areas both south and north of Pine Ellis.
It does seem appropriate however to determine the facts. A bronze plaque should be installed to commemorate this historic event.

He slacked the notch and continued past Grafton, wasn't suppose to, and ended up at Frye in the privy.

So I ain't gonna need no crow pie.
LW, I'm gonna fatten up some birds anyway. Somebodys gonna be eatin em. Taste just like possum.

I WILL bet that he doesn't finish by Thanksgiving.:)

If the snow flies, he'll be finished, just not with the trail.

"Model T" & "Ranger Dawg" have entered the 100 mile Wilderness & hope to summit Katahdin Sept. 30th or Oct 1st.


www.ModelT.net
www.trailjournals.com/modelt

While we're waiting....

Tanks by the palace
Prime Minister in New York
The King said O.K.

Thai Coup poem.

Wasn't that Nostradamus?

Anybody got pictures of the possible privies in play?

That can't have been pleasant. There are only a few privies in which I'd even consider sleeping, fontana, davenport gap, which are more like public washrooms than privies. Not many more beyond those...

This wouldn't be the first time a hiker went late on a slack and came up short. At least he didn't hurt himself trying to hike too fast.;)

Remembering something I'd seen, I went back to my copy of Beyond Backpacking and checked the chart Ray Jardine did correlating total pack weight and average miles walked. I've found this chart generally works for me and many hikers I've met, minus five or less miles or so. A 55-pound pack weight limits a hiker to about 10 miles per day. Factor zero days into the absolute calendar-day hiking average (set against the time the snow flies) and the average dwindles even more.

While this mileage/progress outcome vis-a-vis Smith's pack weight was predictable, spending the night in a privy was not. Once a hiker starts thinking about quitting, the levee of will is beginning to erode. Mistakes and errors in judgement are more possible because the hiker's head is trying to get out of the game.

So he obviously didn't have his overnight gear with him. What did the shuttle driver do when MS didn't show up at the trailhead? Just take off? Wait until dark, then take off? Is it normal for hikers to just disappear in the woods up in Maine? Did the shuttle driver call rescue personnel once he determined Smith was a no-show? Granted, a night in the woods isn't serious for a healthy, prepared, experienced thru hiker, but this incident, if true, only leads to more questions, some of them troubling. Like: What was he thinking? Was he carrying a phone and called the shuttler, whom he told, "I'm spending the night in this privy, don't worry!" By this time, MS should be in good enough shape to slack 10 miles in a day, regardless of the terrain, no problem. What happened? Is it the terrain that's psyching him out? Peobably never seen trial like that before, rocky, rooty, primordial...

If he gets out of Maine intact and keeps walking, we're looking at a Christmas finish, at least. (I agree with Jack on this one.) :rolleyes: Carrying the weight he is, MS has probably already expended at least twice the energy required by a rationally geared thru hiker to cover the same distance -- a fairly needless Herculean effort and textbook example of diminished returns.

Go Minnesota. Keep your head in the game.:D

His mind is weighing him down.

A 55-pound pack weight limits a hiker to about 10 miles per day.

it all depends on the hiker. i carry 50+ and still hang with the gram weanies.:)

i met minn.smith in gorham at the hikers paradise last week,he is a very likeable guy in person,i will post pictures when i get home,i really enjoyed talking to him,he carries a huge pack with 6 rolls of toilet paper,i wish him the best of luck on completeing his thru hike:cool: neo

yuck! i think i'd rather sleep in the rain on jagged rocks than sleep in a privy! unless it's the one at fontana dam of course.

sounds like the man got his ass kicked by baldpate then couldn't make it to the next crossing at the east B hill road. probably wasn't the most popular hiker at the shelter so the dog with the radio collar got his spot. he's got a long way and still a lot of tough hiking left before he even gets to the 2000 mile marker.

anyone think he'll make it to the 2000 mile mark before he flips again?:-?

If the snow flies, he'll be finished, just not with the trail.Mt. Washington had its first snowfall last night.

And what's with this "East B Hill Road"? Is it named after Benny Hill? Or does it just show a lack of imagination among road namers in Maine? Is East B Hill between West A Hill and North C Hill? I think "Beehill" has a much nicer sound to it. Georgia's got Slaughter Gap & Blood Mountain but Maine just uses directional-alphabet combinations? East B Hill sounds about as quaint as West 14th Street.

Remembering something I'd seen, I went back to my copy of Beyond Backpacking and checked the chart Ray Jardine did correlating total pack weight and average miles walked. I've found this chart generally works for me and many hikers I've met, minus five or less miles or so. A 55-pound pack weight limits a hiker to about 10 miles per day.

Absolutely not true.

Perhaps its true about Jardine.

After a nite in the privy I wonder how many rolls of TP he has left.

it all depends on the hiker. i carry 50+ and still hang with the gram weanies.:)

That's because you're a goat. :rolleyes:

But MS, being only human, is laboring under the weight of all applicable generalizations. In his case, the statistics, they apply.;)

max patch-"After a nite in the privy I wonder how many rolls of TP he has left."Who knows, it may the first time MS has had to relinquish his seat to a lady.:-?

This time of year the privvys are usually FOS.

Absolutely not true.

Perhaps its true about Jardine.

Sorry, it's absolutely true. The facts speak for themselves.:rolleyes:

I'm not even GOING TO START a Ray Jardine beatch session here. His weight-mileage chart, minus five miles is about right for most people. Stats for the average pack weight and average miles per day for people who finish the AT bear this out. My experience watching other hikers bears this out, too. (Here's the rough breakdown: 55lbs = 5 mpd, 40lbs = 10mpd, 30lbs = 13mpd, 28lbs = 15 mpd, 11lbs = 25mpd, 8lbs = 30 mpd.) YMMV. This fits nicely with the 12 mpd average and roughly 30lb packweight across an entire hike experienced for most hikers. Experienced hikers know these to be accurate average weights and miles.

If you are stronger or faster or have bigger gonads, you're in Ray's world. Most of us are not. I was referring to MS, not anybody else, fitting well into this energy expenditure profile (with a five mile correction factor).

I'm surprised our scientist hasn't done these calculations already. Diminishing returns, baybeee! :eek:

Peace!
~Darwin

While I can imagine some novices might start off on a long hike with something crazy like 6 roles of TP or 2 gallons of water, how many of us would actually persist in this beyond, say, the first day or two? That's actually impressive, in a perverse sort of way.

On a recent LT section hike, I asked a friend of mine in the same shelter if, when all known hikers were accounted for, she typically knocked on the shelter door - assuming it wasn't locked from the outside. She said no, like I was crazy or something. I cannot help but think what might happen if I awoke in the dead of night in a shelter with the urge to use the privy, and I knew nobody else was up and about, walking sleepily up those last few steps by dim headlamp and pulling that door open to find a strange face staring right back at me. Or maybe worse yet, a motionless, apparently lifeless body just slumped over on the throne. That might just scare the crap out of me right then and there.

Good luck MS! I'm certainly going to knock from now on, regardless.

Stats for the average pack weight and average miles per day for people who finish the AT bear this out. My experience watching other hikers bears this out, too. (Here's the rough breakdown: 55lbs = 5 mpd, 40lbs = 10mpd, 30lbs = 13mpd, 28lbs = 15 mpd, 11lbs = 25mpd, 8lbs = 30 mpd.) YMMV.

These stats are nothing but a pile of what is found in the privvys. Pure nonsense. Nothing more.

Stats for the average pack weight and average miles per day for people who finish the AT bear this out. My experience watching other hikers bears this out, too. (Here's the rough breakdown: 55lbs = 5 mpd,
~DarwinSo the average hiker who finishes their thru carrying 55lbs takes 400 days?:-?

These stats are nothing but a pile of what is found in the privvys. Pure nonsense. Nothing more.

Damn Skippy. It is hogwash. Notice there is no real data to back it up - just old RJs philosophy. Based on that stuff I would still be in basic training trying to finish my first 12 mile ruck march LOL.

These stats are nothing but a pile of what is found in the privvys. Pure nonsense. Nothing more.

Oh cripes. Fine. OK. You're right, despite their being true.

The sky is blue. Care to argue that? never mind. KIDDING, just KIDDING.
Sheesh. :cool:

(So what is the average miles per day for all hikers who finish the trail?
What is their average pack weight across the entire trip?
I rest my case. Unless I'm wrong. If I am, please prove it, don't just brain fart and tell me I'm wrong...):rolleyes:

There is no average.....there is a "variation in species" as far as physical capabilities.

So the average hiker who finishes their thru carrying 55lbs takes 400 days?:-?

Well, MS is carrying about 55 or 60lbs. and he seems to be about on track to finish in 400. :D

Do the math guys, it fits.

Yes, but he is about as typical a hiker as Truman Capote is.

OK. Try this.

All the hikers here who've done over a thousand miles of hiking, calculate your average daily mileage for that entire time.

I'll bet you a beer that for most of you it lands at right around 13 miles per day.

Well, MS is carrying about 55 or 60lbs. and he seems to be about on track to finish in 400. :D

Do the math guys, it fits.Actually MS is going faster than your average. 400+ days would put his finish sometime in March perhaps?

OK. Try this.

All the hikers here who've done over a thousand miles of hiking, calculate your average daily mileage for that entire time.

I'll bet you a beer that for most of you it lands at right around 13 miles per day.


I drink non-alcoholic. Since you're buying, I'll have a Kaliber or a St. Pauli Girl NA. Thank you. I'll be at the ALDHA Gathering. Hope to see you there. ;)

PS: I like my beer chilled to about 35 degrees. In a bottle. :banana

Mowgli (defying statistics and horrifying lightweight backpackers since 2000)

I drink non-alcoholic. Since you're buying, I'll have a Kaliber or a St. Pauli Girl NA. Thank you. I'll be at the ALDHA Gathering. Hope to see you there. ;)

PS: I like my beer chilled to about 35 degrees. In a bottle. :banana

Mowgli (defying statistics and horrifying lightweight backpackers since 2000)He's gonna say "I said most backpackers"

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/1/BurkesGarden.jpg

I've known this guy to carry 50-55 pounds and do 150 miles in 6 days, or even 450 in 22 days, and he was almost 50 at the time!

I believe he also section hiked the trail in 120 hiking days with that pack weight. Darwin (or is it Da-lose) again won't buy him a beer, that's fur shur!;)

double post deleted

Seems like in that two volume set that Dorthy got to Maine and weighed her backpack on her first hike assuming it was around 50 pounds and found she had been carrying about 65. I think she did it that hike in about 160 days. Hmmmm...

Actually MS is going faster than your average.

Faster than your average what? Snail? Toad? Box Turtle? Rat Snake? ;)

Originally Posted by ed bell
Actually MS is going faster than your average. MOWGLI16-"Faster than your average what? Snail? Toad? Box Turtle? Rat Snake?"Now that's funny!:D

Seems like in that two volume set that Dorthy got to Maine and weighed her backpack on her first hike assuming it was around 50 pounds and found she had been carrying about 65. I think she did it that hike in about 160 days. Hmmmm...

I think the average mileage over the course of a thru has more to do with the window of opportunity than pack weight. Pack weight these days seems to vary between 25 - 45 lbs.

Gotta agree with Mowgli on this one. I frequently carry 55-plus pounds and very frequently average more than ten---or even thirteen miles a day. Add to this that I'm not a particularly fast/strong hiker, I chainsmoke, need to lose some weight, and sometimes have a gimpy knee. In short, different people are capable of diferent things, and people should carry whatever they feel comfortable with.

I think much of Ray Jardine's advice and wisdom applies mainly to Mr. Jardine.

OK, ok.

Tempest + teapot = Minnesota Smith Thread

There are exceptions to every average and clearly nearly everyone here has adopted the psychological conceit that they are far from average or, at the very least, abnormal and prove the exception. That's hikers for you. :rolleyes:

(But the average time it takes a hiker to finish the AT is six months.
Six months equals 183 days. Trail is 2,175 miles.
Subtract 26 zero days and you have 157 days.
Therefore, average miles per day is, ta-da!, 13.8 miles per day. Most hikers who hike thru, uninterrupted, ditch all the junk and end with their pack weights down around something reasonable, 30 or so pounds. No, I'm not making this stuff up.)

I shouldn't have mentioned R. Jardine here.
The male ego is fragile and doesn't like to be threatened; lasing out is the result. My mistake.

So who wants beer?:D

So who wants beer?:D

We all do! I hear you're buying! :banana

There are exceptions to every average and clearly nearly everyone here has adopted the psychological conceit that they are far from average or, at the very least, abnormal and prove the exception. That's hikers for you. :rolleyes:I'm sure that there were hikers who finished their thru this year carrying 50-55lbs. I am confident that on the average they finished their hikes in far less than 400 days. Am I way off here? I'm just using your formula, nothing more. Just doesn't seem correct.:-?

you guys are weird. minnisota smith is normal. his hike is normal and all systems are go for a late summit bid in a globaly warmed winter. so stop worrying how much his pack weighs. it weighs exactly the right amount for the good doctor. and another thing. mr smith diddnt leave the ship without his essencials. hes not dumb. and he may have spent the night outside the privy or half in with the door open and feet out. or he may have sat sleepless on the head with memorys of horror to last a lifetime. part of becoming skilled in the mountains is freezing your self at least once laying on pointy rocks around a tree unable to warm or sleep. waiting for sols rays to announce you have survived. thats like bein gassed in the service so you react better and are prepared if gas did happen. so hes been indoctrinated into the world of mountaineering and passed the harshest of tests. now is a wonderful time in this mans wilderness life where he will learn the finner points of survival witch are that the human is capable of such a wide range of streangths and skills and one need only hone the craft of utilizing them.so hes learned his capabilitys and next will learn to orchastrate them to his gole oriented missions. really cool stuff my man. right on minnisota smith.

I'm sure that there were hikers who finished their thru this year carrying 50-55lbs. I am confident that on the average they finished their hikes in far less than 400 days. Am I way off here? I'm just using your formula, nothing more. Just doesn't seem correct.:-?

I'm not talking about hypothetical hikers who surely must exist. This is the MS thread, so I'm talking about MS.

I'm sure your hypothetical hikers were finished in less than 400 days. But I think you're conflating a non-average pack weight (because 50-55 is NOT average) with an hyperbolic example. OF COURSE there are deviations from the AVERAGES here and there and everywhere, but especially at the far ends of the stats. Also: it's not a fourmula. It's a rough estimate of averages. I said that when I posted it. There is a difference.

If the purpose of everyone arguing at me is to make me understand that averages don't always apply to all individuals, then OK, I hear you. But the averages come from somewhere.

The averages exist. I was comparing jardine's energy-expenditure chart for miles versus pack weight to Minnesota's performance. No matter what, for all hikers, there are factual figures for daily performance and weight carried. There are averages of these figures, spread across all hikers, applying to none in particular, but to the entire group. Smith's 6 mpd average equals a 362 day hike. Add zeroes once per week, 52 days, and we're up to 414 days. The figures add up for me.

Assuming he gets to K, that will be 1,894 miles walked since he started in February whatever. 315 days worth at his pace or about 10 months, ergo, December. That leaves him with 280 miles to do between hanover and kent, which will be another 46 days at his non- blistering pace. Like I said, diminishing returns, which was my original point. Smith has worn himself out by carrying too much weight and his progress reflects that.

I'd buy some beer, but I have no assurances that I wouldn't be harrasssed while doing so. The ignore list doesn't work in person. :D

Now move along. Nothing more to see here...

Smith has worn himself out by carrying too much weight and his progress reflects that.

Or maybe I'm wrong and he'll thrive under winter conditions. :D:D

Go Minnesota!

But I think you're conflating a non-average pack weight (because 50-55 is NOT average) ...

It's only not average in the last couple of years. Even as recent as 1998, when I did my AT thru, 50-55 pounds was very average.

Darwin:

I hear what you're saying, but bear in mind that PERHAPS a handful of folks hike the trail each year averaging 30 MPD. Probably more like 2 or 3 people. Some years, I am sure no one averages that kind of mileage. To say that 5 people do this annually is a reach. So, my point is.... to say that folks with an 8 pound pack weight average 30 MPD is just plain wrong - IMO. The same could be said about the low end of the estimate. It just doesn't match the reality that you see on the trail.

Anyway, if you have some data to support those averages, I'd be willing to look at it. Now, about that beer.....

Or maybe I'm wrong and he'll thrive under winter conditions. :D:D

Go Minnesota!Thats the way to knock it off with them negative waves!:D;)

It's only not average in the last couple of years. Even as recent as 1998, when I did my AT thru, 50-55 pounds was very average.

That's a good point. The completion rate is rising as gear gets lighter, too. In the 30s and 40s it was all leather and wool and cotton canvas, maybe waxed or oiled. Or maybe some rubberized cloth. Imagine that.:(

I'm sure some day lightweight hiking will progress to the point of a loincloth, a one-liter bottle and a garbage bag, but you won't see me doing it that way.

It's kind of silly to ignore technological advances, unless you're recreating AT hikes from past decades. Is there a club that does that, like the civil war renactors?

No matter what you wear or carry, hiking the AT demands ruggedness of body and character. Anybody know how heavy Earl Schaffer's pack was?

It's only not average in the last couple of years. Even as recent as 1998, when I did my AT thru, 50-55 pounds was very average.

Exactly!

If you were to take the "average" pack weight of all thruhikers that have finished the trail before and after lightweight gear being mass produced, I think the "average weight would be much higher. Probably in the 50 lb range.

The completion rate is rising as gear gets lighter, too.

You can't make a direct correlation with that argument IMO. There are many factors that lead to an increased completion rate. Including the fact that you can find information about what's under every rock along the entire trail (ie: info overload).

Darwin:

I hear what you're saying, but bear in mind that PERHAPS a handful of folks hike the trail each year averaging 30 MPD. Probably more like 2 or 3 people. Some years, I am sure no one averages that kind of mileage. To say that 5 people do this annually is a reach. So, my point is.... to say that folks with an 8 pound pack weight average 30 MPD is just plain wrong - IMO. The same could be said about the low end of the estimate. It just doesn't match the reality that you see on the trail.

Anyway, if you have some data to support those averages, I'd be willing to look at it. Now, about that beer.....

It bears looking into.

Trouble is, "average" hikers like me don't ever see those super slow or super fast hikers ever again. There are some public examples of blazing speed, like the high-profile fast hikers we all can name. It's a bell curve, with the fast and the slow hikers out on the far ends. I think Minnesota occupies the far end of a bell curve. :D Which one, I have no idea.

I know, however, that I could bust out some miles if my pack was eight pounds and I was in hardened thru hiking condition, but maybe not 30 miles.

I think one of the first finishers this year hit K in 116 days, a wild 18.7 mpd average. (source: trail journals, Bone Pac) Not many hikers do it much faster than that and I have a feeling most super-slow hikers don't finish their thru attempts.

On the other hand, it's completely plausible that many, many successful thrus finish their hikes in 5 to 6 months with packs weighing 25 to 35 pounds. What was my point again? I forgot.:D:D

Was there beer involved? I don't remember...:o

You can't make a direct correlation with that argument IMO. There are many factors that lead to an increased completion rate. Including the fact that you can find information about what's under every rock along the entire trail (ie: info overload).

You could take the average each year.

Then, average the average of all the averages to get the average average.

Make sense? :D :D

Something I have wondered about and have heard varied opinions about. Is there an ideal pack to body weight ratio? Obviously less is better, but if you knew that, given your body weight you should not exceed say 35 lbs., you could select all of your equipment/food etc. such that you do not exceed that weight.

MS has been carrying too much weight all along, and probably exceeded an ideal ratio from day #1. Given that he has lost perhaps 25% of his body weight and has not adjusted his pack weight is the effort required to carry that weight increased? I'm not sure if i'm totally clear.

Day #1: Excess body weight: 50#
plus Pack weight: 60#
equals Total excess weight carried: 110#

By having lost 50# of excess body weight is'nt he now actually carrying less excess weight than on Day #1, assuming that none of the lost weight was muscle. Or, should his pack weight have been adjusted to maintain an ideal pack to body weight ratio?

Bottom line, would your body consume the same amount of energy to carry a 50# pack as it uses to carry 50# of excess body fat?

You can't make a direct correlation with that argument IMO. There are many factors that lead to an increased completion rate. Including the fact that you can find information about what's under every rock along the entire trail (ie: info overload).

Who me, argue? :eek:

But you can't say lighter gear isn't a factor, either.:rolleyes: ("factor" meaning a part of the whole explanation, which includes but is not limited to: more information, trail angels, lighter gear, better preparation, more hostels, slackpacking, neosporin, ibuprofin, instant mashed potatoes, moleskin, AYCE buffets, maps, cell phones, etc. If people nowadays had to cook cornmeal mush in an iron skillet over a fire and cut kindling with a hatchet and walk in Sears leather work shoes and sleep under a poncho, it's fairly obvious they would drop the hike in one day.)

I think it would be very, very easy to make a direct correlation between lighter packs and shoes and gear and an increased completion rate. Stand on Springer and take names and pack weighs and pictures, then go to K and do the same as hikers finish. Compare the lists. More weight equals harder work and more stress on the body. That's not to say it's the one and only determinant, but just a factor.

Maybe nobody really knows anything and perfect knowledge is impossible but we try to keep figuring things out at the moment and putting our ideas out there. Sheesh. Ya gotta be a fripping lawyer-warrior to post on here because there's always somebody to ignite a flaming vat of negativity...

So many negative waves. Enough with the negative waves already!

Go Minnesota!

no. fat carrys more efficiently than man made tourture devices straped to your back full of cuttlfish. and yes there is an accepted ratio of one third. and by the way. on the divide icarrioe 93 to 97 for 12 weeks. and when i came out of the mountains,.. it felt easy.and 60 lbs is still an acceptable weight. this lightweight , pole usin, croc wearin,envelope eatin,map carryin, water treatin worl we live in is not my idea of simplicity.

Now I know what W. Doyle means by "internegator." :jump

i have never met a hiker who like i do ,.. carrys as much for as little as my kit weighs. by using the lightest possible peice of gear at the highest cost, i have maintained a 27 lb dry weight while sleeping in a four man tarp and a -20 bag.and my stove is the heavyest alcohol stove made. and none of my food is "camping food" its all regular weight. like 2 lbs of cheese at all times. and a big pot. and more clothes than most. all because im willing to spend but not to leave without the maximum safty and comfort. and because i dont carry most of what others do. i dont need books and maps too thruhike in thruhiking season . i just listen to others and learn whats up. and i have no medical gear. just moleskin. and no journel or music or camera. but i have a cell with a camcorder and a camera. i dont carry water. just a pint to wash after poopin. and of course in the summer i do.my point is that minnisota smith carrys what he likes and can carry it quite well. the only stat thats news here is his being in the top 1 percentile of distance hiking ,..globaly!

I think it would be very, very easy to make a direct correlation between lighter packs and shoes and gear and an increased completion rate. Stand on Springer and take names and pack weighs and pictures, then go to K and do the same as hikers finish. Compare the lists. More weight equals harder work and more stress on the body. That's not to say it's the one and only determinant, but just a factor.

Well, Alligator is our resident statistician, but let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. The hiker who shows up at Springer with a lighter pack is quite probably (but not necessarily) a more experienced backpacker. That's a major factor. Experience. I would give added weight to hiking experience over pack weight (as an indicator of successful completion of a thru-hike) every time. You are right to say that pack weight IS a factor - however.


Ya gotta be a fripping lawyer-warrior to post on here because there's always somebody to ignite a flaming vat of negativity...

So many negative waves. Enough with the negative waves already!


No one is being negative Mr. Darwin. And I'm certainly not trying to ignite a flame war. There are just very few absolutes on the AT. :sun

Well, truth be told, Darwin, when people merely disagree with something you've said, they're not necessarily "lashing out" or being negative. All it means is they hold a different opinion.

The colorful term of Mr. Doyle's that you mention is merely an invented word that he uses to describe people who have the effrontery to publicly disagree with him on something, and in so doing, receiving this designantion makes sure that the questions or points they make will never be acknowledged or recognized.

Basically, calling someone an "internegator" is merely a convenient, but also childish way to run away from debate or reproach on a subject one finds uncomfortable.

This is probably behavior you don't want to emulate or admire! :D

Now I know what W. Doyle means by "internegator." :jump

You rang? :dance

i walked with bone pac a few dozen miles and you gotta relize how fast fast is at 17 point somthing a day. think of the zero days all counting as 17 point something because he went so so much further so many days. and think about kids like tree girl at eighteen years old and 105 lbs. she did 42 into damascus and was in fine shape to hang out that eve. her pack is as light as mrs gorps, 18 to 25. so cool. and these people , including and not limmited to , messenger, braveheart, treefingers and ramble and guns of jesus and so many others who routenly walk 20 and summon up 30's all the time whenever town and new food require. i learned alot from the slowpoke heavy milers too. they get it done with hour power. they just keep more fed and rested while exstending the days with more yet slower hiking resulting in mid twentys on demand. jaywalker is 55 and practices this. me and minnisota hike slow and lazy. so what. i can summon 18S but not much more. next year im shootin for 20S all the week long . aftwer crawling to damascuss cause i need to harden first.

go minnisota smith, the p's are pointing to the map on the kitch wall with a pointer cause you hiked out of there reach!

This is probably behavior you don't want to emulate or admire! :D

Right you are.
I was mostly tongue in cheeking here, gents. Especially since none of this matters and no one will ever care about it. Believe what you will about anything you want.

I also agree that experience is a factor in hiking. Experience can certainly help someone carry 55 pounds, as well. Of course there are few absolutes in hiking (and not just on the AT), so why go after someone for not posting an all-inclusive opinion? If there are few absolutes, then what is left but Generalizations that are never correct because they are so non-absolute? Surely you see my point here, Mowgli. You can sit there and poke holes in posts, or you can see where I'm going with it and maybe help me make my point. Im not arguing anything.

Some things go without saying. And I don't really need bahavioral suggestions from you, Jack Daddy. (Thanks for your patronization, though.):D

those four adjusting straps ,.. two on the top of the shoulders and two on your hips? didnt see a soul reach to adjust any of them ever. the difference in skill at carrying and walking, make carrying 40 lbs like riding a finely suspended cadilac, or a trash truck. energy efficency way way out weighs pack weight. agree or die.

You rang? :dance

LOL. excellent.

Sorry I'm a little late here, butt I could not help butt wonder if MS has somehow mistaken the Privy for an AYCE?:D

as i only have this last post befor my thousandth post, and the phillies come on at 705 , and the beer is in the fridge all the way over there,..i must say adu. avitazane, goodnite minnisota smith,... where ever you are. godspeed sir lucas.

Mahoosuc Notch was interesting, kind of like IMO the hardest part of Harriman State Park x5. I thought that Mahoosuc Arm was just steep, with rock faces no worse (and mostly less bad) than the descent from North Carter in the Whites was.

as i only have this last post befor my thousandth post, and the phillies come on at 705 , and the beer is in the fridge all the way over there,..i must say adu. avitazane, goodnite minnisota smith,... where ever you are. godspeed sir lucas.

Lemme get this straight.

You live in Philly.
You're a sports fan.

:-?

My condolences.

Mahoosuc Notch was interesting, kind of like IMO the hardest part of Harriman State Park x5. I thought that Mahoosuc Arm was just steep, with rock faces no worse (and mostly less bad) than the descent from North Carter in the Whites was.

It lives. :eek:

Mahoosuc Notch was interesting, kind of like IMO the hardest part of Harriman State Park x5. I thought that Mahoosuc Arm was just steep, with rock faces no worse (and mostly less bad) than the descent from North Carter in the Whites was.

That's interesting, but...

what's the story on spending the night in the crapper?

Details!

I'm thinking the privy tale was told by DWM merely to excite the particles of The Thread, to prepare it for His triumphal return.


How now, Minnesota?:D

1) Boulder and Charlie Foxtrot (a Brit), both NOBOs, are here at Pine Ellis with me. They have been here a couple of days. Minnow and Fish (father and son NOBOs I know well) just showed up. They had spent the night in the Notch when I passed through there.;) Tomato Gravy (female NOBO) was here, but moved on to one of the other hostels in Andover.

2) Terrain in Maine has overall gotten easier post-Arm; each day has some rough stuff, but the percentage has seemingly gone down. I had about had it with stuff like climb down into Carlo Col, just south of the Carlo Col Trail. That said, there was one climb and at least one descent around the east peak of Baldpate that were seriously nasty. I do NOT like stuff where, if I screw up once, I'm probably dead.

3) I spent night before last in a privy at Grafton Notch. I had slackpacked from the Mahoosuc Trail (thru the Notch and the Arm) to Grafton, arriving there by 1800 hours. No one would give me a ride; oncoming vehicles would speed up and pull into the opposing lanes and/or put their high beams on to emphasize their hostility to giving me a hitch, that sort of thing. So after 2.5+ fruitless roadside hours in a cold, windy rain, getting chilled, I accepted the inevitable and sought shelter to avoid hypothermia, not to mention rest. The 2 outhouses there are smooth concrete slabs, nonodiferous, about 7' wide squares with walls and roofs. I did have to spend 25 minutes (I timed it) stuffing leaves and branches in the 4" gap all along the bottom walls of the one I slept in to stop the wind coming in (I was wet from the rain that had started coming down around 1500 hours, 3 hours before I got to Grafton). I had 2 thin thermal tops, a thin thermal bottom, and a thin knit cap for warm clothing beyond my usual hiking attire. I was uncomfortably cool, but not in danger. I'd packed extra food, almost a whole day's worth, so just hiked on to do the next day's slack from there, once it got light the next morning. I found out when I got back to Pine Ellis that they had gotten terribly worried when I never came back after my slackpack, drove around looking for me, were about to call 911, etc. The lessons there IMO are that in Maine, line up a pickup for slacking, and that Pine Ellis is run by really good people.

Darwin Again-"Surely you see my point here, Mowgli. You can sit there and poke holes in posts, or you can see where I'm going with it and maybe help me make my point."From what I know of Mowgli. I don't think he is going to help you make your point if it is something he doesn't agree with!;)

Mahoosuc Notch was interesting, kind of like IMO the hardest part of Harriman State Park x5. I thought that Mahoosuc Arm was just steep, with rock faces no worse (and mostly less bad) than the descent from North Carter in the Whites was.Hey MS, are you packing a camera, and if so how has that been going? Would love to see some pics.:)

MinnesotaSmith-"I spent night before last in a privy at Grafton Notch." Oh ma gawd, Sly was right! It does defy logic but, Sly, you must know da man. I guess I owe you a soft drink, or whatever.;)

1) Tomato Gravy (female NOBO) was here, but moved on to one of the other hostels in Andover.

I wonder why?

:-? :-? :-? :-?

Faster than your average what? Snail? Toad? Box Turtle? Rat Snake? ;)

I did a 10.1 today, a 10.3 the day before, and (the day I went through Mahoosuc Notch and Arm) an 8.2, the latter not counting the 2.0 along the Mahoosuc access trail I did to start that day. I'm going to try a 13.0 tomorrow. (Yes, Darwin, cooler weather helps a LOT.) Started on the trail before 0640 all but today, which was just after 0800. Took me just over 3 hours to do the Notch, and I didn't hurry. I was doing between 6.6 - 4.9 days in the earlier part of my hike out of Gorham in overall IMO worse terrain, with a full pack. I decided that while I can hike with a full pack, that doing extensive/difficult rock-climbing, day after day, is another story. When (as I do now, in Maine and NH) start a hiking day carrying climbing rope, daylong wear heavy gloves suitable for rock surfaces, and have been looking for some knee protectors to buy, well, I feel that my sport got changed for me, starting about 20 miles north of Hanover.

Could be lots of reasons....maybe she found out her friends had arrived in town and were staying elsewhere. Maybe she was gonna take more town time and wanted to experience a different place, just to check it out. Maybe she'd heard particularly nice things about another hostel. Who knows? What is almost certain, tho, is I doubt she moved on because of a bad experience. Paul and Ilene are great folks and have been taking care of hikers in Andover at the Pine Ellis for a very long time.

And then again, maybe the hiker relocated cuz Smitty was present! :D

I wonder why?

:-? :-? :-? :-?

She said she had friends staying at the unspecified other place. I think the Cabin is closed for 3 days for some family function, so it'd be the Roadhouse, then. Pine Ellis is great IMO, BTW.

She said she had friends staying at the unspecified other place. I think the Cabin is closed for 3 days for some family function, so it'd be the Roadhouse, then. Pine Ellis is great IMO, BTW.

Oh... OK... :rolleyes:

Hey MS, are you packing a camera, and if so how has that been going? Would love to see some pics.:)

Used almost a whole dispo camera in the Notch. Minnow took a couple shots of me squirming through the couple inevitable spelunking wormholes. They'll be online eventually. My White Mtn. pics are the really spectacular ones to come, though, IMO.

Hey Dances with Mice, according to The Dictionary of Maine Place - Names, East B Hill Road takes its name from the adjacent B Plantation now known as Upton Township. There is also a B Pond, B Brook, and B Brook Cove. Both of those names were/are assigned to what is know as a Minor Civil Division or MCD in Maine. You are on your own (regarding MCDs) after that. Never forget, even though we may use the alphabet more than most, as unimaginative as that may seem, Maine is the only state that has Katahdin - LOL. What are your questions pertaining to this period of instruction? Hope I have helped and Be Safe.

as i only have this last post befor my thousandth post, and the phillies come on at 705 , and the beer is in the fridge all the way over there,..i must say adu. avitazane, goodnite minnisota smith,... where ever you are. godspeed sir lucas.

What will the topic of your one thousandth post be??? Better make it good.

Panzer

Hey Dances with Mice, according to The Dictionary of Maine Place - Names, East B Hill Road takes its name from the adjacent B Plantation now known as Upton Township. There is also a B Pond, B Brook, and B Brook Cove.

Is there a B-hole on that list? :D

Probably not... :cool:

Boston-"Hey minnesota, what are your plans next?"

MS-"I'm going to Disneyworld!":D :D

It does sound like the ads.;)

Used almost a whole dispo camera in the Notch. Minnow took a couple shots of me squirming through the couple inevitable spelunking wormholes. They'll be online eventually. My White Mtn. pics are the really spectacular ones to come, though, IMO.Good to hear it and I'm looking forward to seeing the results. Hike on my brother.:sun

Hey minnesota, what are your plans next?

Are you going to try and hike to baxter right up to oct. 15, or is there more to your plans?

Part of NY, MA, VT, NH... maybe? :-?

She said she had friends staying at the unspecified other place. I think the Cabin is closed for 3 days for some family function, so it'd be the Roadhouse, then. Pine Ellis is great IMO, BTW.
Yes I've spent MANY days there. Wonderful folks. They've been doing it long before it was 'hip' to have an AT hostel.

MS
How is Paul doing at Pine Ellis?? I was in Andover not long ago, and he was very ill. Any news on his health?
DT

I was PMing with Ilene earlier. Paul is doing very well. On the upswing.

Good Gawd, 3 pgs. Had to speed thru the RJ stuff, but consider this. The population of hikers with 55# packs is said to average 5 mpd. To arrive at five, that would mean some hikers hike below 5 mpd, in the 0-5 range, and some 5 or greater. I don't know anybody as freaking slow as sub 5mpd average, even with that size pack. I regularly average 13 mpd with a pack that size and that's in winter. Thinking back, my pack was that size before seriously lightening up, and I can't think of more than a few full days where I hiked so few miles. Even when injured on my worst day where I had to bail, I hiked more miles than that. I'm not putting any stock in that number.

Is MS sub 5mpd?

It's only not average in the last couple of years. Even as recent as 1998, when I did my AT thru, 50-55 pounds was very average.
Hmmm. I didn't see many 55 pound packs in 1993, Once after visiting a then rare supermarket near the trail, my will power left me and I resumed hiking at 55 pounds. No one sympathized with me. Several were agast at the thought of carrying such weight. One asked point blanks, "What are you going to do?"

I replied, "I'm going to eat heavy for a few days." I made it to Katahdin, with a few gaps. My questioner -- who carefully split two-person dinners in half and lost a great deal of weight -- quit at Harpers Ferry.

Weary

I did a 10.1 today, a 10.3 the day before, and (the day I went through Mahoosuc Notch and Arm) an 8.2, the latter not counting the 2.0 along the Mahoosuc access trail I did to start that day.

Good to hear from you MS.

MS
How is Paul doing at Pine Ellis?? I was in Andover not long ago, and he was very ill. Any news on his health?
DT
=============================
I hiked Rangeley to Gorham in July and when I got to Grafton Notch I was shocked when Paul got out of his van and walked over to me and said ...HEY Footslogger, good to see you again. Here is a picture my wife took while he and I were getting reaquainted. He told me about the efforts to sell the hostel. He seemed in pretty good health to me.

'Slogger

From what I know of Mowgli. I don't think he is going to help you make your point if it is something he doesn't agree with!;)


It's true! It's true! I'm nearly as stubborn as YOU! :)

Oh ma gawd, Sly was right! It does defy logic but, Sly, you must know da man. I guess I owe you a soft drink, or whatever.;)

It just comes naturally! :sun I'll take a whatever... ;)

The art of conversation: priceless.
For everything else (esp. Old Flatus and painfully overbearing middle-aged white shut-in males), there's the Ignore List.
(Ignore list: It's a wonderful thing.):banana

Uh, Whiteblaze? The name of this thread is essentially "where's Minnesota Smith?" and I've probably read close to a 100 posts and I have no idea where he is. What's particularly sad is that many threads in Whiteblaze are like this: combative, wasteful, and ultimately meaningless. Is this the impression you all want to give of the thru-hiking community?

Your mind goes to mush after being alone in the woods.

Darwin Again-"For everything else (esp. Old Flatus and painfully overbearing middle-aged white shut-in males), there's the Ignore List.You are a comic! If you're going to ignore me, please, please do! To keep mentioning me isn't ignoring me, it's more like an obsession.:-?

_____________________
Old Flatus will exist as long as I continue to mention his name. -Dawin Again

Bosborne-"Uh, Whiteblaze? The name of this thread is essentially "where's Minnesota Smith?" and I've probably read close to a 100 posts and I have no idea where he is. What's particularly sad is that many threads in Whiteblaze are like this: combative, wasteful, and ultimately meaningless. Is this the impression you all want to give of the thru-hiking community?"Thank you for contributing to that image.;)

Uh, Whiteblaze? The name of this thread is essentially "where's Minnesota Smith?" and I've probably read close to a 100 posts and I have no idea where he is. What's particularly sad is that many threads in Whiteblaze are like this: combative, wasteful, and ultimately meaningless. Is this the impression you all want to give of the thru-hiking community?
Somebody likes us. No other site has as many members or more posts, I suspect.

Uh, Whiteblaze? The name of this thread is essentially "where's Minnesota Smith?" and I've probably read close to a 100 posts and I have no idea where he is. What's particularly sad is that many threads in Whiteblaze are like this: combative, wasteful, and ultimately meaningless. Is this the impression you all want to give of the thru-hiking community?

:welcome to Whiteblaze! New to the internet? .

Boston-"When someone quotes your posts, fhart, the text is available to those who have you on their ignore list."I fully realize that. But if Darwin is ignoring me, then why does he continue to mention my name every chance he gets? As I said, that isn't ignoring me, that's an obsession.

And I certainly don't want any other posters to quote me so Darwin will have any more reason to launch into another tirade.;)

Uh, Whiteblaze? The name of this thread is essentially "where's Minnesota Smith?" and I've probably read close to a 100 posts and I have no idea where he is. What's particularly sad is that many threads in Whiteblaze are like this: combative, wasteful, and ultimately meaningless. Is this the impression you all want to give of the thru-hiking community?

A thruhike attempt has been on my "maybe someday list" for many years. Following this thread as corny as it sometimes seems has convinced me that it just might be possible.

Uh, Whiteblaze? The name of this thread is essentially "where's Minnesota Smith?" and I've probably read close to a 100 posts and I have no idea where he is. What's particularly sad is that many threads in Whiteblaze are like this: combative, wasteful, and ultimately meaningless. Is this the impression you all want to give of the thru-hiking community?

This site, nor this thread is about the "thru-hiking community." This site is about "Appalachian Trail Enthusiasts" no matter what your preferred method of demonstrating your enthusiasm. This thread is about the seemingly impossible, implausible, nearly laughable attempt by MS to complete a thru-hike. Did you read the first few pages? Almost no one thought he'd get this far. Some of us did. :) The point is that we are cheering for him.

Think of this thread as the drifting conversations of spectators in the stands cheering (jeering?) on a hiker. Personally I think MS has shown us all a thing or two about something at some point. People will be saying for years: If that old coot MS could do it, maybe I oughta give it a whack.

BTW: Welcome to WB. :welcome

A thruhike attempt has been on my "maybe someday list" for many years. Following this thread as corny as it sometimes seems has convinced me that it just might be possible.Thats the spirit! Hell, if just one person decides to give backpacking a try because of this thread, than it is worth every silly post.;):sun

Uh, Whiteblaze? The name of this thread is essentially "where's Minnesota Smith?" and I've probably read close to a 100 posts and I have no idea where he is. What's particularly sad is that many threads in Whiteblaze are like this: combative, wasteful, and ultimately meaningless. Is this the impression you all want to give of the thru-hiking community?

It's a matter of perspective. Outside looking in? You gotta get it.


... and Yes! :D

I fully realize that. But if Darwin is ignoring me, then why does he continue to mention my name every chance he gets? As I said, that isn't ignoring me, that's an obsession.

And I certainly don't want any other posters to quote me so Darwin will have any more reason to launch into another tirade.;)

He is sniping.

Pretty chickenscat if you ask me.

You have been quoted... :D

He is sniping.

Pretty chickenscat if you ask me.

You have been quoted... :D

snipeing?

:-?

Uh, Whiteblaze? The name of this thread is essentially "where's Minnesota Smith?" and I've probably read close to a 100 posts and I have no idea where he is. What's particularly sad is that many threads in Whiteblaze are like this: combative, wasteful, and ultimately meaningless. Is this the impression you all want to give of the thru-hiking community?MS is 30-something miles north of the southern Maine border.

You've walked into a bar and the regulars there are involved in a conversation that started long ago. We, the regulars in this virtual bar, argue amongst ourselves but everyone knows we'll all be back at the bar tomorrow. Whiteblaze, and especially The Thread, are kinda like that.

Hang around. Slide into conversations on subjects that you feel comfortable discussing. Soon you'll learn to recognize who is an expert in some area from the crazy guy in the corner, the know-it-all mailman from the professor, who to pay attention to and who to ignore, what subject headings to check out and which ones to avoid.

Welcome to The Thread, the Gateway to Whiteblaze. To stretch my bar analogy past its breaking point, there's a feeling that we're getting closer to final call and everyone here is getting a bit slap happy.

To stretch my bar analogy past its breaking point, there's a feeling that we're getting closer to final call and everyone here is getting a bit slap happy. Don't be so sure.:-?

MS is 30-something miles north of the southern Maine border.

You've walked into a bar and the regulars there are involved in a conversation that started long ago. We, the regulars in this virtual bar, argue amongst ourselves but everyone knows we'll all be back at the bar tomorrow. Whiteblaze, and especially The Thread, are kinda like that.

Hang around. Slide into conversations on subjects that you feel comfortable discussing. Soon you'll learn to recognize who is an expert in some area from the crazy guy in the corner, the know-it-all mailman from the professor, who to pay attention to and who to ignore, what subject headings to check out and which ones to avoid.

Welcome to The Thread, the Gateway to Whiteblaze. To stretch my bar analogy past its breaking point, there's a feeling that we're getting closer to final call and everyone here is getting a bit slap happy.

Way to sum it up, Cliff. :D:banana

Way to sum it up, Cliff. :D:banana

Check your fly, Woody.

Your banana's showing. :D

Welcome to The Thread, the Gateway to Whiteblaze.

LOL... Well, it does happen to be the 1st thread i look to in the morning.

Way to sum it up, Cliff. :D:banana

Cliff? As in Claven? Now that everybody knows your name, here's one for you, "a group of larks is called an exaltation."

Y'all can breathe out now....

Way to sum it up, Cliff. Y'know it's intersting you should use the word "sum" which is a Sumerian word, of course, meaning Sun and it implies something that's all emcompassing, like sunshine, say. It's also the root word of "Summer", the season during which a lot of hiking occurs.

Well, its a little known fact that the monks in Japan engage in an anual snowball fight every year to determine the national hierarchy of...uh..monkdom. Yeah, the monks all gather along the coast, stip naked to the waist and proceed to slaughter each other with snowballs. On years when the snow doesn't fall along the coast they pay local fishermen to shave ice from their icehouses to make snow balls. This was, as few people know, the origin of the snow cone. You see, the monks being geniuses found that cone shaped snow balls travelled faster. Incidently the first snow cones were tuna flavored....:-?

=============================
II was shocked when Paul got out of his van and walked over to me
'Slogger

Well, imagine how Paul felt! :D Oldtimer ;)

Well, its a little known fact that the monks in Japan engage in an anual snowball fight every year to determine the national hierarchy of...uh..monkdom. Yeah, the monks all gather along the coast, stip naked to the waist and proceed to slaughter each other with snowballs. On years when the snow doesn't fall along the coast they pay local fishermen to shave ice from their icehouses to make snow balls. This was, as few people know, the origin of the snow cone. You see, the monks being geniuses found that cone shaped snow balls travelled faster. Incidently the first snow cones were tuna flavored....This tradition continues every year in Damascus where water balloons and supersoakers substitue for snowballs.

Y'know it's intersting you should use the word "sum" which is a Sumerian word, of course, meaning Sun and it implies something that's all emcompassing, like sunshine, say. It's also the root word of "Summer", the season during which a lot of hiking occurs.

...And 'sum' spelled backwards is mus which as an interesting side note is the Chippewa word for sun and also the root word for their native land which in early American history was referred to as 'Musinnesota' until the white man perverted the pronunciation .

I just caught up for the day. Too much to comment on other to say I've enjoyed it..... and I'm begining to think MS has little to do with it.:eek: BTW, Good on ya MS.... enjoy your hike!:D ;) :)

"a group of larks is called an exaltation." A crowd of jugglers was properly named a "Neverthriving" for what must have been obvious reasons.

Obscure facts like that can be used to set up an old joke about "What are a bunch of clowns called?"

The punch line then depends on circumstances... in this case it might be "The Thread participants." Or your company's executive office building's name, a rival school, a political party, whatever.

A crowd of jugglers was properly named a "Neverthriving" for what must have been obvious reasons.

Obscure facts like that can be used to set up an old joke about "What are a bunch of clowns called?"

The punch line then depends on circumstances... in this case it might be "The Thread participants." Or your company's executive office building's name, a rival school, a political party, whatever.

A Clown Posse?

Saimyoji-"Well, its a little known fact that the monks in Japan engage in an anual snowball fight every year......."This thread has been so wierd that I wasn't sure for a moment whether you meant "anal" or "annual".:D

I was hoping you'd continue with the rest of the story.

the brain contains the mind , the soul, and the spirit and the ego . it dosnt sit atop the body like a king. the body does not struggle under the wrath if it. the body dutifuly and gladly carrys it and the brain treats the body with equal respect. together they are an awsome team. as wittnessed to by the pyramids and the geneome map we have made . and minnisota smith whos brothers have made him.

Minnesota Smith---Good to hear from you...seemed that you may have checked out. Continue on your journey and damn the doubters....we are watching and living thru you (or at least I am)

peace
mf

dito moms heart.

You've walked into a bar and the regulars there are involved in a conversation that started long ago. We, the regulars in this virtual bar, argue amongst ourselves but everyone knows we'll all be back at the bar tomorrow. Whiteblaze, and especially The Thread, are kinda like that.

You mean the drunk alcoholic frustrated ignorant negative middle-aged white men's bar?

There's a reason certain people don't waste their time and/or don't feel comfortable posting here: because they know it's a club governed by opinions that are generally common-denominator generic conventional wisdom. Whimsy is frowned upon, as is original thinking that might not fit in with that of the (drunk alcoholic frustrated ignorant middle-aged white men) group.

I don't give a rat's feces because I don't really need validation from this group. But the WBers who camp on this thread do represent a certain demographic of hikers, most of whom are timid and respectful when you meet them in the woods or towns along the AT. There's boldness in numbers and safety in the anonymity of the internet. For instance, I've met B. Jack Daddy and he was a perfect gentleman. Even shook his hand and talked to him about my hike. But on this Web site, his hyjinks range from amusingly overbearing to unbelievably bitter, coarse and crass. And Old Flatus, well, he'll never know it if we meet.:D

Internegators isn't a bad name for these folks.
Keyboard boldness, you know.;)
But rest assured that people judge hikers by the things they post here. More of you should keep that in mind.:rolleyes:

m f'er has a point. we are watching. imagine bleachers full of a choir of us above you minni.all day long,... every move you make. we see you at your best.here in maine. weve seen you at your worst. neels.and as thrusters come and go,.... if all the thruhikers there ever were and all that will ever be , were numbered in order of joy brought to yourself and others,......with one being god and one million being trail murderers,......your a good solid ,......four hundred and thirty nine thousand , three hundred and fifty. and thats good enough for us.

we see you at your best.here in maine. weve seen you at your worst. neels.

are you sure "the worst" wasn't in maine, specifically the privy incident?:-? :D

What's the sound of one anus flapping?
(See quote above.:dance)

derwood? ........me thinks you wrong sir and if newcommers started talking all about vegen food and hiking for world peace and how all things are controlled by aliens and all about how to pack a dridgidoo and when to meditate and what the astrological signs say about there thru hike and if all of them outnumbered us and out posted us and we became a backround ,.. then we would enjoy ourselves even more and welcome change and befriend the weirdos and even become more like them in some ways. yes mr darwin, there is alot more flex and good than you think here on whiteblaze. and some of these folks are pure gold,.. the kind you would want at your death bed to comfort. like starlyte and lone wolf belive it or not. cheer up.

People don't feel comfortable posting here, Darwin?

Gee, I guess that's why we have over 10,000 members and nearly a quarter of a million posts.

Gosh, that sure is a whole lotta uncomfortable people. :D

The people who hacked the site last night have abducted Minnesota Smith. No ransom demands have been made at this time. Somehow they must have gotten the idea that MS is the most important thing associated with this site. How could that have happened? :-?

Me thinks that in a few hours, this will turn into something akin to the Ransom of Red Chief (http://www.online-literature.com/o_henry/1041/). ;)

It was the Maine Provisional Wing of the Feminist Taliban that kidnapped him.
I say we hunt 'em down then torture them until they talk and reveal his location!

Dead or alive!!!!!:datz

Likely a reverse ranson scheme: Either we pay, or they'll return him.

derwood? ........me thinks you wrong sir and if newcommers started talking all about vegen food and hiking for world peace and how all things are controlled by aliens and all about how to pack a dridgidoo and when to meditate and what the astrological signs say about there thru hike and if all of them outnumbered us and out posted us and we became a backround ,.. then we would enjoy ourselves even more and welcome change and befriend the weirdos and even become more like them in some ways. yes mr darwin, there is alot more flex and good than you think here on whiteblaze. and some of these folks are pure gold,.. the kind you would want at your death bed to comfort. like starlyte and lone wolf belive it or not. cheer up.

OK. Fair enough. :rolleyes:
I was just having a moment. I come from a long line of ignorant, frustrated, drunk, middle-aged white men. I guess this is my burden to bear...

STop with the negative waves. Your bringing me down man.

I wonder if MS ran across Elwood this summer?

I hereby vote for the infamous MS pic to be placed in the 'Trail Legends' section of the photo gallery........all those in favor?

mweinstone-".............yes mr darwin, there is alot more flex and good than you think here on whiteblaze. and some of these folks are pure gold,.. the kind you would want at your death bed to comfort. like starlyte and lone wolf belive it or not. cheer up."You know, scary as it may seem, I think I'm begining to like mweinstone. :)

I think I'll start the "What do I do when Minnesota Smith finishes hiking?" thread...

Ooops, sorry matthewski, don't mean to be steppin' on da toes . . .;)

A little music to read The Thread by (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tisINbtAM8&mode=related&search=). :rolleyes:

20 hours and no posts? Are y'all sick of this thread now? Let's get this party started!!:banana :sun :) :D

I think I'll start the "What do I do when Minnesota Smith finishes hiking?" thread...

You might be waiting a long time before you can act on the ideas generated by your proposed thread. I heard Minnesota Smith will be indefinately suspending his hike at Abol Bridge and is not intending to finish, so that the thread can live on in infamy forever!:D :rolleyes::) ;)

I've made it to Route 17, about 48 miles into Maine. Today was an involuntary single zero day due to unhappy knees and getting worn out from what (for me) is a fast pace. I did 3 days of around 10 miles, topped off with a 13.3 yesterday. I head out towards Rangeley tomorrow dawn. Minnow and Fish will likely be heading there the same time; they're doing today what I did yesterday (took me just over 10.5 hours, with very limited breaks). Boulder and Charlie Foxtrot left for Rangeley this A.M.

Any pointers, anyone, on people (besides Bob O'Brian @ Gull Pond Lodge or Golden Waldo, whom I already know about) for slackpacking possibilities between Rangeley and Caratunk? I got told that Saddleback and the Bigelows are rough and slow. BTW, rain finally moved back in here this morning.

You might be waiting a long time before you can act on the ideas generated by your proposed thread. I heard Minnesota Smith will be indefinately suspending his hike at Abol Bridge and is not intending to finish, so that the thread can live on in infamy forever!:D :rolleyes::) ;)

As soon as I hit Abol Bridge, it's up to the big K. ASAP as I'm allowed by the uniforms @ Baxter. Then, it's straight to Hanover for a couple of days off, followed by Vermont, Mass, and the rest of CT.

BTW, is "Starlyte" the same young lady that was at Trail Angel Mary's cooking with Baltimore Jack just pre-Billville?

Hey minnesota, what are your plans next?

Are you going to try and hike to baxter right up to oct. 15, or is there more to your plans?

I'm trying to make it to Baxter as a straight shot, but will flip within Maine ASAP if I decide the math re distance:progress rate looks iffy. I'd head to Monson on an in-state flip, for two reasons. One, I'd feel I had more fully earned Katahdin to have hiked through the 100 miles than if I got out of a motor vehicle at the gate of the Park. Second, I'd be eligible to start off Ascension Day @ the Birches if I did the 100 Mile Wilderness, which I understand eases logistics that day.

A local told me about a quadruple murder that occurred near Bethel (less than 20 miles from here, I think) around Labor Day. Yuk.

I wonder if MS ran across Elwood this summer?

I hereby vote for the infamous MS pic to be placed in the 'Trail Legends' section of the photo gallery........all those in favor?

Don't think I ran into him, not knowingly, anyway.

If you're going to post a pic of me in a prominent place, please have it be of me atop Katahdin with my hand on the sign. You have less than a month to wait for that to be available, I promise.

See any moose yet MS? What about other wildlife sightings? WHat are the highlights of New England for you?

A reporter in the back of the press conference waves his arms to get attention and shouts over the crowd of reporters and photographers:

"Mr. Smith! Mr. Smith! DwM of Whiteblaze! You said your knees were unhappy? How unhappy are they? Are they newly unhappy or have they been dissatisfied for awhile? Do you think they'll be a problem?"

This thread and minnesotasmith are the best things to happen to whiteblaze.

I figure a fair analogy would be the Harding-Kerrigan kneecapping incident boosting women's figure skating interest longterm. What do you think about that comparison? :-? ;)

See any moose yet MS? What about other wildlife sightings? WHat are the highlights of New England for you?H

Have seen 3 moose so far, all from roadside, including 2 yesterday morning. Had seen them previously in N. MN and in AK.

Saw my first porcupine yesterday, about 15 minutes N. of S. Arm Rd. (Had seen 1 @ the zoo in Bear Mtn, so recognized it instantly.) Got so-so pic of it on current camera.

No bears since Lafayette Mtn, though see scat almost daily. No deer in LONG time.

Other highlights... Views are periodically awesome, with the leaves well into highly colorful fall change. Maine is VERY wild, with zero other hikers crossing my path either of the last 2 days.

My annual Dutch Oven cooking and leaf watching event will be in late October, that's how we first met 3 years ago. But I don't think he'll be finished in time. I'm sure we'll have a post hike get-together and I'm really looking forward to it.

I predict the 2nd half of Nov. for FINALLY being done with my doing every mile of the AT. I'd like to rehike GA, just to see how my perspective will have changed on it. Maybe a day hike together? I should add again that you have helped me a LOT towards 2000-miler status; thank you beyond words. (Matthewski, SteveM, Darwin, Baltimore Jack, and about other 30 trail angels, you guys too.)

MS, Good to hear from you. There has been some speculation that the privy incident was perhaps caused by fatigue, poor judgement or pressure to push on due to this thread. Did you have the proper equipment for an unexpected overnight stay? Were you in any danger of hypothermia?

Please stay safe.

H

Saw my first porcupine yesterday, about 15 minutes N. of S. Arm Rd.

Very nice! I saw a porky at High Point State Park in New Jersey once. That's the only live one I've seen in the wild.

Regarding moose, you have a high liklihood of seeing them in the wild between Statton and the Kennebec. Of course you could see them anywhere in Maine, but there are lots of them around East Carry Pond, West Carry Pond & Pierce Pond. My favorite section of the AT - BTW.

Moose season actually starts on Monday Sept 25. You should consider wearing BLAZE ORANGE from this point onward - if you aren't already doing so. Bear season has been open since August 25.

Well, I assumed it wasn't, say, a decorative protective cover for a public toilet seat, which is sorta what it looks like, but what kinda gear? Something to keep rain from somehow blowing under a jacket??? I've never seen anyone wearing anything like that before... :-?

It's two blue bandannas. Handy for protection vs. UV, brush, and bugs.

Very nice! I saw a porky at High Point State Park in New Jersey once. That's the only live one I've seen in the wild.

Regarding moose, you have a high liklihood of seeing them in the wild between Statton and the Kennebec. Of course you could see them anywhere in Maine, but there are lots of them around East Carry Pond, West Carry Pond & Pierce Pond. My favorite section of the AT - BTW.

Moose season actually starts on Monday Sept 25. You should consider wearing BLAZE ORANGE from this point onward - if you aren't already doing so. Bear season has been open since August 25.

Two are waiting for me in my maildrop in Rangeley (latter confirmed arrived).

MS, hear any loons yet? I heard my first just north of Rte 17.

MS, Good to hear from you. There has been some speculation that the privy incident was perhaps caused by fatigue, poor judgement or pressure to push on due to this thread. Did you have the proper equipment for an unexpected overnight stay? Were you in any danger of hypothermia?

Please stay safe.

It was caused by unwillingness of any drivers on Hwy. 26 to give me a ride. I had slacked the approx. 9 miles that day from Mahoosuc Notch to Grafton Notch (plus the 2 miles of the Mahoosuc access trail) to there w/o making pickup arrangements, figuring on hitching. I'd brought 2 thin thermal tops, a thin thermal bottom (LJs), and a knit cap, so was uncomfortable but not in danger with it being wet, windy, and no more than 40 F. The privy was like a small washroom, NOT the usual h*llhole micro *****ter typical @ most trail shelters. It was a square about 7' on a side, odorless, smooth (nonabrasive) clean dry concrete floor with a roof and walls. The walls extended up to within around a foot of the roof, about 8' up. The walls didn't reach the floor, stopping about 4" from the bottom. I spent 25 minutes (I timed it) stuffing leaves and branches around that 28' of gap to keep out the wind. I used the inserts from my shoes under my heels while prone so that the hard floor didn't hurt my heels. Pack made an adequate pillow.

The next day, I used my extra food, and filled back up on water at the Baldpate shelter (I had water treatment gear along, natch), and did the next day's planned hike, this one to East B Hill, about 10 miles.

Good luck MS.....keep on truckin'!!! Looking forward to seeing those summit pics!!

double post deleted

Good on ya, Minnesota!

Big K awaits...:D Hike smart.

MS, hear any loons yet? I heard my first just north of Rte 17.

Hard to hear such over the wind. Not that many ponds near the Trail lately. Saw a flock of about 14 Canada Geese in the classic "V" migration pattern late yesterday, headed south, honking to each other.

I've begun carrying my Puffball jacket, my tyvek groundcloth, and my large fleece balaclava on my slackpacks as well. It can hit freezing some nights out there now at altitude.

A reporter in the back of the press conference waves his arms to get attention and shouts louder over the crowd of reporters and photographers:

"Mr. Smith! Mr. Smith! DwM of Whiteblaze! You said your knees were unhappy? How unhappy are they? Are they newly unhappy or have they been dissatisfied for awhile? Do you think they'll be a problem?"

A reporter in the back of the press conference waves his arms to get attention and shouts louder over the crowd of reporters and photographers:

"Mr. Smith! Mr. Smith! DwM of Whiteblaze! You said your knees were unhappy? How unhappy are they? Are they newly unhappy or have they been dissatisfied for awhile? Do you think they'll be a problem?"

They mostly got a bit whiny yesterday, trying to haul tail over a LONG (for me) stretch of trail in fricking MAINE. I've pushed the body a bit the last 4 days, especially with that rather substandard night's sleep about 3 nights ago, to be sure. Serious sustained downs (ME/NH have loads of such) are roughest on knees, presuming you don't fall. I prefer going up now, like most hikers with any semblance of trail legs. I figure on heading out tomorrow, with an eye on the kneesies.

MS, No response necessary. I assume you have a reliable method for starting a fire and a mylar space blanket in your emergency kit.

If I may be permitted a followup question? Please?

Have you been keeping up with current events?

Are you aware that Khatahdin has already been closed once this week because of snow and ice? And that behind you a hiker is hospitalized after spending the night on Mt. Washington?

And the president of Pakistan said the US threatened to bomb them back to the Stone Age if they didn't support our war against terrorism. If that is true, would we have had to use pins to bust balloons, party poppers, or do you think we would have had to resort to firecrackers?

1) People don't feel comfortable posting here, Darwin? Gee, I guess that's why we have over 10,000 members and nearly a quarter of a million posts. Gosh, that sure is a whole lotta uncomfortable people.

This is OT, but is deserving of a response. I note your use of the menacing, faux ironic "Gee" and "Gosh." I know it's just a short jump to the brazenly threatening, "Pal" (conveyed in its barroom sense), so I'll just hang up and take my reply off the air....

1) Yes, some don't feel comfortable posting here. I wonder why.:-?

2) You use "we" in reference to this site. Is that the Royal "we" or are you one of the site owners? No matter. A quarter of a million posts = 250,000. Your stats show that you alone have posted 3,500 times. 250,000 divided by 3,500 = only 71 people posting as frequently as you have to make near the quarter-million mark. Trickle that down through 10,000 members and the post rate flattens right out to 25 posts per member. I'm not even factoring in time. Obviously there are lots more members who are readers and lurkers than are posters. As Orwell might have put it, all animals are posty, but some are more posty than others. :rolleyes: It's very cool that there are 10,000 members here, btw.

3) Jack Daddy, you're obviously not one of the uncomfortable ones.:D

I've got no beef here. What was your point again?;)
Were we arguing about something?

GO Minnesota!

Peace!
~Darwin

If I may be permitted a followup question? Please?

Have you been keeping up with current events?

Are you aware that Khatahdin has already been closed once this week because of snow and ice? And that behind you a hiker is hospitalized after spending the night on Mt. Washington?

And the president of Pakistan said the US threatened to bomb them back to the Stone Age if they didn't support our war against terrorism. If that is true, would we have had to use pins to bust balloons, party poppers, or do you think we would have had to resort to firecrackers?

DWM, You forgot the stuff that would be or real interest to MS. On 9/15/06 the Russian Space Agency announced that Madonna was scheduled to travel to the International Space Station as the worlds first "space tourist celebrity".

As soon as I hit Abol Bridge, it's up to the big K. ASAP as I'm allowed by the uniforms @ Baxter. Then, it's straight to Hanover for a couple of days off, followed by Vermont, Mass, and the rest of CT.

I note that in referring to your post-Maine plans, you say you will head to Hanover and follow your stay there with Vermont, Massachusetts and the remainder of Connecticut, the order of the final States as indicated by you.

Is it your intention to hike that portion southbound? I believe there would be advantages to hiking southbound. The Manchester District of the GMNF is relatively remote and inaccessible and lies at a higher elevation generally than points farther south. There will be more services, opportunities for rest and the flexibility to proceed at a more leisurely pace as you as hike farther south. Seems a strategy more likely to result in a completed thru-hike to me.

This is OT, but is deserving of a response. I note your use of the menacing, faux ironic "Gee" and "Gosh." I know it's just a short jump to the brazenly threatening, "Pal" (conveyed in its barroom sense), so I'll just hang up and take my reply off the air....

1) Yes, some don't feel comfortable posting here. I wonder why.:-?

2) You use "we" in reference to this site. Is that the Royal "we" or are you one of the site owners? No matter. A quarter of a million posts = 250,000. Your stats show that you alone have posted 3,500 times. 250,000 divided by 3,500 = only 71 people posting as frequently as you have to make near the quarter-million mark. Trickle that down through 10,000 members and the post rate flattens right out to 25 posts per member. I'm not even factoring in time. Obviously there are lots more members who are readers and lurkers than are posters. As Orwell might have put it, all animals are posty, but some are more posty than others. :rolleyes: It's very cool that there are 10,000 members here, btw.

3) Jack Daddy, you're obviously not one of the uncomfortable ones.:D

I've got no beef here. What was your point again?;)
Were we arguing about something?

GO Minnesota!

Peace!
~Darwin

Wingfoot's Trailplace has 22,500 members and 39,600 posts
Whiteblaze has 10,200 members and 240,500 posts.
Looks like Whiteblaze is lot more fun and exciting. And I lead the posting with 5300+. 99% of them are BS.

Ouch, LWolf is getting ahead of me - NOT!

And one reason we have less members is you can lurk and read here without a membership. TrailPlace has the forums closed unless you join.

Ouch, LWolf is getting ahead of me - NOT!

And one reason we have less members is you can lurk and read here without a membership. TrailPlace has the forums closed unless you join.

DOOD! How did you pass me? Didnt even notice. Sorry. I'll take 2nd place.:D

It is all the pictures, behind the sceens messages, and other things like that. They go in my post count.

If you were to merge my USERNAME with my old login ID (TNJED) I'm nearly the bronze medalist.

If you were to merge my USERNAME with my old login ID (TNJED) I'm nearly the bronze medalist.

That's my original USERID. It stopped working back when EASYHIKER was running the show. Somehow it works agian. PFM ;)

I can merge user IDs. I only need to know who to merge.

Well. TNJED and MOWGLI16 are the same person.

If you were to merge my USERNAME with my old login ID (TNJED) I'm nearly the bronze medalist.You shold get that done. At 2.36 posts per day, thats over 3 months of work you are not getting credit for.:D

It is done

I feel like I just yellow blazed 250 miles. :banana

I feel like I just yellow blazed 250 miles. :bananaNow you can take 3 months off.;)

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Looks like Whiteblaze is lot more fun and exciting. And I lead the posting with 5300+. 99% of them are BS.

You've got that right (on all counts)!;)
Party on Mr. Wolf.:D

So it look like four or five of youse are wholly responsible for most if not all of the 250,000 posts!?:eek::D

heh-heh.

GO Minnesota!

The Thread (TM).

Bringing people together and solving problems since February 2006.

The Thread is a registered
trademark of Whiteblaze.com.
All other use is strictly prohibited.

Group hug!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

Also, free hugs available at the Gathering. :)

Also, free hugs available at the Gathering. :)

It seems like all my favorite hikers are going to be there! :banana

It seems like all my favorite hikers are going to be there! :banana

Extra free hug for you, baby!

Group hug!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4



What a great video!