MinnesotaSmith Update

[StarLyte]

No, you don't. Notice who last edited that post and why.

gotcha!

I didn't pay attention to the editing....:o

[Topcat]

I for one and tired of it. I am tired of the people that say they support us, then write that sort of nonsense. I only want to retire. I want to hike the trail. And, God help me, I pray that we are pulling out of this place before I start because the guilt will kill me if I am out hiking while my brothers are still dying.[/quote]

Rock, I am only a guy who lurks on this site because i love backpacking the trail and dont get to do it enough any more. I have always found your info to be instructive and enjoyable. Since you have gone back to Iraq, you have been in my prayers. I believe no truer and beautiful statement has ever been made on this site than what you said above.

This old hippy peace corps geek, for one, is looking forward to meeting you on the trail someday and hope that you never have to feel guilty about leaving others behind. I am sorry for your loss of your friend. It is sad when people make the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for your service, keep your head down, and lets go hiking someplace cooler....

[Topcat]

i was quoting Sgt. Rock above but it didnt show up right, hope i didnt confuse anyone

[Skidsteer]

I for one and tired of it. I am tired of the people that say they support us, then write that sort of nonsense. I only want to retire. I want to hike the trail. And, God help me, I pray that we are pulling out of this place before I start because the guilt will kill me if I am out hiking while my brothers are still dying.



Rock, I am only a guy who lurks on this site because i love backpacking the trail and dont get to do it enough any more. I have always found your info to be instructive and enjoyable. Since you have gone back to Iraq, you have been in my prayers. I believe no truer and beautiful statement has ever been made on this site than what you said above.

This old hippy peace corps geek, for one, is looking forward to meeting you on the trail someday and hope that you never have to feel guilty about leaving others behind. I am sorry for your loss of your friend. It is sad when people make the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for your service, keep your head down, and lets go hiking someplace cooler....

Well spoken Topcat.

[mweinstone]

I believe no truer and beautiful statement has ever been made on this site than what you said above. quote/topcat

there is no greater love than to give ones life for another.




couldnt resist the challenge.

[gr8fulyankee]

I dont understand why the 2 of you just shut the **** up about your personal bitches with each other and focus on the topic. You both have VALID reasons to want to kill each other but damn man just let it go.
For the sake of humanity, just smile and move on!

[weary]

I dont understand why the 2 of you just shut the **** up about your personal bitches with each other and focus on the topic. You both have VALID reasons to want to kill each other but damn man just let it go.
!
Well, I've followed this thread so casually that I don't really know which "2 of you" you want to "just shut the **** up about your personal bitches with each other and focus on the topic." I haven't detected amything particularly profound in this thread that warrants censorship, voluntary or otherwise.

Weary

[Dances with Mice]

Well, I've followed this thread so casually that I don't really know which "2 of you" you want to "just shut the **** up about your personal bitches with each other and focus on the topic." I haven't detected amything particularly profound in this thread that warrants censorship, voluntary or otherwise.If you're feeling guilty, relax.

[weary]

If you're feeling guilty, relax.

Not guilty, just a little puzzled.

[gr8fulyankee]

Not guilty, just a little puzzled.
It's all good, I guess that I just exspected a fellow New Hampsirite to be more civil when dealiing with an out of stater. I mean Come on I may not live in NH right now but sh it, we have all sort of F$cking NY'ers and a$$hole from Conn and Mass coming up all the times to visit the state. I mean F$cking hell well we don't like it, but it helps drive the economy!

[Alligator]

Everyone needs to chill out and have a Moxie.

[ed bell]

For the sake of humanity, just smile and move on! Now that part of your post is very good advice indeed. Too bad you waited until it was done with.:D

[gr8fulyankee]

Now that part of your post is very good advice indeed. Too bad you waited until it was done with.:D
Dude I was taking a sh$T, GIVE ME A BREAK ALREADY ! :D

[ed bell]

Well, maybe I replied a bit late. Unfortunate.:-?

[dixicritter]

Ok that's it! There have been numerous warnings on this thread to keep it civilized and it's getting worse and worse. Do y'all really want this thread closed down? There's no call for deliberately bypassing the word filters to make your post as vulgar as possible, this will be your only warning on that one gr8fulyankee and anyone else that does it from here on out. Read the site user agreement, that kind of language isn't allowed.

Now, Play nice in here or this thread will be closed... period.

[Bloodroot]

I must sat I apologize for my remarks after Rocks earlier (yes I got a little emotional & teary-eyed).....but maybe Im one of those who "needed counseling" afterwards. Quite possibley that's for the still tongue throughout that thread in the past.

It's just that many of the things that Rock mentioned I could relate to...and it upset and sadded me. I remember I joined WB when I was over there and all I wanted was the same things he mentioned. I wanted to come home, I wanted all of my brothers to come home, and I wanted on the trail. All I had was there for piece of mind was chatting occasionally with family members and you guys on here. Bout 6 months into it I ordered the DVD "Trek" and watched it over and over...and all it did was build up anticipation of getting on the trail. But most importantly it gave me something to strive for. I gave me a reason to overcome depressive thoughts. I'm really at loss for words right now....but I truly home Rock gets home a fullfills his dream, because I know for me it was a great breath a fresh air when I crossed that arch in Amicola Falls.

[gr8fulyankee]

Ok that's it! There have been numerous warnings on this thread to keep it civilized and it's getting worse and worse. Do y'all really want this thread closed down? There's no call for deliberately bypassing the word filters to make your post as vulgar as possible, this will be your only warning on that one gr8fulyankee and anyone else that does it from here on out. Read the site user agreement, that kind of language isn't allowed.

Now, Play nice in here or this thread will be closed... period.
Ow WOW thank for singularing me out!
Have you been sleeping for the last couple months!
I do believe that a lot more offensive wordage has been on this site lately!
So, Close this thread I dare you! Chicken!

[dixicritter]

Ow WOW thank for singularing me out!
Have you been sleeping for the last couple months!
I do believe that a lot more offensive wordage has been on this site lately!
So, Close this thread I dare you! Chicken!

How about I put you in time out instead. Don't push me.

[the goat]

Ow WOW thank for singularing me out!
Have you been sleeping for the last couple months!
I do believe that a lot more offensive wordage has been on this site lately!
So, Close this thread I dare you! Chicken!

gr8ful-
you're obviously a weak individual. how 'bout you chill out and quit being the internet tough guy?

[gr8fulyankee]

Oh wow , I am sorry, Time out, I really must have messed up to be THREATEND to be put in time out! Dixicritter, no officence, The discussion didn't involve you. So be a good little cyber warrior and due what you must! As far as being VULGAR! I am not trying to be vulgar, its just that some people don't understand or respond unless you slap them upside the head! Gee mabye it's called "calling them out" I know that it may be a little hard for a southern to understand, but ask a fellow hiker to explain it to you , because most inbreds wont understand it!

[the goat]

Oh wow , I am sorry, Time out, I really must have messed up to be THREATEND to be put in time out! Dixicritter, no officence, The discussion didn't involve you. So be a good little cyber warrior and due what you must! As far as being VULGAR! I am not trying to be vulgar, its just that some people don't understand or respond unless you slap them upside the head! Gee mabye it's called "calling them out" I know that it may be a little hard for a southern to understand, but ask a fellow hiker to explain it to you , because most inbreds wont understand it!

like i said, pretty terrible man....are you drunk?

[Bloodroot]

like i said, pretty terrible man....are you drunk?

Dunno if he is, but Im getting there!!!! Bottom's up!!

[gr8fulyankee]

Well yes, Yes Iam !:D

[ed bell]

like i said, pretty terrible man....are you drunk?I checked my magic 8 Ball and it said; "It is certainly true":D

[Alligator]

like i said, pretty terrible man....are you drunk?Dosing seems more likely

[Heater]

I know that it may be a little hard for a southern to understand, but ask a fellow hiker to explain it to you , because most inbreds wont understand it!

Uhmmm... did he really just call Dixie an "inbred"?!! :-? :eek:

[the goat]

Well yes, Yes Iam !:D

i thought so. hey, how about marinating 'till tomorrow, and the arrival of sobriety?

thanks man!

[Bloodroot]

Uhmmm... did he really just call Dixie an "inbred"?!! :-? :eek:
It's OK man....Yanks don't know no better! Gotta give em some slack/:D :)

[LEGS]

However, I'm in the position of trying to get to hike all of the AT in Maine THIS year, with health issues and a time crunch. I want to finish this thing this year, and with honor. If you can think of a solution that allows me to do so, I'm all ears.

JUST PUT ON YOUR PACK AND WALK, WALK, WALK FASTER,AND YOU'LL DO IT. STOP BEING A PANSY AND HIKE, GEEZE, SLACKING ALL THAT BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY IS A SHAME. JUST HIKE MAN, STOP BEIN A WHIMP AND HIKE. DAMN YOU CRY A LOT TO BE NO OLDER THAN YOU ARE, MODEL -T IS PUTTIN YOU TO SHAME YOUNG MAN, SO GO HIKE IF YOU WANT TO FINISH. AND GOING TO ALL THOSE HOSTELS AND MOTELS ISN'T HELPING ANY EITHER. IF YA WANNA FINISH, STAY ON THE TRAIL. GOOD LUCK ,BUT I DONT THINK YOU'LL MAKE IT WITH OUT A WHOLE LOTTA YELLOW BLAZING.

[LEGS]

And This Wasn't My First Post "ski", Check Back A Ways, I Said It A Long Time Ago. Hes Just A Hiker, A Big Complaing One, But Just A Hiker. And Hes Doing Nothing More Than A Couple Thousand Others Have Done And Wiill Do, So I Wish Him Well, But Dont Think Hes Any Thing To Brag About. Just Another Thru Hiker, Thats All He Be, Nothin More Nothin Less. Be Safe Man, And Hike On!

[SGT Rock]

Ever wonder if miles, like dollars, get to the point where it's not important to keep track?

I plan to stop after I finish my first thru-hike. After that it is all gravy.

[SGT Rock]

It's all right. Please remove my account. Disable my password. I'm not very good at this online thing, too vague for me. Please tell Old Fhart that he has won and driven me off the site. Cheers and god bless.

IMO you don't need to quit the site Darwin. I loved your old signature and like having you around. Come on back in and lets have good conversations about the trail and if you wanna post on politics join the forum there.

Anyway, everyone is calm now and things should be left alone by both sides.

[SGT Rock]

By the way, Top, get you and your guys home safe as well. How many more days and a wake up?


147 and a wake up. Except no one knows when they are getting in or out of country anymore if you keep up with the news.

For a long time I have always said that the only thing that would take me off the trail on my thru-hike is a family issue. Now I am starting to wonder if politics and war might cause me to loose my will.

Anyway, enough of this crap. This is the MS thread. But I probably ought to start a vets on the trail issues thread for guys like us. I too also thought it was just me feeling this sort of thing.

[SGT Rock]

Rock, I am only a guy who lurks on this site because i love backpacking the trail and dont get to do it enough any more. I have always found your info to be instructive and enjoyable. Since you have gone back to Iraq, you have been in my prayers. I believe no truer and beautiful statement has ever been made on this site than what you said above.

This old hippy peace corps geek, for one, is looking forward to meeting you on the trail someday and hope that you never have to feel guilty about leaving others behind. I am sorry for your loss of your friend. It is sad when people make the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for your service, keep your head down, and lets go hiking someplace cooler....

Thanks Topcat. Some of my best supporters are the hippy peace corps type.

[MOWGLI]

For a long time I have always said that the only thing that would take me off the trail on my thru-hike is a family issue. Now I am starting to wonder if politics and war might cause me to loose my will.



That won't happen. Thankfully the trail is not like the cyber hiking community. Amen to that!!!! And remember, you'll have 300 miles of solitude on the BMT to figure out what you're gonna do to the first guy who pisses you off on the trail! ;)

Stay well and stay safe. And know that the vast majority of folks here support you - regardless of how they feel about politics or the situation you find yourself in.

[mweinstone]

dear minnisota smith, the darkness in the morning sticks around like back in feb. the cool and chillyness came back from wherever they go . and we all miss you and hope to see you at the next trail event you can be forced into. also,.. i apologize for wasting your time reading all the stuff on the thread thats not fun or on topic. we atracted trouble makers recently.if you want a mail drop suprise pac,.. tell me where i can send. call too. yo minnisota,... is gary really in maine? whats the rib situation? got spare ribs? whats goin on in your head bro? see ya. matthewski out.

[The Old Fhart]

Mweinstone, my guess is that the next we'll hear from MS will be on Saturday or Sunday. From Stratton to Caratunk is about 37 miles and he planned on 4 days to do that section. The first 1/2 is tough but the second 1/2 is pretty easy walking. The first chance to for MS to contact the outside world (unless he takes a side trip) would be Caratunk.

If you are having seperation anxiety now, just wait until he gets into the 100 mile "wilderness", that will be worse. There are spots in that section that do have cell coverage and maybe he'll run into someone who will let him place a call if he doesn't pass gas at them first!:p

[Gray Blazer]

I for one and tired of it. I am tired of the people that say they support us, then write that sort of nonsense. I only want to retire. I want to hike the trail. And, God help me, I pray that we are pulling out of this place before I start because the guilt will kill me if I am out hiking while my brothers are still dying.

Rock, I am only a guy who lurks on this site because i love backpacking the trail and dont get to do it enough any more. I have always found your info to be instructive and enjoyable. Since you have gone back to Iraq, you have been in my prayers. I believe no truer and beautiful statement has ever been made on this site than what you said above.

This old hippy peace corps geek, for one, is looking forward to meeting you on the trail someday and hope that you never have to feel guilty about leaving others behind. I am sorry for your loss of your friend. It is sad when people make the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for your service, keep your head down, and lets go hiking someplace cooler....[/quote]

Ditto that, Sarge.

[MOWGLI]

There are spots in that section that do have cell coverage and maybe he'll run into someone who will let him place a call if he doesn't pass gas at them first!:p

Since Matthewski is a big fan of those Philadelphia Dirty Water Hot Dogs, my guess is that he & MS are Brothers in Harms, when it comes to passing the gas. :rolleyes:

Please pass the Grey Poupon. BLAAAAT!

[Tha Wookie]

Well yes, Yes Iam !:D

Hey man if you're going to be a jerk could you at least change your avatar from the Dead?

Just ask yourself: What Would Jerry Do?

Deadhead to deadhead.

[Dances with Mice]

Wow, the night crew left a mess in here, didn't they? Time for the day shift to clock in and clean it up.

I told MS that a lot of people would tell him to hike his own hike. I also told him that some people would say the same thing but wouldn't really mean it.

Was I right?

[Gray Blazer]

It's all right. Please remove my account. Disable my password. I'm not very good at this online thing, too vague for me. Please tell Old Fhart that he has won and driven me off the site. Cheers and god bless.
Don't quit. Your posts are far more interesting than Old Fhart. He's.....well, an old fart. He can't help it. He does have some beautiful photos in his gallery. Check them out.

[Gray Blazer]

BTW, Go MS. Your oxlyness is contagious.

[MOWGLI]

Hey man if you're going to be a jerk could you at least change your avatar from the Dead?

Just ask yourself: What Would Jerry Do?

Deadhead to deadhead.

And I say row, Wookie row
Gonna get there?
I don't know
Seems a common way to go
Get down, row, row, row
row, row

[Frosty]

STOP BEING A PANSY AND HIKE, GEEZE, SLACKING ALL THAT BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY IS A SHAME. JUST HIKE MAN, STOP BEIN A WHIMP AND HIKE.Maine is indeed a beautiful state and lovely to walk through. Sometimes the vistas there and here in New Hampshire are so inspiring it makes my chest ache. But I never understood why you have to have a big pack on your back to enjoy them. Aren't they the same woods you are walking through even with a day pack?

[The Old Fhart]

Frosty-"Maine is indeed a beautiful state and lovely to walk through. Sometimes the vistas there and here in New Hampshire are so inspiring it makes my chest ache. But I never understood why you have to have a big pack on your back to enjoy them. Aren't they the same woods you are walking through even with a day pack?"I've got to side with Frosty on this one. The increased weight of the pack isn't an indicator of how much you enjoy the views. Plus the last time I checked, the ATC didn't list any pack size requirement for becoming a 2000 miler, just walking from one end of the A.T. to the other.

Even though I've climbed Mt. Washington countless times, I actually enjoyed the views from the summit, especially sunrises and sunsets, much more when I rode up in the snowcat and was staying there for a week at a time.

[Alligator]

Maine is indeed a beautiful state and lovely to walk through. Sometimes the vistas there and here in New Hampshire are so inspiring it makes my chest ache. But I never understood why you have to have a big pack on your back to enjoy them. Aren't they the same woods you are walking through even with a day pack?


I've got to side with Frosty on this one. The increased weight of the pack isn't an indicator of how much you enjoy the views. Plus the last time I checked, the ATC didn't list any pack size requirement for becoming a 2000 miler, just walking from one end of the A.T. to the other.

Even though I've climbed Mt. Washington countless times, I actually enjoyed the views from the summit, especially sunrises and sunsets, much more when I rode up in the snowcat and was staying there for a week at a time.There's a special feeling one gets from waking up in the middle of nowhere surrounded by majesty. A consideration only though. It's a big enough endeavor to simply walk the miles, however it's done. Hope the ribs aren't too bad MS. Maybe get an x-ray. Keep on truckin'.

[Gray Blazer]

I've got to side with Frosty on this one. The increased weight of the pack isn't an indicator of how much you enjoy the views. Plus the last time I checked, the ATC didn't list any pack size requirement for becoming a 2000 miler, just walking from one end of the A.T. to the other.

Even though I've climbed Mt. Washington countless times, I actually enjoyed the views from the summit, especially sunrises and sunsets, much more when I rode up in the snowcat and was staying there for a week at a time.
I was wondering how you got up there to take those great winter shots. So out of the 6 ways to get up there, I've only used 3, walked, drove (car) and cogged. Go MS.

[The Old Fhart]

Gray Blazer-"I was wondering how you got up there to take those great winter shots."Actually about 1/2 of the photos of the Mount Washington area that I have on WhiteBlaze were from hiking trips. The attached photo was taken on a hiking trip. Note the phlegm-cicles on my moustache:p plus my beard was iced up as well. The "thing" on the left is the trail sign for the Trinity Heights Connector trail completely covered with frost feathers and rime ice that forms into the wind as super cool water hitting the surfaces crystalizes, making some interesting scultures. I took my full pack off for the picture but I was prepared hiking up there. You can't see them too well against the snow but I was wearing full crampons that are required to walk on the icy snow.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/1/trinityheights-med.jpg

[Gray Blazer]

Actually about 1/2 of the photos of the Mount Washington area that I have on WhiteBlaze were from hiking trips. The attached photo was taken on a hiking trip. Note the phlegm-cicles on my moustache:p plus my beard was iced up as well. The "thing" on the left is the trail sign for the Trinity Heights Connector trail completely covered with frost feathers and rime ice that forms into the wind as super cool water hitting the surfaces crystalizes, making some interesting scultures. I took my full pack off for the picture but I was prepared hiking up there. You can't see them too well against the snow but I was wearing full crampons that are required to walk on the icy snow.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/1/trinityheights-med.jpg
You are the man. I would love to do that. Being from FL we don't get those opportunities very often. Go MS.

[Heater]

Actually about 1/2 of the photos of the Mount Washington area that I have on WhiteBlaze were from hiking trips. The attached photo was taken on a hiking trip. Note the phlegm-cicles on my moustache:p plus my beard was iced up as well. The "thing" on the left is the trail sign for the Trinity Heights Connector trail completely covered with frost feathers and rime ice that forms into the wind as super cool water hitting the surfaces crystalizes, making some interesting scultures. I took my full pack off for the picture but I was prepared hiking up there. You can't see them too well against the snow but I was wearing full crampons that are required to walk on the icy snow.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/1/trinityheights-med.jpg

Poser! ....

[TOW]

30,000+miles and still learning what is and isn't important to me, which may be different than what is and isn't important to someone else. I'm content with that.
I like and agree with that statement, right on Warren...........

[TOW]

what is a punctured lung and is it when a broken rib goes in like a knife? and is it common among people who fall a second time? and what do you do for a punctured lung? other than get help? do you think ms can saftly walk with this? is there a way to determine if its bruised or cracked or broken? and do ribs come any other ways? seperated? is the amount and duration of pain any test? is there a doctor in the house? and jack , do you know people who suffered this on a thruhike attemp?
I say with the amount MS is carrying he needs to very much watch what he does. Sounds like a cracked rib to say the least and those things are nothing to fool with. I think someone needs to go and talk some sense into his head and that he should go to the ER and get it x-rayed.

[TOW]

Ow WOW thank for singularing me out!
Have you been sleeping for the last couple months!
I do believe that a lot more offensive wordage has been on this site lately!
So, Close this thread I dare you! Chicken!
Hey, whoever you are, you need to keep your fingers to yourself and quit typing junk............

[TOW]

Oh wow , I am sorry, Time out, I really must have messed up to be THREATEND to be put in time out! Dixicritter, no officence, The discussion didn't involve you. So be a good little cyber warrior and due what you must! As far as being VULGAR! I am not trying to be vulgar, its just that some people don't understand or respond unless you slap them upside the head! Gee mabye it's called "calling them out" I know that it may be a little hard for a southern to understand, but ask a fellow hiker to explain it to you , because most inbreds wont understand it!
Well, you are definetly a low down individual, I should hope and pray that you are as gutsy on a face to face as you are behind a keyboard. You owe Dixie an apology right now Mr. Network Engineer.........

[Alligator]

Well, you are definetly a low down individual, I should hope and pray that you are as gutsy on a face to face as you are behind a keyboard. You owe Dixie an apology right now Mr. Network Engineer.........I would guess that this has been taken care of privately by this time Wanderer.

[RITBlake]

Oh wow , I am sorry, Time out, I really must have messed up to be THREATEND to be put in time out! Dixicritter, no officence, The discussion didn't involve you. So be a good little cyber warrior and due what you must! As far as being VULGAR! I am not trying to be vulgar, its just that some people don't understand or respond unless you slap them upside the head! Gee mabye it's called "calling them out" I know that it may be a little hard for a southern to understand, but ask a fellow hiker to explain it to you , because most inbreds wont understand it!

haven't checked in on this thread in a couple days. stay classy gr8ful, stay classy.

[RITBlake]

Oh wow , I am sorry, Time out, I really must have messed up to be THREATEND to be put in time out! Dixicritter, no officence, The discussion didn't involve you. So be a good little cyber warrior and due what you must! As far as being VULGAR! I am not trying to be vulgar, its just that some people don't understand or respond unless you slap them upside the head! Gee mabye it's called "calling them out" I know that it may be a little hard for a southern to understand, but ask a fellow hiker to explain it to you , because most inbreds wont understand it!


just ban him. no need to explain or to justify, just ban.

[Dances with Mice]

Look, we just got The Thread swept out and looking nice again. Wipe your feet before entering so you won't be tracking in the same old dirt.

[StarLyte]

Okay Dances with Mice......I am barefoot......

I'm wondering about MS today......I'm going to light a candle for him......if he is really hurt.....this is not good. Not good at all. I'm talking about mental stability more than anything else.

I hope Maine offers support. Wish I lived closer.

I didn't mean it about the duct tape MS.

[bfitz]

I get the feeling that he will claw his way to the sign no matter what befalls. He certainly has the ability to think the necessary strategy through logically.

[Dances with Mice]

MS is stubborn but he's not foolish about his health. If he's still hiking it's because he's able, not because he's forced.

[gr8fulyankee]

Uhmmm... did he really just call Dixie an "inbred"?!! :-? :eek:
Yes that comment I made was totally uncalled for, sorry about that Dixie.

[mweinstone]

tango with rodent you are a funny man. and ms told me in ga that nothing short of a loss of limb would keep him from the trails end.starlyte has arranged flowers and lit a white candle for streangth. im gonna pray and the rest of you take off your hats and wipe your feet like the man said. were guests in dances house. remember that. tonight we'll have dinner and then a campfire disscusion. with civillity.

[mweinstone]

phone rings. screen red. says california caller id. minnisota smith is the only one who uses this me thinks its him. answer,... minnisota?! ,..... scilence,.....hellow matthew? minnisota smith is that you i scream?!,..... this is so and so from marmot repair,..... im caalling about your bag?,.......oh ,.. i say dejected,...... i thaught you were a friend cause he uses a california caller id.,....pause,.... he says,............i know minnisota smith ,... i think were doing a repair for him. wow what a small acumulation of asteriods and dust particals conjeeled to make a blob ,.. we live on.

[WalkinHome]

Hey Alligator, When I travel to parts south (it's all south from Maine!!) I take a six pack of Moxie so if I don't forget, will have one for you at the Gathering - if you are brave enough LOL. Just ask anyone in Billville where to find me. Will be at the Doyle on the Thursday prior to the Gathering.

[mweinstone]

all cleaned and paid. bills paid. goin out to take a homeless friend shoppin. ah ,... spending,.......me favs me thinks.what i do now,.. i do for all men. by men i mean the biblical men encompassing women too.actually i do this cause im a shopaholic. i like my shopping in a short bong with a single corona.beer that is. texas tea. welllllllllllll,.......the first thing ya know ol jeds a millionair. the kin folk said,... jed,... move away from there. so they loaded up the truck and the moved to appalachi....swimminpools,movie stars like miss janet and starlyte.

[Slimer]

lol.......man.....what a site.

[Alligator]

Hey Alligator, When I travel to parts south (it's all south from Maine!!) I take a six pack of Moxie so if I don't forget, will have one for you at the Gathering - if you are brave enough LOL. Just ask anyone in Billville where to find me. Will be at the Doyle on the Thursday prior to the Gathering.Cool, thanks. I promise to drink the whole thing.

[The Old Fhart]

Alligator-"Cool, thanks. I promise to drink the whole thing."I'll be there to record the video. I can see your expression now. :p

[jlb2012]

just be sure to drink it warm for the full effect

[dixicritter]

Yes that comment I made was totally uncalled for, sorry about that Dixie.

You are right your comments were uncalled for, apology accepted in the spirit it's been given.

[mweinstone]

sleep minnisota smith , sleep now hiker. walk in your dreams. fill water bottles in your dreams. cook food in your dreams. read posts, read maps,.. all in your dreams. then arise and walk minnisota smith. the world gives you your leave to walk. and so do we.

[saimyoji]

You are right your comments were uncalled for, apology accepted in the spirit it's been given.



Aww...Group hug! ;):p

[mweinstone]

who will bow to ms at the gathering and kiss his golden feet?

[mweinstone]

this crap is gold , you cant write that, dont try, you gotta be me.

[Sly]

who will bow to ms at the gathering and kiss his golden feet?

Other than you? Probably no one.... :p

[mweinstone]

you can pry a kiss from my cold dead lips . no,.. my tribute to ms will be selling things at the connsesion stand. ms tee shirts that say,..."minnisota smith molasass" and ill sell stickers of minnisoda smiths head that can be stuck on newspapers and magazins to put ms into any photo. comes in black and white and color. three sizes. and a big wall backdrop of ms with his pack and bug net and staff and a hole in the top to poke your head thru and have your picture taken as ms. five dolla. and i will sell avatars for your bumper or fridge that are all minnisota smiths doing different things. old ms, young, crabby, happy, drunk, farting, etc. you put these avatars on things to tell people how you feel. then theres the thread,.. paperback and hard cover .signed by ms! and dont forget the commemorative patch,... class of 2006, the year of ms, with an AT and a staff across it.

[Nean]

After a small vacation I'm back and caught up on "the thread". :eek: I really don't check this thread to see how Ms is doing, though he is mentioned on occasion.:datz I'm sad that there will no longer be any TOF/DA debates.:( Mr. Again finally got off the bus, tired of being taken to school. It seemed to me just about everything he accused TOF of, w/o examples, he was guilty of, w/ plenty of examples. There is a place out West where DA would be a perfect fit..... but not here. You can get away w/ that kind of crap behind closed doors (or behind ones back) but not on the net. Part of the reason I enjoy this sight. Sure people can still misunderstand what you are saying or take it the wrong way, but then you can make yourself clear w/ example, discussion. Then Again, there are those who are so caught up in their education/self that they fail to recognize what is obvious to most everyone else. A good indicator here on "the Thread" would be mweinstone as your only supporter. I'm sure DA will find other places where he can bully people w/ his knowledge of the english language, but he really got what fer by several folks here on WB. There is something about seeing a bully get beat up that gives me the warm and fuzzies.:D

[TOW]

Yes that comment I made was totally uncalled for, sorry about that Dixie.
This is good, right on..........

[mweinstone]

reports are comming in of ms farting all over the place.

[Mr. Clean]

Nice to be back talking about MS again.....I can't believe I just said that.:eek:

[Blue Jay]

I haven't been following this thread because I don't give a rat's ***, but in the shelter journals in Mass. and Vt. there are strange entries, such as: "The bugs are biting me even through my Minnesota Smith type head net". A women wrote "I had to get a new sleeping bag in Lanesboro because it was too Minnesota Smith". What the hell does this mean? Another one that keeps turning up is "F the cheese and let it go". Is that a Minnesota saying?
Don't make something up, please only respond if you know what these thrus are referring to.:-?

[mweinstone]

duh. a heavy bag and weird headnet gear. and the third thing isnt a saying.

[Trillium]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=13041&c=member&imageuser=3462I cannot believe this man thinks he has a shot w/ a 40-something woman, much less a woman under 27 i.e. 'biologically significant'

[StarLyte]

you can pry a kiss from my cold dead lips

No, it's "you can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers...."

I don't know about bowing to MS's feet Matthewski.

Unless he drops his lobstah samich.

In that case, I will grab it, run and eat it.

[mweinstone]

eating off the ground.




its a hiker thing.

[Skidsteer]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=13041&c=member&imageuser=3462I cannot believe this man thinks he has a shot w/ a 40-something woman, much less a woman under 27 i.e. 'biologically significant'

Stranger things have happened (http://www.geocities.com/highgrove.geo/charles_di.jpg). ;)

[StarLyte]

tango with rodent you are a funny man.


I just cannot stop laughing at this.

I'm going to be all right.

[The Old Fhart]

MurphyGreen-"http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=13041&c=member&imageuser=3462I cannot believe this man thinks he has a shot w/ a 40-something woman, much less a woman under 27 i.e. 'biologically significant'"There are two men in that photo. You might want to specify which one you are referring to unless you mean both.:-?

[rickb]

Stranger things have happened.


If you are a thru hiker everything is possible.

Look at Wolf.

And he doesn't shave or even have a job.

[WalkinHome]

Janice and I were doing some work for the MATC today and incorporated some leaf peeping. While we were driving on Carrying Place Road (between Long Falls Dam Rd and the AT road crossing north [AT-wise] of East Carry Pond) and the second time we hit that road and went by the AT, a hiker waved at us (the trail there is a bit below the road grade-almost didn't see him) and I backed up and there he was. Had not seen him since we met at the Billville Hiker Feed in Duncannon. Anywho introduced him to Janice, gave him a few things to make his life a bit happier and asked what he would like me to pass along to you folks. He tends to jumble topics and stories and sentences a bit so this is my good faith effort at being a transcriber for MS.

Slacked to East Flagstaff with Fish and Minnow - they are ahead now.
Did overnight slack at Safford Brook tentsite and spent the night wearing my puffball jacket in my tent with no problems.
At Little Bigelow Shelter yesterday afternoon saw Dead Bear and Moonbeam.
Last night spent the evening with Boulder, TuTone, Charlie Foxtrot and Polar Bear in West Carry Shelter.
Did 12.2 miles yesterday.
(paraphrase) Tactical decisions still not made regarding any flips and such. Anyone having any advice for slacking Caratunk to Monson appreciate your input.
Going to Pierce Pond tonight and will cross the Kennebec (canoe) tomorrow afternoon.
Pass along that I am wearing my "don't shoot me - I'm a hiker - orange bandannas (see attached pics)

He seemed in good spirits and it appears that the ribs are not as bad as first thought. Seemed to be moving well considering. I was surprised to see a bit of a pot belly on him at this stage of his hike-I know I looked emaciated by this time in 2000. Maybe it was bandages?
Hope the images come out OK as I have never done this before-The pics are in the Whiteblaze member category as a Plan B.




http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=13068&c=663

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=13069&c=663

[the goat]

I was surprised to see a bit of a pot belly on him at this stage of his hike-I know I looked emaciated by this time in 2000. Maybe it was bandages?

maybe it was a whole bunch of slacking, combined with many, many a town day.:D

[bfitz]

If you are a thru hiker everything is possible.

Look at Wolf.

And he doesn't shave or even have a job.
He's biologically significant?

[StarLyte]

Hey Walkin'Home----

Thanks for the Maine update and all you do.

I bet MS was glad to see you.

[mweinstone]

ms? want some pancakes? ill eat them in your honor.you will be receiving maple cream and butter on them . they are multi grain arrowhead mills .coffie and water on the side. hey?,.... whats this?,.........i just made a pancake and starlytes face is on it! e-bay here we come! move over mary toast and jesus grilled cheese! new from betty crocker and hasbro! icon cakes. a pop culture icon on every cake! philly wheather..... rain with no hiking. looking great minnisota. your fingers even look skinny!

[Dances with Mice]

He seemed in good spirits and it appears that the ribs are not as bad as first thought. Seemed to be moving well considering. I was surprised to see a bit of a pot belly on him at this stage of his hike-I know I looked emaciated by this time in 2000. Maybe it was bandages?
Great report. Good news on the ribs! His starting Body Mass Index was probably much higher than yours, I'll bet he's lost about 80 pounds since February while adding a lot of muscle. Physically he's undergone an amazing transformation.

And our boy can't even cross a little road in the middle of nowhere without passing under the spotlight of The Thread.

[Jaybird]

"Model T & Ranger Dawg" have summited MT.K.




http://www.trailjournals.com/modelt/



CONGRATS MT!:D

[neo]

minnesota smith trail legend 2006:cool: neo


http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=17816

[saimyoji]

ms? want some pancakes? ill eat them in your honor.you will be receiving maple cream and butter on them . they are multi grain arrowhead mills .coffie and water on the side. hey?,.... whats this?,.........i just made a pancake and starlytes face is on it! e-bay here we come! move over mary toast and jesus grilled cheese! new from betty crocker and hasbro! icon cakes. a pop culture icon on every cake! philly wheather..... rain with no hiking. looking great minnisota. your fingers even look skinny!


Already been done.

http://www.toaster.org/hellokitty.html

[mweinstone]

are you guys aware that the recent pics of ms are no one weve ever met? this is a totally new human being. his shed skin of his old body were found last week down the trail.

[StarLyte]

ms? want some pancakes? ill eat them in your honor.you will be receiving maple cream and butter on them . they are multi grain arrowhead mills .coffie and water on the side. hey?,.... whats this?,.........i just made a pancake and starlytes face is on it! e-bay here we come! move over mary toast and jesus grilled cheese! new from betty crocker and hasbro! icon cakes. a pop culture icon on every cake! philly wheather..... rain with no hiking. looking great minnisota. your fingers even look skinny!

Matthewski I bet Mala could make pancakes with Earl Shaffer's face.......wouldn't that be cool?

[mweinstone]

what about the confedent looks and game face. this is some trail that takes an ms and gives him a new life! wow. there are gonna be a whole lot of women back in jabip wanting to meet the legond.i think were lookin at a man with a full dance card here. anyone at this point in the hike who still hates ms need go away. if you claim to love the AT and hiking,... then you are in awe of him,.. or your a dweebfaceed ass face. hello assface!

[Lone Wolf]

are you guys aware that the recent pics of ms are no one weve ever met? this is a totally new human being. his shed skin of his old body were found last week down the trail.

Don't worry. Next year at this time he'll have gained all the weight back and then some. Most do. Just a fact.:)

[TOW]

Fat people are always losing weight, at least I am..........

[Dances with Mice]

He's in Caratunk, at Northern Outdoors for the nightwith Minnow and Fish. Hopes to do a 2-day slackpack to Munson starting in morning. Ribs better, so probably not broken.

[Panzer1]

...i just made a pancake and starlytes face is on it!

Hay MWeinstone, I just made a pancake with MS's face on it. Its for sale. Make me a offer..

Panzer

[The Old Fhart]

DWM-"Hopes to do a 2-day slackpack to Munson starting in morning."Hey, DWM, you may be thinking of the movie "Kingpin" and Roy E. Munson (Woody Harrelson). Minnesota Smith is talking of slacking to Monson, which is his next town.

[Dances with Mice]

Hey, DWM, you may be thinking of the movie "Kingpin" and Roy E. Munson (Woody Harrelson). Minnesota Smith is talking of slacking to Monson, which is his next town.I am not responsible for Maine not knowing how to spell the names of its towns, roads, and mountains.

[The Old Fhart]

DWM-"I am not responsible for Maine not knowing how to spell the names of its towns."Actually the reason why Maine named a town "Letter D" and others "T2R9" or whatever, is so people from away can pronounce the names properly! ;)

[saimyoji]

Actually the reason why Maine named a town "Letter D" and others "T2R9" or whatever, is so people from away can pronounce the names properly! ;)


No the reason the named them such was because they're all a bunch of pot head stoners.

Now, come on down to PA. We have places like Intercourse, Virgin, Blue Balls (later changed to Blue Bell when Virgin gave in to allow Intercourse next door and Blue Balls was no longer necessary). Virgin was susbequently banished from every town she went to, until they accepted her story in Bethlehem. Yep, lots of fun down here.
:banana:banana:banana

[WalkinHome]

Hey DWM, don't get me started!! LOL

[mweinstone]

531 am. minnisota smith snoring for another 29 min.

[Dances with Mice]

Overweight male with quirky ideas having difficulty making it to Katahdin, despite the cheers of overweight WhiteBlaze members, most of whom also didn't make it to Maine.Correction: He's making it despite the JEERS of overweight WhiteBlaze members, most of whom also didn't make it to Maine.

[Lone Wolf]

Correction: He's making it despite the JEERS of overweight WhiteBlaze members, most of whom also didn't make it to Maine.

Only because he can afford multiple night motel/hostel stays and slackpack shuttles. Kinda cheapens a thru-hike.:)

[Dances with Mice]

the most talked about thru hiker for 2006 not only here on whiteblaze but also on the AT is minnesota smith,he is fast becoming a trail legend in his own category.

So, praytell, what might that category be???

The one that everyone can diss, obviously.

He's overweight. He's underprepared. He's overpacked. He's too slow. He's slackpacking too much in Georgia. He's slackpacking too much in Maine. He's staying in shelters too much. He's staying in hostels too much. He's staying in privies too much. He's treating his water too much. He doesn't know shelter etiquette. He doesn't know hostel etiquette. He doesn't know laundry etiquette. He doesn't understand the hut system. He's using the hut system too much. He doesn't appreciate the work of trail clubs. He's flipping too much.

In other words: HE'S NOT HIKING ANYONE ELSE'S HIKE!




I told MS that a lot of people would tell him to hike his own hike. I also told him that some people would say the same thing but wouldn't really mean it.

Was I right?I believe so.

[Dances with Mice]

I nominate Model T as the 2006 trail legend. MS just doesn't qualify as a trail legend IMO simply because he had a long-running thread on WB.Absolutely true. It is The Thread which shall become legendary.

[StarLyte]

Minnesota Smith is MOST definitely hiking his own hike.

Long live The Thread.......

[Alligator]

Hay MWeinstone, I just made a pancake with MS's face on it. Its for sale. Make me a offer..

PanzerPut it on ebay, but claim it just sort of formed in his image. Donate all proceeds to WB.

[Gray Blazer]

The image of the Virgin Mary was in my ramen's. Go MS!

[mweinstone]

yippi! another day the hiking season is still on!

[Lone Wolf]

It's on 365 slick.

[weary]

Correction: He's making it despite the JEERS of overweight WhiteBlaze members, most of whom also didn't make it to Maine.
Whatever!*

[The Old Fhart]

Lone Wolf-"It's on 365 slick."Except in leap years when it's on 366.;)

[Alligator]

Except in leap years when it's on 366.;)Let's make Leap Year Day a Universal Zero.

Feb 29 is a friday in 2008:-? .

[The Old Fhart]

Alligator-"Let's make Leap Year Day a Universal Zero."Only problem is if you don't start the trail until after Feb. 29th, you miss out on that zero. It also discriminates greatly against SOBOs who may start in June. Let's make it a "floating zero" that you can take once and claim whatever day you choose as Feb. 29th.:D

[Alligator]

Only problem is if you don't start the trail until after Feb. 29th, you miss out on that zero. It also discriminates greatly against SOBOs who may start in June. Let's make it a "floating zero" that you can take once and claim whatever day you choose as Feb. 29th.:DThat dilutes it too much. Since we are adding the day in, it's perfectly contrary to negate it with a zero:D . In the spirit of year round hiking, it's a day open to all hikers.

It should be a national holiday too. I think the man is trying to stick it to us with another workday 5 times out of 7.

*note use of the phrase "the man" is an attempt to move up from the "some hippie" category!

[Jaybird]

Originally Posted by Frolicking Dinosaurs
I nominate Model T as the 2006 trail legend. MS just doesn't qualify as a trail legend IMO simply because he had a long-running thread on WB.



i like the way you think F.D.!:D

Minnesota WHO???

[Dances with Mice]

Minnesota WHO???The Thread was proud to help report the progress of Model T & other poor, threadless hikers.

[mweinstone]

minnisota smith and his related trademarks are sponsorors of thruhikers wordwide with 3 percent of all posts going to charitable trust foundations including and not limmited to the modle t corporation.

[mweinstone]

the hundred mile wilderness . the climb to baxster peak. the shuttle to kent. the walk to hanover.
these are the four challenges awaiting ms. agree? plans? sugestions? comments? opinions?rantings?

[Mother's Finest]

the climb man the climb.....minnesota smith has posted an aversion to vertical scrambles....and those sore ribs.

what will our boy do? I think he will be fine.

peace
mf

[Jack Tarlin]

Hew Wolk, in Post #2888, you mentioned that too many town stops and too much slackpacking "cheapens" a thru hike.

You're well known here for telling us how many town/motel days you took on your last thru. Iseem to recall it was like 50 zero days, a lot of them no doubt spent in motels, especially if there was golf on TV. :D

Was that also a "cheapened" thru-hike?

Some folks slack a great deal of the Trail.

Some well-known hikers slack almost all of it, some of them multiple times.

Some very well-known hikers have actually achieved most of their A.T. miles by slackpacking with extensive automotovie support and doing minimal backpacking.

In your eyes, are these also "cheapened" thru hikes?

If so, how are they cheapened?

Inquiring minds wanna know. :D

[sprocket06]

He does'nt suffer from broken ribs, he's a Hyperchondriac with OCD and he will not finish the AT by October 15th. Finally slackpacking is for pussy's, you might as well just be a dayhiker.

[Lone Wolf]

Hew Wolk, in Post #2888, you mentioned that too many town stops and too much slackpacking "cheapens" a thru hike.

You're well known here for telling us how many town/motel days you took on your last thru. Iseem to recall it was like 50 zero days, a lot of them no doubt spent in motels, especially if there was golf on TV. :D

Was that also a "cheapened" thru-hike?

Some folks slack a great deal of the Trail.

Some well-known hikers slack almost all of it, some of them multiple times.

Some very well-known hikers have actually achieved most of their A.T. miles by slackpacking with extensive automotovie support and doing minimal backpacking.

In your eyes, are these also "cheapened" thru hikes?

If so, how are they cheapened?

Inquiring minds wanna know. :D

My last 'thru" was a SOBO in 98. My last long distance hike was in 2000. I did 1600 miles with 120 days off. I've never slackpacked. I'm a backpacker.

[Jack Tarlin]

Still haven't answered my question.

How does slackpacking "cheapen" a thru, and do those who've slackpacked most of their miles have a "cheapened" hiking resume? If so, why?

[Lone Wolf]

Are you feeling guilty for all the slacking you do?

[Pacific Tortuga]

He does'nt suffer from broken ribs, he's a Hyperchondriac with OCD and he will not finish the AT by October 15th. Finally slackpacking is for pussy's, you might as well just be a dayhiker.


BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, from sitting on your credibility in Akron, that holds about enough water to fill a thimbal. Sota may be a son-of-a but he's our son-of a. Give it he11 MS, your burning daylight .

[Lone Wolf]

Still haven't answered my question.

How does slackpacking "cheapen" a thru, and do those who've slackpacked most of their miles have a "cheapened" hiking resume? If so, why?

If you start out intending to backpack the AT, then backpack it. Carry your s**t the whole way. Slackpacking while hanging out at hostels for days on end ain't getting the "wilderness experience".

[Jack Tarlin]

I don't feel guilty about any of my hiking, Wolf.

I think people can carry whatever they want.

It's not MY words or feelings that are in question here.

You said that slackpacking somehow "cheapened" a thru-hike.

All I've done is asked you why you thought so.

(And why is hanging out at hostels somehow a bad thing, but taking 120 days off in 1600 miles is OK? Interesting double standard, no? I mean, that works out to a zero day after every 1.3 hiking days......that ain't much of a wilderness adventure either, eh? :-? )

[Lone Wolf]

I don't feel guilty about any of my hiking, Wolf.

I think people can carry whatever they want.

It's not MY words or feelings that are in question here.

You said that slackpacking somehow "cheapened" a thru-hike.

All I've done is asked you why you thought so.

(And why is hanging out at hostels somehow a bad thing, but taking 120 days off in 1600 miles is OK? Interesting double standard, no? I mean, that works out to a zero day after every 1.3 hiking days......that ain't much of a wilderness adventure either, eh? :-? )

I told you why 2 posts back.:rolleyes:

[Jack Tarlin]

Minnesota's been hiking since February, Wolf.

And most of the time, he's worn a pack.

He's had more of a "wilderness experience" this year than just about anyone on Whiteblaze, Wolf, and this sure in hell includes you or me. Except for some regulars like Redneck Rye, Blister, and others who've been hiking out West for months, MS has spent more time in the backcountry this year than anyone I can think of.

And he'll probably be at it til December.

If he wants to slack a bit to save his strength, get over an injury, or any other reason, more power to him.

[The Old Fhart]

The majority of hikers who start the trail have little or no experience in long distance hiking. They have a rather distorted view of how things will go and quite often these plans change when reality bites them in the butt. That is one reason why there is such a high drop out rate. To give Minnesota Smith credit, he is still on the trail long after most people in his situation would have quit. If he can finish by slacking and staying in hostels, fine. The "wilderness experience" is something I enjoy but it came to choosing between that and finishing, I'd choose finishing.

Again, that doesn't mean I agree with anything MS has said or done to other hikers. HYOH is kind of catchy but if by doing so you negatively impact other hikers, a LOT of other hikers, that crosses the line.

[StarLyte]

I don't feel guilty about any of my hiking, Wolf.

I think people can carry whatever they want.

It's not MY words or feelings that are in question here.

You said that slackpacking somehow "cheapened" a thru-hike.

All I've done is asked you why you thought so.

(And why is hanging out at hostels somehow a bad thing, but taking 120 days off in 1600 miles is OK? Interesting double standard, no? I mean, that works out to a zero day after every 1.3 hiking days......that ain't much of a wilderness adventure either, eh? :-? )

Gentlemen:

Do you have any clue as to the value of your posts?

The contribution to the hiking community?

Think about it - you are both thru-hikers, yet you have 2 TOTALLY different and VALUABLE ideas of what thru-hiking/white-blazing/purity/slackpacking/backpacking the Appalachian Trail is all about.

Any argument between the two of you on how to hike is a most accepted vehicle.

You are both correct.

[mweinstone]

this just in. by a vote of 34 to 2 the congress passed into law the controversial minnisota smith amendment stating he is in fact thruhikinggovener lone wolf was reached for comment at dots and said" whatever"

[ed bell]

I'm a backpacker.Gotta hand it to you again Lone Wolf. Simple and straightforward.:sun

[mweinstone]

killing, bleeding, starving, dieing, fighting, hateing. with intermitent periods of love. minnisota smith continues to hike. that is all.

[mweinstone]

researchers today uncovered the remains of a prehistoric man with full thruhiking gear in the arctic ice. dateline lappland. a group of american scientists working to prove the theory that thruhiking was practiced by primitive man uncovered what is being called the find of our times. the group lead by dr slackamo reported the man in his early fourtys was carrying a behemouth of a pack estimated to weigh over 100 lbs. inside were found 6 rolls of prairy grass, presumably for sanatary use. the story has raised questions as to weather the modern day hiking legond minnisota smith could actually be the desendent of primitive thruhikers.also in the ice mans pack were dryed squid, proving further dr slackamo's theory that early man thruhiked and didnt slackpack as so many have come to belive.

[The Old Fhart]

mweinstone-"the story has raised questions as to weather the modern day hiking legond minnisota smith could actually be the desendent of primitive thruhikers."I believe you misquoted the article. What they said was: "the story has raised questions as to whether the modern day hiking Minnisota Smith could actually be the throwback to these primitive thruhikers.":D

[ed bell]

......Well I was curious, so I counted. That post makes 102 in 15 days on this thread. 200 a month? This thread is mislabelled! I demand satisfaction!:rolleyes:

[mweinstone]

are gummys really able to replace a hikers bone loss with geletine? question for mr smith. thanks , ill take the answer off the air.

[Panzer1]

He does'nt suffer from broken ribs, he's a Hyperchondriac with OCD and he will not finish the AT by October 15th. Finally slackpacking is for pussy's, you might as well just be a dayhiker.

Strong words for a guy with just 2 posts on WB..

Panzer

[Panzer1]

531 am. minnisota smith snoring for another 29 min.

What are you doing up at 5:31 am? Don't you ever sleep?

Panzer

[Skidsteer]

What are you doing up at 5:31 am? Don't you ever sleep?

Panzer


Probably getting ready for work so as to finance another thru-hike attempt.

Think what you will about Mweinstone but I won't be surprised if he's in the hunt come Spring.

[mweinstone]

todays high will be 80 degrees!so there you non global warmists.i like my morning rant with coffie. and another thing. 531 am is when people get up who cant waste a single minute cause there goin hikin feb 18th and thats just around the corner and lots of money still has to be saved. today i will bulid railings in a hallway for 250 to 300 bucks. my payment plan with the irs will start in 12 weeks. untill i know how much i have to pay per month on mu 70+ thousand debt,... im askin for prayers. please also pray ms makes it or im gonna be really sad.my dream is to hike next year. my goal is to make the money needed. my hope is in the j man.hike on big brother.may the four winds blow you saftly to katadhin and back to kent and then to hanover .

[StarLyte]

are gummys really able to replace a hikers bone loss with geletine? question for mr smith. thanks , ill take the answer off the air.

And thank you for your patience while holding Mr. Weinstone......

Gummy Bears (http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-candy-gummy-bears_f-Y2lkPTMwMTQ2JmJpZD0xJmZpZD02OTk5MCZwYXI9.html) do contain gelatin, but not enough for a real nutritional value.

Beef jerkies (http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-B00001-01c21O0.html) might though.

[Gray Blazer]

I believe you misquoted the article. What they said was: "the story has raised questions as to whether the modern day hiking Minnisota Smith could actually be the throwback to these primitive thruhikers.":D

Pantagonia, anyone?:-? Go, your oxlyness.

[rgarling]

RE: ultra-light-backpacker, backpacker, slackpacker, dayhiker

In order to properly classify MS and his achievements, we need to properly define each of these. Once we have some good definitions, we could order the classifications by prestige. e.g. we might determine that "backpacker" is better than "ultra-light-backpacker" is better than "slack-packer"...

Once that is done, we can place MS into the proper category, and assign the proper value to his thru-hike. Wouldn't that be nice?

[Skyline]

the hundred mile wilderness . the climb to baxster peak. the shuttle to kent. the walk to hanover.
these are the four challenges awaiting ms. agree? plans? sugestions? comments? opinions?rantings?

Yeah, why is he walking NOBO Kent to Hanover as Winter is setting in? Doesn't he know he's going to come to the highest elevations and worst weather as it is truly Deep Winter?

[Dances with Mice]

RE: ultra-light-backpacker, backpacker, slackpacker, dayhiker

In order to properly classify MS and his achievements, we need to properly define each of these. Once we have some good definitions, we could order the classifications by prestige. e.g. we might determine that "backpacker" is better than "ultra-light-backpacker" is better than "slack-packer"...

Once that is done, we can place MS into the proper category, and assign the proper value to his thru-hike. Wouldn't that be nice?Cart before the horse. The assumption is that a thru-hike has value. Whether or not it does has not yet been determined.

[mweinstone]

yertle was king of all he could see in the swamp. the thing about it was,.. that wasnt good enough for yertle the turtle. so he ordered his subjects to make a pile by climbing one on top of the other. and he climbed to the top on the backs of his subjects and proclaimed,.. now i am king of all i see ,even far beyond the swamp.

[mweinstone]

and so it goes. another day comes to a close on the stage of appalachia. and minnisota smith farts, then burps, picks up his staff,.. and walks off into the evening. leaving behind a trail of still remembered legonds.and fart gas.

walk on soldier of fourtune.

[Sly]

RE: ultra-light-backpacker, backpacker, slackpacker, dayhiker

In order to properly classify MS and his achievements, we need to properly define each of these. Once we have some good definitions, we could order the classifications by prestige. e.g. we might determine that "backpacker" is better than "ultra-light-backpacker" is better than "slack-packer"...

Once that is done, we can place MS into the proper category, and assign the proper value to his thru-hike. Wouldn't that be nice?

But first, the anti-legend has to finish his thru-hike....

[emerald]

Yeah, why is he walking NOBO Kent to Hanover as Winter is setting in? Doesn't he know he's going to come to the highest elevations and worst weather as it is truly Deep Winter?

I asked him a question earlier about that issue and he confirmed he's hiking the last leg southbound. I'll edit my post as soon as I dig up the question and answer. He hasn't changed his position on that issue, has he?


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.


I plan on doing my temporarily-skipped 280.6 miles southbound. It's just more prudent IMO, given the time of year (starting it mid/late Oct.).

[Sly]

I asked him a question earlier about that issue and he confirmed he's hiking the last leg southbound. I'll edit my post as soon as I dig up the question and answer. He hasn't changed his position on that issue, has he?

I suppose at one time it was *a purism thing*, Georgia to Maine/S-N. Once he leaped, straight forwardness aside, direction quickly turned into a non-issue. As a "thru-hiker" MS is doing the right thing, trying to finish the trail in one season.

[mweinstone]

the world is ending. the only thing left is the hike and the thread. minnisota,... our very lives depend on you thruing.

[Dances with Mice]

Since there's a pause in the action, everyone pull up a log around the campfire and let me tell you about his staff.

When I first met MS and Hammock Hanger almost exactly 2 years ago at a car camp at Winnie Scott campground (directly below Slaughter Gap in GA), MS didn't have a tent. I lent him one of my Megamids with a dogwood centerpole that also doubled as a hiking staff. Later we did the Slaughter Gap Trail-AT NoBo over Blood Mtn-Bird Gap Trail back around Blood-AT SoBo to Jarrard Gap then JG Trail back down to Winnie Scott, I lent him the dogwood staff. He liked it. I let him keep it. I have 3 acres of dogwood thicket and it's no problem to find another. Matter of fact, I already had another one or two drying in the basement.

Dogwood's a very dense wood. A stick as big around as my thumb is as about as easy to bend as an iron pipe. It doesn't split and you can't break it.

Sometime the next year he was on one of his practice hikes and he called - he was ashamed to admit it but he'd left the staff behind at a rest stop or road crossing or somewhere. He was really embarrased about it.

And it was pure serendipity, but I'd been out tromping around my thicket of a yard that very week and spotted the perfect hiking staff - it was a dogwood tree growing under a big pine. The dogwood was about 20 feet high, straight, no branches, no twists, no lean. That's highly unusual for a dogwood, they tend to branch, fork, twist, bend, and lean. A lot. But this one was growing in deep shade and was reaching straight up. I marked its location then when MS called I told him not to worry about the other because I'd already found another. That was in early fall.

I walked back out and re-examined the tree. It was after leaf-drop but it was definitely a dogwood (you can always tell a dogwood by it's bark) and it was the straightest, tallest one I'd ever seen. And I've seen a lot. I cut it at the base, trimmed the top, and had about 15 feet of dogwood pole. I carried it back to the house then hauled it and a telescoping aluminum ladder around to the south side of the house. I laid the green pole along the length of the ladder, fastened it tight to the ladder with some nylon wire ties and left it to dry under the porch eave. Every couple of weeks I'd tug on the wire ties to keep them tight.

The nice thing about cutting dogwood poles is that you won't kill the tree. It'll resprout from the roots and regrow. Matter of fact, it's unusual to find an isolated, single trunk dogwood since they tend to grow in clumps. This one already had smaller side shoots around its base. The source of the MS hiking pole is still alive and well.

So he came over to my house sometime in late January before he started his trek. The pole had been drying for a couple of months already, I would really have peferred to let it dry for a year but sometimes you have to go with what you got. I cut it free from the ladder and it stayed straight. I took it over to my back porch and made him stand on the edge of the porch so that the staff could hang off below the porch. We took some time to let him find the perfect handhold along the pole's length. Then in small increments we cut the pole to get the right length. It's really hard to stretch those poles if they get cut too short.

He chose lower, and thus thicker, than I would have chosen myself but it wasn't for my use. We cut smaller and smaller lengths off the bottom to get the right height then he marked how tall he wanted it and we sawed off the top. Now it was a pole. A few minutes with a finishing saw to cut off any side branches and a bit of bark stripping and we had a nearly finished hiking staff.

Then we added a bit of closed cell pipe insulation for padding, a bit of nylon webbing from some worn-out luggage, and some hockey stick tape to hold it all together and we had a wrist strap set at exactly the correct height for MS. I let him test it out by walking through the woods behind my house.

So that's how MS got his hiking staff. I sent him another roll of hockey stick tape in Pennsylvania or thereabouts so he could re-work the hand hold. Other than that, the stick seems to have held up pretty well.

[rickb]

Cool! I knew there was a reason I kept coming back to this thread.

Thanks for the story. I am still smiling!!!!!!

[Sly]

Cool! I knew there was a reason I kept coming back to this thread.So, who's the real hero? Dances with Mice, Matookski, the ones encouraginging MS on, the doubters or MS himself?

Would MS have made it past GA without this thread? Is this what "The Thread" is all about?

[MOWGLI]

So, who's the real hero? Dances with Mice, Matookski, the ones encouraginging MS on, the doubters or MS himself?



There are no heroes. Just some nice folks. And DWM is near the top of that list.

[STEVEM]

DWM, MS told me some of the same details regarding his staff. I feel sure he will treasure it for the rest of his life. In discussing dogwood with him he mentioned all the characteristics you spoke of. I happened to mention to him that the dogwood was once a tall, strong and noble tree, but had been used as the cross upon which Jesus had been crucified. As a result, dogwood trees no longer grow straight out of shame. MS told me he had never heard of that legend and seemed quite interested.

[Sly]

There are no heroes. Just some nice folks. And DWN is near the top of that list.

No heros? Darn! DWM isn'tjust near the top of the list, he started "The Thread!"

[Skidsteer]

DWM, MS told me some of the same details regarding his staff. I feel sure he will treasure it for the rest of his life. In discussing dogwood with him he mentioned all the characteristics you spoke of. I happened to mention to him that the dogwood was once a tall, strong and noble tree, but had been used as the cross upon which Jesus had been crucified. As a result, dogwood trees no longer grow straight out of shame. MS told me he had never heard of that legend and seemed quite interested.

My Father told me that story when I was young and I have never heard it talked about much.

Thank SteveM for more evidence that Dad isn't entirely goofy.


In Jesus' time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.
'Twas strong & firm it's branches interwoven
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.
Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
"Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so
Slender & twisted, it shall be
With blossoms like the cross for all to see.
As blood stains the petals marked in brown
The blossom's center wears a thorny crown.
All who see it will remember me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.
Cherished and protected this tree shall be
A reminder to all of my agony."

[Dances with Mice]

I happened to mention to him that the dogwood was once a tall, strong and noble tree, but had been used as the cross upon which Jesus had been crucified. As a result, dogwood trees no longer grow straight out of shame. MS told me he had never heard of that legend and seemed quite interested.I've heard the same legend, but I heard it a long time ago. There's more to the legend, isn't there? Something about how the flowers bear the marks of the crucifixtion - four petals with red-stained notches (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=6836&c=665&userid=1030) and there's other details about the stamen & such but I can't recall.

[ed bell]

There are no heroes. Just some nice folks. And DWN is near the top of that list.Yeah, hero is a word that gets thrown around alot. Usually it is an overstatement. "Nice folks" is a great compliment in my book.

[emerald]

Where is Linda Ellerbee? [spelling corrected for clarity's sake]

Y'all know what she said in her afterword entitled "The Best Birthday Present of All" that appeared in The Appalachian Trail: Calling Me Back to the Hills, don't you? She said, "Like old age itself, the Appalachian Trail is not for sissies."

I like that piece that runs just 2 pages, but may be 2 of the best pages ever written about the A.T. What I quoted above reminds me of Minnesota Smith's new signature and to some extent what she wrote about her meeting with Earl Shaffer and his hike reminds me of Minnesota Smith's experiences thus far in Maine. However, I hope Minnesota Smith will be able to hike straight-thru to Katahdin and experience that portion of his hike as would someone who hikes a continuous, uninterrupted northbound hike.

[Sly]

There are no heroes. Just some nice folks. And DWN is near the top of that list.

Actually there are heros hikng the trail, in this case hiking for others that make it all posible...

http://www.firstgiving.com/trailtorecovery

Sad part is they're not getting as much attention as MS.

[StarLyte]

Dances with Mice--GREAT STORY.

Never knew that about dogwoods. I have 2 in my yard. I'll be staring at them a little harder now.

I also didn't know that's where MS got this hiking stick from.

Very nice!

[emerald]

I've heard the same legend, but I heard it a long time ago. There's more to the legend, isn't there? Something about how the flowers bear the marks of the crucifixtion - four petals with red-stained notches (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=6836&c=665&userid=1030) and there's other details about the stamen & such but I can't recall.

I don't know if it's part of the legend to which you refer, but when dogwoods drop their leaves as they are here in Pennsylvania, their bright red fruit which could be said to symbolize drops of life-giving blood is revealed, soon to be eaten by birds, which disperse its seeds and the dogwood's message far and wide.

The dogwood though it be neither straight nor tall is perhaps our most beautiful ornamental tree of all.:)

[StarLyte]

I don't know if it's part of the legend to which you refer, but when dogwoods drop their leaves as they are here in Pennsylvania, their bright red fruit which could be said to symbolize drops of life-giving blood is revealed, soon to be eaten by birds, which disperse its seeds and the dogwood's message far and wide.

The dogwood though it be neither straight nor tall is perhaps our most beautiful ornamental tree of all.:)

Yes, I've heard this. As a matter of fact, my dogwoods have their fruit already.

Another one is the sand dollar. When opened or cut correctly will resemble a crucifix.

All right.....back to the thread.....sorry MS

[jlb2012]

The dogwood though it be neither straight nor tall is perhaps our most beautiful ornamental tree of all.:)

It is unfortunate that the dogwood blight has eliminated so many of the dogwoods from the understory of the forest. I remember when I was young looking out into the forest and seeing the clouds of white flowers from the dogwoods. These days I never see that any more - its only the dogwoods on the margins or in open fields that survive - places where the sun dries out the leaves faster and thus there is less water for the fungus on the leaves.

:(

[Old Hillwalker]

And when the Sand Dollar is broken to reveal the Cross, two tiny pieces fly out that look like doves. Jeepers, and I call myself A Theist:rolleyes:

[emerald]

It is unfortunate that the dogwood blight has eliminated so many of the dogwoods from the understory of the forest. I remember when I was young looking out into the forest and seeing the clouds of white flowers from the dogwoods. These days I never see that any more - its only the dogwoods on the margins or in open fields that survive - places where the sun dries out the leaves faster and thus there is less water for the fungus on the leaves.

:(

Yes, as HOI rightly points out, they do better in the open where they receive more sunlight and there's better air circulation. There are encouraging developments as research (http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/dogwood/june2002/dogwood.htm) to identify superior cultivars continues.

[max patch]

As a "thru-hiker" MS is doing the right thing, trying to finish the trail in one season.

He's not a thru hiker anymore -- one who starts at one terminus and hikes generally unsupported to the other terminus -- since he jumped ahead. Sounds like he is gonna be a 2,000 miler though, which is rare in current times.

[ed bell]

All right.....back to the thread.....sorry MSI wouldn't worry about MS, StarLyte. He has miles to attend to. At this point in time, the thread has almost nothing to do with any "Minnesota Smith Update". I think it has become close to a live chatroom. I keep checking it out so I guess it's all good.:sun

[emerald]

He's not a thru hiker anymore -- one who starts at one terminus and hikes generally unsupported to the other terminus -- since he jumped ahead. Sounds like he is gonna be a 2,000 miler though, which is rare in current times.

Not wishing or intending to start a fight, I would like to point out that not everyone is in general agreement with you on how the term thru-hike should be defined. According to perhaps the definitive document on the subject, The Thruhiking Papers (http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/TH%20definitions.html), Minnesota Smith will have thru-hiked the A.T. once he reaches Kent. His is what ATC refers to as a Leapfrog thru-hike otherwise known as a thru-hike with an alternative itinerary (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.848729/k.6FA1/Alternative_Itineraries.htm).

[Lone Wolf]

There's some gravely ill children in cancer wards around the world climbing BIG mountains. MS is hiking pimples. It's JUST a trail.:)

[Alligator]

MAD Horse. Maple Ash Dogwood Horsechestnut. All have opposite branching.

[ed bell]

.... which is rare in current times.Does that mean common in past times?:-? You must have good sources.

[max patch]

Not wishing or intending to start a fight, I would like to point out that not everyone is in general agreement with you on how the term thru-hike should be defined. According to perhaps the definative document on the topic, The Thruhiking Papers (http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/TH%20definitions.html), Minnesota Smith will have thru-hiked the A.T. once he reaches Kent.

He is just a hiker with a web site; this is not a "definative document". I like the guy but his definition is not in the dictionary.

[ed bell]

Considering my own life as it stands right now, obtaining six months of free time might actually be harder than walking the AT from end to end. Hell, I already know my job is harder. Then again, any backpacking junkie knows that.:D

[STEVEM]

I asked him a question earlier about that issue and he confirmed he's hiking the last leg southbound. I'll edit my post as soon as I dig up the question and answer. He hasn't changed his position on that issue, has he?

Shades of Gray, I happened to discuss his flip plans when I first met MS in NJ. His logic as I recall was as follows:

1. Skip North to Hanover since that is a good central New England town with public transit options throughout the region. Plus Jack was available there to offer his advise.

2. Continue North and tackle the Whites which potentially produce dangerous weather condition in early fall.

3. Continue hiking north to K even though at his rate 10/15 looked tight. His logic being that K is earned by hiking thru Maine not by driving there in a car.

4. Find transport back to Hanover then proceed South thru Vermont which after the Whites and Maine would become the next area closed by winter weather (probably by early November)

5. Massachusets MS felt could be hiked into early December.

6. Connecticut MS felt could be hiked throughout the winter.

I don't know if others would agree, but I do know that these were the factors use by MS in deciding how to complete his hike.

[emerald]

MAD Horse. Maple Ash Dogwood Horsechestnut. All have opposite branching.

You're a dendrologist too!

[weary]

So, who's the real hero? Dances with Mice, Matookski, the ones encouraginging MS on, the doubters or MS himself?

Would MS have made it past GA without this thread? Is this what "The Thread" is all about?
There are some things that humans cannot know -- or, at least, should not know. One of these is whether MS can really complete a thru hike. We have all cheered with varying degrees of enthusiasm.uccess. Let's now stay quiet, and thus see how good he may be in claiming his alleged goal.

WEary, pro tem

[STEVEM]

todays high will be 80 degrees!so there you non global warmists.i like my morning rant with coffie. and another thing. 531 am is when people get up who cant waste a single minute cause there goin hikin feb 18th and thats just around the corner and lots of money still has to be saved. today i will bulid railings in a hallway for 250 to 300 bucks. my payment plan with the irs will start in 12 weeks. untill i know how much i have to pay per month on mu 70+ thousand debt,... im askin for prayers. please also pray ms makes it or im gonna be really sad.my dream is to hike next year. my goal is to make the money needed. my hope is in the j man.hike on big brother.may the four winds blow you saftly to katadhin and back to kent and then to hanover .

Matthew, 70k? Did you have a lawyer? You'll be licking their shoes for the rest of your life. You have my prayers.

Go to the IRS office ask them to log onto WB, and show them all of your posts on this thread. Maybe you can convince them that you're insane or screwed-up or something.

[Alligator]

You're a dendrologist too!I'm actually very rusty in that area so that would be a stretch.

[Lone Wolf]

You're a selfish bunch. I'll give you that,

[Alligator]

You're a selfish bunch. I'll give you that,I rode the MS150 in Sept. I think I would've rather ridden a Sybian though:-? .

[Sly]

Sorry, not sure if I pity anyone 70k in debt to the IRS, especially one that's hanging around to figure out a payment plan. I hear there's some nice trails in Central/South America and rumor has it, a thing called the internets!

[ed bell]

Sorry, not sure if I pity anyone 70k in debt to the IRS, especially one that's hanging around to figure out a payment plan.I've paid all that was asked of me, how about some prayers my way. I'm that much poorer.;)

[Sly]

I've paid all that was asked of me, how about some prayers my way. I'm that much poorer.;)

I'll pray for health, happiness and a warmer sleeping bag. Other than that, you're out of my league.

[mweinstone]

minnisota smith is a frickin ice god.

[The Old Fhart]

mweinstone-"my payment plan with the irs will start in 12 weeks. untill i know how much i have to pay per month on mu 70+ thousand debt,... im askin for prayers."I don't know if this would help lower the amount due but all the assistance (time, money, phone calls, etc) you have given MS may be deductable.:-?

[rgarling]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shades of Gray http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=252411#post252411)
Not wishing or intending to start a fight, I would like to point out that not everyone is in general agreement with you on how the term thru-hike should be defined. According to perhaps the definative document on the topic, The Thruhiking Papers (http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/TH%20definitions.html), Minnesota Smith will have thru-hiked the A.T. once he reaches Kent.

He is just a hiker with a web site; this is not a "definative document". I like the guy but his definition is not in the dictionary.


Once again the need for proper definitions rears its ugly head. For the benefit of the AT hiking community and hikers everywhere, I propose the formation of the WhiteBlaze Congress to set down the definitions & laws of hiking.

[jlb2012]

Once again the need for proper definitions rears its ugly head. For the benefit of the AT hiking community and hikers everywhere, I propose the formation of the WhiteBlaze Congress to set down the definitions & laws of hiking.

Let me guess - you also have recommendations about herding cats?

[Dances with Mice]

I don't know if this would help lower the amount due but all the assistance (time, money, phone calls, etc) you have given MS may be deductable.:-?That's a very good point. He may be able to claim MS as a dependant.

[rgarling]

bad guess. if called, i will not serve

[Sly]

He is just a hiker with a web site; this is not a "definative document". I like the guy but his definition is not in the dictionary.

Well, neither is yours. I pretty much agree with...

"IMO a thruhiker is someone who walks from Maine to Georgia (or Canada to Mexico) or vice versa on one of the three major hiking trails in the US (i.e. - performs a "thruhike). Pack or not, blue-blazes or not, supported or not, running, walking, crawling, in one direction or both, North-to-south or vice versa, whatever - no restrictions EXCEPT -- yellow-blazing (i.e. - hitchhiking or riding around large sections of the Trail) particularly with no intent to go back and hike those sections. "Yellow-blazing" means that person isn't walking and cannot, therefore, logically claim to be a "thruhiker".
For me, a thruhiker is someone who makes their best effort to "connect the steps" between the two ends of the trail."




Speaking of... I spoke with Jim and Ginny last night for a coupe hours before my phone died. They're in Lincoln, MT with about 100 miles left of their 2nd CDT "thru-hike" per their own definiton.

[MOWGLI]

Well, neither is yours. I pretty much agree with...

"IMO a thruhiker is someone who walks from Maine to Georgia (or Canada to Mexico) or vice versa on one of the three major hiking trails in the US (i.e. - performs a "thruhike).
For me, a thruhiker is someone who makes their best effort to "connect the steps" between the two ends of the trail."



So, according to this definition, you can't thru-hike the Long Trail, or the BMT, or the Florida Trail, or the Lake Superior Trail. Only the "big 3" National Scenic Trails? That's silly.

[Sly]

So, according to this definition, you can't thru-hike the Long Trail, or the BMT, or the Florida Trail, or the Lake Superior Trail. Only the "big 3" National Scenic Trails? That's silly.


Sorry, I didn't quote the entire article. I think he left it open to personal opinion of what a long trail is.

So -- let's start with some basic definitions. Like --- "What's a thruhike?" and "What's a thruhiker?"
You can find a lot of definitions out there, but my personal definition of a thruhike is "the act of walking the length of a long trail from end to end within one year" (or one "hiking season").
For present purposes, a "long trail" is any of the three major hiking trails in the United States - the AT (Appalachian Trail), the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) or the CDT (Continental Divide Trail). Increasingly, the word is being applied to shorter trails such as the Pacific Northwest Trail, John Muir Trail, Colorado Trail, etc.

[The Old Fhart]

MOWGLI16-"So, according to this definition, you can't thru-hike the Long Trail..............."If you hike the Long Trail you technically become an "End-To-Ender", they don't use thruhiker to describe a complete LT hike. I agree you still have completed the ENTIRE™ trail.;)

[MOWGLI]

If you hike the Long Trail you technically become an "End-To-Ender", they don't use thruhiker to describe a complete LT hike. I agree you still have completed the ENTIRE™ trail.;)

Yeah, but I have never heard anyone say "I'm end to ending the LT." You thru-hike the trail in order to become an "end to ender." Yeah, I know. Semantics.

[The Old Fhart]

MOWGLI16-"Yeah, but I have never heard anyone say "I'm end to ending the LT.""Well, I will say right now I hiked the LT, END-TO-END.

http://www.metrocast.net/~rjb0343/Test/EndToEnd.jpg

[Sly]

Well, I will say right now I hiked the LT, END-TO-END.


Me too, over two trips. I never have put in for the patch.

[Sly]

Back to "thru-hiking" regarding distance. Where does one drawn the line? I suppose any long distance trail can be thru-hiked, but how far is that? I once saw where someone thru-hiked the Wonderland Trail. It's only 90 miles and doesn't need a reupply. Does one thru-hike the Foothills Trail or Art Loeb Trail?

[The Old Fhart]

Sly-"Back to "thru-hiking" regarding distance. Where does one drawn the line? I suppose any long distance trail can be thru-hiked, but how far is that? I once saw where someone thru-hiked the Wonderland Trail. It's only 90 miles and doesn't need a reupply. Does one thru-hike the Foothills Trail or Art Loeb Trail?"Now you've got me worried. Did I "thru-hike" the JMT or just do a section hike on the PCT? :-?

[Ender]

I'd say any trail can be thru hiked. If you hike the whole thing, regardless of length, it's a thru. Granted, a 7 mile dayhike of a small summit trail doesn't sound impressive, but if you did the whole thing straight through, straight thru, then it's a thru hike.

Whatever.

[Sly]

Now you've got me worried. Did I "thru-hike" the JMT or just do a section hike on the PCT? :-?

Just a section hike, only 2440 miles to go!

By the time I reached the JMT portion of the PCT I knew I was going to run out of money with none forthcoming. So I convinced myself if anything else I was going to do the entire JMT. I could have to, if I didn't dally at TM for a week before continuing on the PCT. The following year (2000) when I went back to finish the PCT, I did it again and loafed in TM without hiking down to the Valley. It wasn't until last year when I made up that 23 mile section.

Since I bailed at Piute Pass, next year I'm thinking of hiking the High Sierra Trail from Giant Forest to Mt Whitney and then hiking the JMT back to Piute Pass or hooking up with the Sierra High Route. :-?

[Mother's Finest]

nice staff story. kind of reminds of the origin of Homer Simpson's Magic Bat....."You see, I was sheltering under a large tree with a piece of sheet metal during a thunderstorm"

peace
mf

[minnesotasmith]

At Shaw's, of course. Tried to do a 2-day (overnight) slackpack from Caratunk with Fish and Minnow, but Fish twisted an ankle yesterday afternoon and we called it a day early at the last shelter. Did a 14.7, 13, and a 9 into Monson. Red Lily, Pockets, Lefty, and 2 other hikers are in town, but not at Shaw's. Word from hiker @ shelter last night is that about 15 NOBOs (names not given) are about 0.5 - 1.5 days behind.

[mweinstone]

im embarassed to say how many days i read the new posts and dont understand. is it indickative of my comprehension ,education, vocabulary skills,... or are you guys talkin crap alot? i think its me and you guys are really smart little appalachian scientists. i never paid a single tax in my life. i never filed. i never worked on the books. till 2000. thats when i started at the real estate as a maintenence man. so i walked in and said i wanna pay. there okay with that and even will drop the penaltys and interest. my thru hike is less in danger, financialy, than ever. all i need is to save the payments for while im gone hikin.i filed 6 years worth at h& r block. now im waiting for the bill and the plan. i was thinkin this morn,.... what if minnisota follows my hike . what will he think? we walked together for a while this year,. then i followed his hike after i quit. and then he "ll follow mine after he finnishes. wow,.. were like hiking blood brothers. i hope. i also hope and pray for pizza and burgers and fries and shakes to befall a certian fellow who is known only by a small group of dedicated friends calling themselves the thread.and to that certian befelled fellow,... i say again to you kind and good sir,.......godspeed.

[mweinstone]

how are you? got snack?

[Lone Wolf]

how are you? got snack?

in a half hour, i'll have beer.

[mweinstone]

why a half hour?

[MOWGLI]

why a half hour?

He's disciplined. :rolleyes:

[mweinstone]

waiting for warm beer to chill eh.

[StarLyte]

in a half hour, i'll have beer.

Why wait? :D

I got a Cleveland Microbrewery item with your name on it.

[Lone Wolf]

why a half hour?

cuz that's when i punch the clock.

[mweinstone]

this just in,... ms is online posting or was and has gone offline to feed or has been abducted. that is all.

[mweinstone]

lone wolf of flame and story gets off in time to have beer before schedualed end of world at 845 tonight!

[Sly]

good luck matthewski. i actually do feel sorry for you in your situation, it sounds like a nightmare.

[minnesotasmith]

It's worked about 1/7th the time I've been in front of a PC here this afternoon. BTW, it's Little Spoon that told me about the pile of hikers coming N from Caratunk. He'd hiked from there that day -- his record day to date. Will likely slack a day or more from Shaw's as base. Ribs are better, but not peachy yet. Am a bit pooped from last few days; Minnow can fricking HIKE, as can his dad Fish when he's not injured.

[Lone Wolf]

the boss let me off early. it's off to dot's!:banana

[minnesotasmith]

are gummys really able to replace a hikers bone loss with geletine? question for mr smith. thanks , ill take the answer off the air.

Different materials.

[Sly]

I imagine, most that have made it as far as Monson can "frickin HIKE" even guys such as MS that yellowblazed a few hundred miles! :p

[weary]

I'd say any trail can be thru hiked. If you hike the whole thing, regardless of length, it's a thru. Granted, a 7 mile dayhike of a small summit trail doesn't sound impressive, but if you did the whole thing straight through, straight thru, then it's a thru hike. Whatever.
Just today I "thru-hiked" a five mile loop trail. It had no ends. but I did stop about where I started and drove home to do the dishes before my wife came home from work, thus avoiding endless discussion.

[mweinstone]

shut up backround guy! now,... ms,..... dont hike your friends pace! i need not say that twice. also. ,......do you need anything? and,... my tax problem is no nightmare. to dispare is to turn ones back on god. im alot more scared of him. yo minnisota smith you are sooooooooooooooooo cool!

[Sly]

my tax problem is no nightmare.

Ok, but my dream last night of going bald was. it looked more like mange!

[Mother's Finest]

why drink today when you can drink tomorrow?

what say tomorrow evening? Dirty old center city.....I be there, will you?

Nodding Head?

when you are done, I hope you will join us once in Philly Minnesota Smith.

nobody feel bad for old Matty---he is just doing what he has to do.

see you tomorrow mweinstone...

peace
mf

[mweinstone]

its a stone cold mortal lock momma.

[Mother's Finest]

and I am really serious about the Philly trip Minnesota smith......

Keep moving North.

will call tomorrow afternoon mweinstone....

peace
mf

[Sly]

Cool.

Anyone one in the Asheville/Black Mountain area want to have a couple cold ones after work some day?

[mweinstone]

minnisota smith is having technical difficultys with internet service in remote maine. please bare with us as we hope to bring you minnisota smith live shortly. in the meantime while your waiting, cuttlfish snacks are available in the cafe.

[Mother's Finest]

sly I would hang out with you anytime.....just a bit too far north right now.

peace
mf

[emerald]

Cool.

Anyone one in the Asheville/Black Mountain area want to have a couple cold ones after work some day?

I'd toss back a couple with you Sly, but it's a little bit too far to NC.

[emerald]

Just today I "thru-hiked" a five mile loop trail. It had no ends. but I did stop about where I started and drove home to do the dishes before my wife came home from work, thus avoiding endless discussion.

Essential qualities for a successful thru-hiker include "good planning, a sturdy physique, exceptional determination, and ingenious adaptability."-Earl Shaffer, the world's first thru-hiker.

Sounds like you had it covered, especially the part about the spouse.

[Sly]

Thanks guys. Looks like I need to get up to Philly again. I did do a NY's day parade once!

Asheville is supposed to be somekind of AT hiker vortex, but it hasn't panned out as hoped.

[StarLyte]

Essential qualities for a successful thru-hiker include "good planning, a sturdy physique, exceptional determination, and ingenious adaptability."-Earl Shaffer, the world's first thru-hiker.

......very nice......

[emerald]

Why wait? :D

I got a Cleveland Microbrewery item with your name on it.

Do you have another and could you email it immediately, please?

BTW, what's up with 1Pint? Can we expect to see her at The Gathering?

[mweinstone]

thruhikers contain respect for others. period.no skills , no streangths. open mind . the trails world of magic does the rest.open mind.everyone was a thruhiker way back when if you think about it.what with the wandering and the gathering and the ,...flavin!