MinnesotaSmith Update

[mweinstone]

im sorry minnesota smith. last night we tryed to pull the plug on you. but instead of dieing, you wriggled and squirmmed and faught back to being alive. next time we will use cloriform. you wont suffer my thread.

[mweinstone]

how bout a hundred bucks to close the thread? do i hear 101.00$?

[mweinstone]

step right up folks. who wants to be the one to kill an ugly giant? you sir. whats your name?

wolf. lone wolf.

ah mr wolf. step right over here and take aim. if you kill the thread you win an all included trip to paris!

can i choose the method of death?

of course lone. may i call you lone?

i choose to release a viris that will make anyones computer make fart noises if they post on here again.
wonderful idea!

[Gray Blazer]

I agree.,,,,Gaawd!! Your'e encouraging him. :D

[Lone Wolf]

step right up folks. who wants to be the one to kill an ugly giant? you sir. whats your name?

wolf. lone wolf.

ah mr wolf. step right over here and take aim. if you kill the thread you win an all included trip to paris!

can i choose the method of death?

of course lone. may i call you lone?

i choose to release a viris that will make anyones computer make fart noises if they post on here again.
wonderful idea!

you may call me lone. don't call me late for a meeting at dot's. i'll kill the thread but i ain't goin to paris. can't speak that stupid language. send me to scotland.

[MOWGLI]

step right up folks. who wants to be the one to kill an ugly giant? you sir. whats your name?

wolf. lone wolf.

ah mr wolf. step right over here and take aim. if you kill the thread you win an all included trip to paris!



LW in Gay Paree! I'd pay good money to see that!

Why don't you take Gypsy there in the springtime LW? I hear the grape juice is mighty fine!

[Gray Blazer]

you may call me lone. don't call me late for a meeting at dot's. i'll kill the thread but i ain't goin to paris. can't speak that stupid language. send me to scotland.Those frenchies have a different word for everything!!

[Dances with Mice]

can't speak that stupid language. send me to scotland.BTDT. They can write English real well but have a lot of trouble speaking it.

[THE THREAD]

step right up folks. who wants to be the one to kill an ugly giant? you sir. whats your name?

wolf. lone wolf.

ah mr wolf. step right over here and take aim. if you kill the thread you win an all included trip to paris!

can i choose the method of death?

of course lone. may i call you lone?

i choose to release a viris that will make anyones computer make fart noises if they post on here again.
wonderful idea!


lone cant kill us. no one can

not even administrators

we own them

kneel matthewski

[Two Speed]

Oh, my Gawd! The Thread has come to life! :eek: Run away! Run away!

[Panzer1]

OK, who's this "the thread" guy???

Panzer

[THE THREAD]

OK, who's this "the thread" guy???

Panzer

we are all of you. you speak to yourself through other people.

[Alligator]

lone cant kill us. no one can

not even administrators

we own them

kneel matthewskiCan The Thread kill The Thread:-? .

[Gray Blazer]

we are all of you. you speak to yourself through other people.If we are all threads, then together wouldn't we make an article of clothing....a sock or even a cloth?:-?

[THE THREAD]

Can The Thread kill The Thread:-? .

we would have to all drink the kool-aid. all we have left is incrediberry and my pur broke again probably not a good a idea

[Gray Blazer]

we would have to all drink the kool-aid. all we have left is incrediberry and my pur broke again probably not a good a idea
Nice try, Matt. The spelling is better, but, the same insanely funny ideas.:D

[Alligator]

we would have to all drink the kool-aid. all we have left is incrediberry and my pur broke again probably not a good a ideaI see your point. Plus a lot of folks only like the grape.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Holy &*^%$ - The Thread rose from the dead and became a living being ::: faints :::

[TOW]

Right.

Wasn't he the drummer or something? :confused:
yeah, Mick Fleetwood, that was his name and he started the band.......

[TOW]

[quote=mweinstone;277310]i never met anyone who belives anything i do. a child of god. quote]

I am about to prove you wrong. I belive i am a child of god and a friend of Jesus. He's my best friend and aint nothing going to change that.:D
Keep on talking brother.............!:sun

[TOW]

dear 16 year old jesus face. i will now give you my version of the kum la deck. or whatever that klingon word is . the word for the test every starfleet cadet must take. its a simulation that ends in death. a no win simulation. i will give it to you to see what type of child of god you are. remember this. no one has ever beaten the scenario except for kirk who cheated and rewired the simulater.

you come home and are bound and put in a chair by an attacker in your house. he strapps you in to the chair and you cant move. but he has put a gun in your hand pointed directly at his temple. its a 50 cal desert egal. he rapes and killes each of your kids and wife while he forces you to watch. at any time you can end it by pulling the trigger. but it will kill the atacker. i watch and dont pull the trigger. thats my answer whats yours. i wont kill. if i do i truly belive god will not forgive me and i will go to hell.and getting to heven to be with him is what im doin this life. and my son knows it.

I believe without a doubt if I had to kill another to save someones life or for defense of my family, the killing would be justified in Gods eyes. I have no doubt about it.

When He began His work in you He decided that He would see it all the way thru to your end here on earth. The bible says so...........

Think about it..............:-?

[TOW]

I agree.,,,,I third that motion!

[Panzer1]

I believe without a doubt if I had to kill another to save someones life or for defense of my family, the killing would be justified in Gods eyes. I have no doubt about it.

When He began His work in you He decided that He would see it all the way thru to your end here on earth. The bible says so...........

Think about it..............:-?


You should be able to guess by my avator what I would do in that situation.

Panzer

[minnesotasmith]

Arrived in FL last night, about 2330 hours ET. Greyhound took 31 hours to get me here from Johnson City, about the same as their Minneapolis run once took, tripcourtesy of multiple screwups on their part. Have a minor head cold, but still intend to do some major walking tomorrow. Got a haircut and some smaller pants. Getting some other errands run before heading up to Atlanta. Don't worry, I've already designated the composition book to use for my upcoming AT-related book. ;)

[Trajectory]

Arrived in FL last night, about 2330 hours ET. Greyhound took 31 hours to get me here from Johnson City, about the same as their Minneapolis run once took, tripcourtesy of multiple screwups on their part.

Of all ways to re-enter the "real world" after a thru-hike, a Greyhound bus must be the most awful and depressing.

[Panzer1]

Arrived in FL last night, about 2330 hours ET.....

Hay, I'm going to be florida all next week in the Bradenton area on the west coast. Maybe I'll see you. Where are you going to be?

Panzer

[mweinstone]

minnesota smith is in the house!

[mweinstone]

im guessing you really want/need to see your sister and that you went straight home to fl imstead of sidetripping to atlanta from jonson city. or, you want to visit her again. i thaught you had a ride with the p's? and we will hike together but i cant promis it will be during my thruhike of 07 cause thats completly up in the air. by up in the air , are we saying, in gods hands? i think thats what that means. whats going on!? and i arrived home with a slight cold and so did marsha starlyte. yo ms,.. i got alot of your photos. i may have the worlds largest collection of ms photography outside of the smith foundations collection. in my opinion you should send for them. they are yours and im just glad to have them all on my laptop. the slideshow it puts on when its in sleep mode is so so so cool. i am so greatful to have been motivated by you so as to cause me to hike one last hike this year. thank you bro. your so the best hikin partner this hikers had for a long time.hey luke,..walking with you on summit day was the next best thing to thruin. you gave me a gift i will enjoy for a lifetime. that was a happy moment in my otherwise not allways happy life.

[mweinstone]

right now you have nothing in common with the general public. your tan, fit and strong. used to sleeping on hard ground and eating glop when starving to death after wlking alot of hard miles.

and were pale, fat, and weak. used to sleeping on feather beds. and eating 5 star meals when not really hungry. after walking to the car.

[mweinstone]

you will notice your need to be alone and quiet will override all else at certian moments. and those moments will not be of your choosing. at any time during the course of a normal day, you might be walking and talking with a friend. and you will be come over by a feeling of an imediate need for solice. and then all these things slip away and you join us in our slothlyness. may you remaine strong like an ox.

[mweinstone]

"delivering katadhin ,9months ,6 days" might be a cool title for a book.
or......"bound to blaze" ..............."five million trips".or...."carrying the appalachian trail, a fat mans journey to thinlydom",......or."blazing slow" or just " luke 9:6 "

[Jan LiteShoe]

right now you have nothing in common with the general public. your tan, fit and strong. used to sleeping on hard ground and eating glop when starving to death after wlking alot of hard miles.

and were pale, fat, and weak. used to sleeping on feather beds. and eating 5 star meals when not really hungry. after walking to the car.

My god! The best description of thru- and pre/post hiking yet.
:)

[minnesotasmith]

Hay, I'm going to be florida all next week in the Bradenton area on the west coast. Maybe I'll see you. Where are you going to be?

Panzer

I'm in the NW part of the state at the moment. I'm actually considerably closer to Atlanta than to the Tampa/St. Pete area (you're talking a locale just south of there).

[Blue Jay]

"delivering katadhin ,9months ,6 days" might be a cool title for a book.
or......"bound to blaze" ..............."five million trips".or...."carrying the appalachian trail, a fat mans journey to thinlydom",......or."blazing slow" or just " luke 9:6 "

Now tell us how it feels to be Robin to a very strange Batman.

[Skidsteer]

yeah, Mick Fleetwood, that was his name and he started the band.......

Yeah, I know.

I was baiting DWM, Mowgli, and Ed Bell for another obscure but funny Fleetwood Mac reference.

[MOWGLI]

Yeah, I know.

I was baiting DWM, Mowgli, and Ed Bell for another obscure but funny Fleetwood Mac reference.

Is that all you got Skids? Your orchard appears to be filled with Bare Trees.

[Dances with Mice]

Yeah, I know.

I was baiting DWM, Mowgli, and Ed Bell for another obscure but funny Fleetwood Mac reference.It went over my head. Will you ever win?

Back on topic: Football team honors MS hike with special give-away prize! (http://oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3400771)

[MOWGLI]

It went over my head. Will you ever win?



Tusk, Tusk! That wasn't funny.

[StarLyte]

Hello Trail Family.....

I arrived back home last night after a 12 day road trip that took me from Cleveland Ohio to WV, MD, PA, TN, NC, and VA to visit hiker friends, shuttle, slackpack and feast at Miss Janet's.

I will post a little trip report on the correct thread by the end of the week, and post MANY photos.

And meeting Minnesota Smith? Well, I can tell you that he is everything you have read about and more. He is not the same person as he was in March. He is not the same person as he was yesterday. It was great spending time with this man and I feel that he has so much to offer the Trail community as a teacher, philosopher and Trail maintainer (hey I was only joking MS).

PCT next plans MS? Think about Alaska later. Hike NOW.

Spending time with Matthewski was awesome. I can't say enough good things about him. And he was SO much fun. He is a hard working and artistically talented man; he has so much to give!

Life is good on this rock.

[mweinstone]

thanks , "one who lytes stars". your words are sweet and your ride is pimpin.the photo i posted of you on the thread makes you look almost as good as you do. and although i may not enjoy some baked goods as much as others, my life is fuller having met you and your wonderful friends. "carrot in the rain" will call me soon. i remote veiwed it! as far as your words to ms, you really are wonderful to point out the good in folks. thats a great thing to do. allways. i will pray for your continued service to the trail and its family.and wheather carrot will ask me to look into his dream i see. good young jedi. the force is strong with this one. and minnesota smith is home and he is forever a thruhiker. that was my prayer for him. and i thank you abba.as for the goat and his invatation to ride with bfiz to trashgiving on friday,... i am continually amazed that a group of people such as your talented selves could and does have a use for a dumb old matthewski. and i have secured funds to make the journey and have just got off the phone with the irs and they have put a six week hold on notices and i still am in good standing with them and awaiting my final payment plan arangment witch if small enough, may in fact allow me to do a thru on the 18th of feb. as allways i wait for my art to be discovered and have posted new works to my gallery site and will pray hard for god to allow me to be a philanthropist. life is hard enough without adding minnesota smith to the list of outsiders. as of this day.... he is and will remain,.. a member of the inner circle of thru hiking greats.

[mweinstone]

hi! im new here. am i on the wrong thread? cause i was told this was the axe thread.

[Roland]

hi! im new here. am i on the wrong thread? cause i was told this was the axe thread.

Now you're giving your age away. Chouinard hasn't made that ice axe in quite some time. I have the same axe, but with a rexilon handle. They made good quality stuff.

[mweinstone]

OOOH! its the thread to BE axed. my bad.

[mweinstone]

sinking ,.............cant remain threadwothy,.......much longer,............mr sulu?,..................new heading,.............the sun.

[mweinstone]

goodby thread.

[Lone Wolf]

sulu is on howard stern. he flames.

[mweinstone]

she was a good ship the thread.

[mweinstone]

she was a good ship the thread.yarr.



yarr

[ed bell]

Arrived in FL last night, about 2330 hours ET. Greyhound took 31 hours to get me here from Johnson City, about the same as their Minneapolis run once took, tripcourtesy of multiple screwups on their part. Have a minor head cold, but still intend to do some major walking tomorrow. Got a haircut and some smaller pants. Getting some other errands run before heading up to Atlanta. Don't worry, I've already designated the composition book to use for my upcoming AT-related book. ;)31 hours on a Greyhound and you give us "minor head cold", "multiple screwups", "intend to do some major walking tomorrow" and "Got a haircut and some smaller pants"? Either you really are gonna write a book and are holding back info, or the MS Update thread is all toppings and no meat.:D Glad you made it home MS.:sun

[mweinstone]

tru ms. people are kinda waiting for you to fully download online. at least a parting rant. we await your debreifing. at your leisure sir. otherwise the thread dies hungry.

[Paul Bunyan]

When will it die?

[Skidsteer]

Is that all you got Skids? Your orchard appears to be filled with Bare Trees.


It went over my head. Will you ever win?

Back on topic: Football team honors MS hike with special give-away prize! (http://oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3400771)


Tusk, Tusk! That wasn't funny.

That's more like it fellas.

What's on the slate for tonight? Grateful Dead?

No, no, Mowgli knows all those without Googling. Wouldn't be fair....:-?

[Dances with Mice]

That's more like it fellas.

What's on the slate for tonight? Grateful Dead?

No, no, Mowgli knows all those without Googling. Wouldn't be fair....:-?If you know all the Grateful Dead lyrics then you really haven't....I dunno...there's a thought there...I just can't...Pie! There's some leftover pie! And milk! Let's go play frisbee!

[Panzer1]

and i have secured funds to make the journey and have just got off the phone with the irs and they have put a six week hold on notices and i still am in good standing with them and awaiting my final payment plan arangment witch if small enough, may in fact allow me to do a thru on the 18th of feb.
Don't be a silly rabbit... GET A LAWYER...

Panzer

[MOWGLI]

What's on the slate for tonight? Grateful Dead?

No, no, Mowgli knows all those without Googling. Wouldn't be fair....:-?

There's a magic campsite somewhere on the AT. I can't tell anyone where it is, because I'm sworn to secrecy. But if you are lucky enough to find it and sleep there, in the morning you will wake up to find out that you are eyes of the world.

[Paul Bunyan]

Is it just me, or does Sgt. Rock look like Patton out of the movie?
Just wondering if i was the only one who saw the resemblance.

[Heater]

Is it just me, or does Sgt. Rock look like Patton out of the movie?
Just wondering if i was the only one who saw the resemblance.

Calling FD...

[Paul Bunyan]

Calling FD...

Who's FD?:confused:

[Paul Bunyan]

:datz Please ignore last reply.:datz

[Alligator]

Don't be weary that the thread is ending. You know, the heart has its beaches, its homeland, and thoughts of its own.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/SgtRockPatton.jpg

[Heater]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/SgtRockPatton.jpg

Heh heh!

Congratulations on the promotion, Rock! :D

[Heater]

Heh heh!

Congratulations on the promotion, Rock! :D

Oh, and... nice work there FD.

[bfitz]

Don't be weary that the thread is ending. You know, the heart has its beaches, its homeland, and thoughts of its own.

The night comes so quiet...it's close on the heels of the day...

[Paul Bunyan]

Is it just me, or does Sgt. Rock look like Patton out of the movie?
Just wondering if i was the only one who saw the resemblance.

I mean really, compare this:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=3432&catid=searchresults&searchid=5792

to this:

http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Patton/gallery/307012/

you tell me.

[Skidsteer]

I mean really, compare this:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=3432&catid=searchresults&searchid=5792

to this:

http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Patton/gallery/307012/

you tell me.

That's not Patton. That's George C. Scott playing Patton.

[Dances with Mice]

Do not insult Rock by demoting him to a commisioned officer.

[Skidsteer]

This is Patton. (http://static.flickr.com/27/65491655_c519e6f0a8_m.jpg)

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/SgtRockPatton2.jpg

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Do not insult Rock by demoting him to a commisioned officer.Patton was an enlisted mind in a commissioned uniform - the military could use more like him -- and SgtRock

[Blissful]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/SgtRockPatton2.jpg

Wow, that's pretty amazing. They look related to me. :)

We actually met a man working at Wal mart of all places, many years ago, who said he took care of Patton's horses.

His revolvers are here in a museum in Lexington, VA.

BTW - can we change the name of this thread to the Sarg Rock update?

[Skidsteer]

Yeah. From the angle of the shot it even looks like Sarge's ball cap has five stars on it. :eek:

[saimyoji]

You guys are nuts. Rock looks WAY MEANER! :bse

Keep it tight SGT. Come home soon/safe. :cool:

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

can we change the name of this thread to the Sarg Rock update?I'm working on it.

Oh, Matthewski, come here and look at this photo for a few minutes... (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/Matt.gif)

[Dances with Mice]

Patton was an enlisted mind in a commissioned uniform - the military could use more like him -- and SgtRockI so agree with the last part but I can't imagine splitting a pitcher with Patton at the E-Club. Now Patton's Marine cousin Chesty, on the other hand, started his career as buck private and probably drank his share of Sgts under the table. He also had better quotes than his cousin (they really were related):

"Take me to the Brig. I want to see the real Marines."

"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." Said right before he broke out of Chosin Reservoir and destroyed 7 Chinese divisions along the way.

And my favorite, the first time he saw a flame thrower: "Where do you put the bayonet?"

[mweinstone]

having epileptic sesure from blinking red thread message from frolicking dinosaurs. must go to trashgiving. cant stand city much longer ol chum. if i could only reach my mat utillity belt i belive i have a can of fast acting thread killer spray.

[minnesotasmith]

My headcold is showing no signs of abating, despite Vernon-level forcing hyper-nutritious foods and taking OTC meds. Did an experimental couple of track miles and found that my sustainable cruising pace is nearly 2 minutes per mile faster than pre-hike. A local hiking club has a short hike tomorrow evening that I think I'll go to, just to see... ;)

Went to the Wed. night service of the church I attend when in my parents' home town. A comedian/motivational/misc. speaker named Andy Andrews spoke for 90+ minutes. I found his technique skilled, but became disgusted with his Civil War comments that I almost walked out and refused to applaud at the end. He posited in an aside that Hitler was defeated BC the North won the Civil War. His leaving out that without U.S. intervention in WWI, there likely would have been no Versailles treaty to PO the Germans and sow the seeds for acceptance of the Nazis fatally flawed his argument IMO. Likewise, his reverance for all the freedom our (sadly no longer used IMO) Constitution was simplistic, but I'm certain he sounded educated and knowledgeable to anyone who didn't know better.

I talked to the pastor for several minutes post-service, and told him of my hike. I mentioned how so many times that people had approached me
with exactly the help I needed when I was close to the end of my rope, so much so that coincidence started to look hilariously improbable. The only reaction (positive but oh-so-brief) he gave me that a cookie-cutter politician would not have likely given me as well was when I told him how the experience had deepened my faith. Once again IMO I got confirmation that apparently only others in the hiking community like SteveM, Darwin, Dances, Matthewski, Miss Janet, Mary, Starlyte, Lone Wolf, Baltimore Jack, Tank, and the thousands of others deeply connected to the Trail are likely to fully grasp what that was all about.

Several friends of my parents here want me to drop by (with pictures and maps, natch) to discuss my thruhike. The interest level of these people I've not seen in nearly a year probably exceeds that of my immediate family members, albeit their understanding of the most basic characteristics of what doing a thru entails are likely terribly incomplete, unlike my parents, who've heard me rattle off "purist, blueblazer, pinkblazing, ford, trail angel, hostel, touron, shelter mice, Nalgene slush, happy mud, bog, puncheon, rock face, spring, mouse hanger, bear box, Miss Janet's, huts, work-for-stay, summiting, boulder scrambles, boulder fields, rhododendron thickets, Alpine vegetation, rockhopping, bog dancing (my term for what hikers normally do when puncheons are missing over deep bogs), bushwacking, stealth camping, yogiing, balds, the Whites", etc., etc. over the last year. I find that in practice this means that such people are easy to impress but difficult to communicate any deep meaning to or describe any complicated situations to about the Trail.

Today I'm going to go drop in on the professor at the local university's PE Dept. (they call it something else, of course) who took my vitals and performed what amounted to a cardiac/pulmonary stress test on me just before I left for GA last February to line up a post-hike assessment. He likely figured I quit, not having seen me by now. :rolleyes:

At my elderly aunt's suggestion, yesterday I called the local semi-major newspaper to see if someone there wanted to talk to me about my hike. The chick I talked to there thought that that topic had been beaten to death. I gave her my e-mail but haven't heard back thus far.:confused: My aunt now wants me to try a smaller paper, like the one in Milton (townlet not too far from where my parents live). Hm. Not sure if is worth the effort.

Am having to go through all the food and supplies assembled here for mail drops that never got used (much is stuff I bought pre-hike and decided I didn't want any more of). Food that requires cooking, is above-average in water content, messy, low in calories, and/or that I simply could no longer stomach facing pulling out of my food bag in a below-freezing trail shelter after dark is the bulk of it, along with MRE components impractical for hikers such as the heating units. Anyone have any ideas for usefully using the latter?

[minnesotasmith]

I so agree with the last part but I can't imagine splitting a pitcher with Patton at the E-Club. Now Patton's Marine cousin Chesty, on the other hand, started his career as buck private and probably drank his share of Sgts under the table. He also had better quotes than his cousin (they really were related):

"Take me to the Brig. I want to see the real Marines."

"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." Said right before he broke out of Chosin Reservoir and destroyed 7 Chinese divisions along the way.

And my favorite, the first time he saw a flame thrower: "Where do you put the bayonet?"

His flamethrower comment reminds me of what Chesty Puller (USMC general who won five Navy Crosses over about 4 wars) said when he first examined an M-16: "Where do you put the batteries in this plastic SOB?":rolleyes: :D

Not everyone knows that the George C. Scott-delivered version of the famous Patton speech was actually severely watered down. Here are the two speech versions:

Movie version: http://www.historyinfilm.com/patton/speech.htm

Unexpurgated: http://www.pattonhq.com/speech.html

[Dances with Mice]

His flamethrower comment reminds me of what Chesty Puller (USMC general who won five Navy Crosses over about 4 wars) said when he first examined an M-16: "Where do you put the batteries in this plastic SOB?":rolleyes: :D Right. Same guy. Patton's cousin.

[Paul Bunyan]

His flamethrower comment reminds me of what Chesty Puller (USMC general who won five Navy Crosses over about 4 wars) said when he first examined an M-16: "Where do you put the batteries in this plastic SOB?"

Not everyone knows that the George C. Scott-delivered version of the famous Patton speech was actually severely watered down. Here are the two speech versions:

Movie version: http://www.historyinfilm.com/patton/speech.htm

Unexpurgated: http://www.pattonhq.com/speech.html

Wow.:eek: :eek: :eek:

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

The second link: Now that's the General Patton I'm talking about.

[THE THREAD]

I'm working on it.

Oh, Matthewski, come here and look at this photo for a few minutes... (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/Matt.gif)


we never let us go. you only make us stronger

sniff our armpit and you see what we mean. burn the socks please though theyre making me sick

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Skeleton's don't have armpits... and the socks rotted long, long ago. I do hope The Thread is Buddhist and will come back in a 2007 hiker's update thread.

[mweinstone]

dear ms, i really do respect you and im enjoying our friendship alot. i am sorry if i jumped on the bandwagon a few times when they were attacking. peir pressure is a weakness i have. but you sir shine with honesty and espesialy today for private reasons, i must tell you that our continued friendship means very much to me. and alot.

[minnesotasmith]

Couple of questions for minnesota, now that it looks like he's back..

Any things you regretted about your hike?

Any things you would have done differently?

What's next?

I would have been in better shape when I started. My hike wouldn't have taken so long, and I'd have had a better shot at keeping up with people I came to like being around I met on the Trail.

I'd have used a microfilter ala a Katadyne during months there was negligible chance of below-freezing temps.

I'd have gone with a sleeping bag with only a 10-20 degrees F. rating, making the difference up in part with a liner worth perhaps ten degrees.

I'd have tried harder to find practical ways to eat vegetables while on the Trail, so that I could have avoided cooking.

I wish I'd figured out earlier that a gallon ziploc bag makes a pot liner for cold cereal so workable that I didn't have to wash my pot after.

I wish I'd found a headset-capable tiny alarm clock so I could be packed by daylight most days.

I would have liked to have seen the foliage on every part of the AT in both spring and fall, IMO the most beautiful times of the year for greenery. (That would take multiple thruhikes, of course.)

I would have used high-top trail runners the whole way.

I wish I'd had my hiker-size Bible and Robert Service poem with me the entire hike, not just the 75% and 90% or so of the way they were.

I'd liked to have had never bought a Dana pack.

I'd liked to have had different tents and packs for winter and nonwinter.

It would have been better if I'd had my anti-insect netting with me as soon as I got out of snow, and the first type I bought had been no-see-um mesh.

I would have been better off to have never met Jodie Foster, Comfortably Numb, or seen any nonthruhiker with a dog on the Trail (thru's dogs were rarely the PITA to me that shorter-distance hikers' dogs routinely were). They did my wa (Japanese word meaning roughly internal harmony) no good.

I wish I hadn't gone along with Clothespin bringing her dog into the Neels Gap hostel on a rainy, windy night. While it didn't bother me while there, I did her no favor by doing this. She would have learned in a clear fashion (while her mother was still there to take the dog back home) that dogs and their owners normally tent during rain, not being able to use hostels and other shelters, and being kept apart from all their trail friends by their choice to bring a dog along on a long hike.

I wish I'd had my bear spray with me from Standing Bear to Glencliff, from Hanover back south to Rutland, and from the MA line to Kent.

I wish I'd put some sort of rough-textured cap on my hiking staff so it wouldn't have worn 3+" off it, and coated it with something protective.

I wish I had had National Geographic maps for the entire trail, not just for the Smokies, the Whites, and S. Maine.

I wish I'd warned more of the abysmally-equipped spring breakers I saw in the Smokies in mid-March during the aftermath of the snow- and icestorms who were one mishap away from risk of death from exposure.

I wish I'd figured out earlier to carry a short length of rope in my pocket to tie down my hat when crossing balds during times of high wind, and a much longer one to aid descending near-vertical long rock faces in the Whites and S. Maine.

I wish I'd left my sunglasses at home. (I never used them once my whole hike.)

I wish I'd had blaze-orange bandannas earlier in my hike, e.g., before hunting season started.

I wish I'd had a brighter headlamp for night hiking.

I wish I'd had a better cellphone service provider during the sections I carried a cellphone.

I wish I'd known much better what a thruhike would be like before I did it.

I wish I'd figured out a better way to avoid ticks than I did.

I can think of more, but this is a good start IMO, though it is mostly commenting on gear choices. The regrets I have WRT people and the Trail itself don't lend themselves as easily to discussion.

[minnesotasmith]

dear ms, i really do respect you and im enjoying our friendship alot. i am sorry if i jumped on the bandwagon a few times when they were attacking. peir pressure is a weakness i have. but you sir shine with honesty and espesialy today for private reasons, i must tell you that our continued friendship means very much to me. and alot.

You and I becoming friends was one of the best things about the AT IMO. Your encouragement during the latter part of my hike meant a lot to me. You don't need to apologize to me for anything.

[Alligator]

What headlamp were you using?

[emerald]

When will it die?

Had it at the point you asked your question, you would have missed some good advice.

When those to whom it matters most are ready I would think.

[Panzer1]

Wow, that's pretty amazing. They look related to me. :)

We actually met a man working at Wal mart of all places, many years ago, who said he took care of Patton's horses.

His revolvers are here in a museum in Lexington, VA.

BTW - can we change the name of this thread to the Sarg Rock update?


Patton is on cable TV tonight. (AMC)
He was a really good tank man. It's a shame he had to die the way he did.
Panzer

[StarLyte]

Hello Friends.....

I posted this on Miss Janet's Thanksgiving Day thread, but thought I should post here as well.

I have uploaded many photos from a 10 day AT corridor road trip that was focused around Miss Janet, Thanksgiving, Minnesota Smith.

You can view the pictures in the entirety at this link: click here (http://gallery.backcountry.net/)
or you can view some of them here, however, I did not upload all 93 pictures here.

[Gray Blazer]

Looks like you had a great time. I could use WeatherCarrot to help me with a stone wall. It's not as easy as it looks.

[Lone Wolf]

33 hours and no posts. Looks like this thread IS slowly dying.:banana

[Lugnut]

33 hours and no posts. Looks like this thread IS slowly dying.:banana

Well it was till you revived it! :D

[Dances with Mice]

33 hours and no posts. Looks like this thread IS slowly dying.The Thread will be with us always, as prophesied in Joshua 2:18 and sung about by Solomon (Sol's Greatest Hits, 4:3)

[minnesotasmith]

Going through the thread, picking out the "He has no chance" posts, and putting them all together. However, I decided the amusement value of it probably isn't worth the time. I'm still getting over a nasty head cold that hit during my Greyhounding to my parents'. Am in middle of labeling & putting photos, getting new glasses prescriptions, pigging out on vegetables/fruit/wheat germ/liver/green tea, etc., etc. I made contact with a local trail club that maintains about 50 miles of trail here in FL. I had dinner with them after going on a short hike with them yesterday evening. It turns out that the FL trail actually has a few shelters, if I understood the organizer correctly. I may go out with them on a longer hike if I'm here when their next one transpires. Judging by the 11 members I saw last night, they're on the old side, though; I was the only person under 50 there.

[Dances with Mice]

Judging by the 11 members I saw last night, they're on the old side, though; I was the only person under 50 there.Duh. You're in Florida, dude.

[ed bell]

Going through the thread, picking out the "He has no chance" posts, and putting them all together.I think you might be surprised how few you'd find. You might also be surprised at how many offered a word or more of support. Going through the thread and picking out the latter might be a better use of your time.:-?:sun

[Panzer1]

since its been more than 24 hours and "the thread" has disappeared from the list, I thought that I would post something to bring it back onto the first page again.

I'm down in sun sun sunny Florida for the week to vacation with my family. It's great to be away from Phila for a week and just lounge around for a while. Going to do some boating, beach walks, art museum, ect...

Speaking of art, I just heard from my art adviser Matthewski. They are returning from Trashgiving, apparently having survived the weekend.

Take care

Panzer

[TOW]

YeeHaw-Yeehawyeehawyeehawwwwwwwwwww! That's what that old mules said!!!!

[Gray Blazer]

If this thread is goping to die, then let this be the last post. If this thread is never going to die, then let this be the first post of the rest of this thread. Panzer, you gotta let the FL gang know when you're coming to FL so we can either meet you or avoid you. That goes for the rest of you, also.

[mweinstone]

soup is made primarily of soup. there will be no bears while you are sleeping. and minnesota smith is in the house.you must plan a thru hike southbound luke. do it. you know it is your destiny. use the force luke. use the thread. the thread is strong with this one. there goes our last hope. there is another........

[mweinstone]

i hope i dont have to reminde everyone minnesota smith is a thru hiking god.

[DawnTreader]

i hope i dont have to reminde everyone minnesota smith is a thru hiking god.

hmmmmmm. no he isn't, he's just another hiker who went on a really really long end to end hike of the at :)

[Lone Wolf]

i hope i dont have to reminde everyone minnesota smith is a thru hiking god.

No. Warren Doyle is.

[Ender]

No. Warren Doyle is.

You big troublemaker... :cool:

[Blissful]

If you've seen on the backpacking law 101, you'll see why that was brought to another thread. :)

For me, there are advantages to still being a newbie at all this...ha ha

[Ender]

Oh I know why he said it, and I know who he's trying to bait. I laughed out loud when I read his post. Funny stuff. :sun

[halftime]

Oh I know why he said it, and I know who he's trying to bait.

Could there be a White Wing Conspiracy in the brew here?:D

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Don't make me go do a poll thread on who is the biggest and baddest hiking god. You know I'll do it and there will be pictures.....

[jlb2012]

lets see here - Jack as Thor (hammer and all), Lone Wolf as Odin, Warren as Loki, Blister as Freya, ...

[Blissful]

Don't make me go do a poll thread on who is the biggest and baddest hiking god. You know I'll do it and there will be pictures.....


I like pictures.

Esp L Wolf's pooch - cute ! :)

[Blissful]

lets see here - Jack as Thor (hammer and all), ...

Like the one at Bryce Canyon. Great hike there too. :)

[TOW]

No. Warren Doyle is.
No. Lone Wolf is.

[Dances with Mice]

I like pictures.Let's keep discussions of Britany Spears off of The Thread, please.

[Gray Blazer]

No, the Only Wanderer is!

[Lone Wolf]

No, the Only Wanderer is!

In all seriousness, Wingfoot is.

[bfitz]

lets see here - Jack as Thor (hammer and all), Lone Wolf as Odin, Warren as Loki, Blister as Freya, ...
Makes me think of the gods in "Eric the Viking"...all unruly children... ragna-rock'n'rollin on the AT!

[bfitz]

Lone Wolf is Odin! http://home.no.net/ahrune/froelich-lundbye-skovgaard-odin.jpg
froelich-lundbye-skovgaard-odin

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Next year's trail days theme for Billville needs to be Norse gods....

[halftime]

Next year's trail days theme for Billville needs to be Norse gods....

http://home.earthlink.net/~norsemyths/norsemyths.html

[mweinstone]

if ms were still hiking you wouldnt be talking about him then either.



talk about ms

[Lone Wolf]

minnesota who?

[Sly]

minnesota who?

Smith! A very common name and one of the 1000's that hiked the AT. No one super special. Most likely a one-hit wonder. :p

[Heater]

No. Warren Doyle is.

OK then... Minnesotasmith is a backpacking god. :rolleyes:

As a matter of fact...
Minnestotasmith is rewriting the book on "backpacking." :D

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

As a matter of fact... Minnestotasmith is rewriting the book on "backpacking." :DDoes this mean we can pick MS to pieces like we've done with RJ, WF, ect.? :D

[Heater]

Does this mean we can pick MS to pieces like we've done with RJ, WF, ect.? :D

MS is the Anti-Jardine. :bse

[Dances with Mice]

Does this mean we can pick MS to pieces like we've done with RJ, WF, ect.? Yeh, wouldn't that be new.

[mweinstone]

death to the thread.

[the goat]

death to the thread.

how's the view from up on your chair, dude?:D

[dust never sleeps]

I started reading this thread from the beginning last night, although I followed it off and on before. 100 posts last night, 100 tonight, so I'm at Mile 201. I start getting tired at around 50 posts. Will I ever catch up? It might be quicker to complete a thru-hike.

[Dances with Mice]

I started reading this thread from the beginning last night, although I followed it off and on before. Mental health counselors are standing by. Call 1-800-THE THREAD

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

death to the thread.http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/tombstone-1.jpg

[mweinstone]

dear goat. minnesota smith is a thru hiking god. and im on the chair and hate it.

[Skyline]

Mental health counselors are standing by. Call 1-800-THE THREAD

No, he's charging $3.99/minute for all calls so he can go to Alaska. Make that 1-900-THE THREAD.

[TOW]

In all seriousness, Wingfoot is.
HAHAHAHA, you ain't right!:D

[minnesotasmith]

No, he's charging $3.99/minute for all calls so he can go to Alaska. Make that 1-900-THE THREAD.;)

Airdrops cost about 900 bucks each, and they're the only really practical way to resupply if I take the route north of the Brooks. Going south of the Brooks Range has some towns, but the terrain is wetter.

[minnesotasmith]

No. Warren Doyle is.

Apate or Dolos (Greek mythology)

http://www.theoi.com/Cat_Daimones.html

APATE (http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Apate.html) Trick, Fraud, Deceit, Guile, Treachery (Latin Dolus, Fraus)

DOLOS (http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Dolos.html) Trickery, Cunning Deception, Craftiness, Guile, Treachery (Latin Dolus)

[Lone Wolf]

You shouldn't form opinions just because Jack and TJ don't like Warren.

[minnesotasmith]

Duh. You're in Florida, dude.

It's not just the local hiking club here that's mostly fogies. My mother's church is the same way, judging from what I saw when I attended it with her about 11 months ago, with lots of empty pews to boot. Of course, it is a highly liberal one, with a woman pastor and no real position on pastors being active homosexuals. The conservative one I go to when I'm in my parents' town is disallows both, and it is bursting at the seams with members of all ages. Run the trends out 20 years, and one of them will be sold at sheriff's auction, while the other one looks for even larger quarters (it's about 10x as big as the first one right now).

[minnesotasmith]

You shouldn't form opinions just because Jack and TJ don't like Warren.

I don't care for the man based on his own words and admissions. My position that he's been a net negative for the AT (and ideally would be put under a lifetime restraining order to have nothing else to do with it due to morals issues) is not based upon copying Jack's opinions. As you know, I have a lot of respect for Baltimore Jack as a hiker and as a friend to hikers, but if I disagreed with him on something, I'd still feel free to say so on WB, as is right.

[minnesotasmith]

Like the one at Bryce Canyon. Great hike there too. :)

Vaguely related -- battle of Brice's Crossing, with a great, happy outcome:

http://www.kerosenebomb.com/hornets-nest/4.html

[Skyline]

It's not just the local hiking club here that's mostly fogies. My mother's church is the same way, judging from what I saw when I attended it with her about 11 months ago, with lots of empty pews to boot. Of course, it is a highly liberal one, with a woman pastor and no real position on pastors being active homosexuals. The conservative one I go to when I'm in my parents' town is disallows both, and it is bursting at the seams with members of all ages. Run the trends out 20 years, and one of them will be sold at sheriff's auction, while the other one looks for even larger quarters (it's about 10x as big as the first one right now).

Dude, when are you going to get off your Superiority Perch and acknowledge that both women and gays are every bit as much part of the human race, and citizens of this great nation, as you are? As such, they deserve nothing less than equal treatment under the law and throughout society. Yeah, your precious church is exempt from all that, but from your many words on the topic(s) one is left with the impression that if you were King you'd banish everyone you don't approve of to concentration camps or worse.

[Sly]

My position that he's been a net negative for the AT (and ideally would be put under a lifetime restraining order to have nothing else to do with it due to morals issues) is not based upon copying Jack's opinions.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion but that's way over the top. A net negative, why? What are your reasons for coming up which such an absurb statement that don't echo Jack's?

[Skyline]

I don't care for the man based on his own words and admissions. My position that he's been a net negative for the AT (and ideally would be put under a lifetime restraining order to have nothing else to do with it due to morals issues) is not based upon copying Jack's opinions. As you know, I have a lot of respect for Baltimore Jack as a hiker and as a friend to hikers, but if I disagreed with him on something, I'd still feel free to say so on WB, as is right.

Oh great, someone else you'd banish. Feel better now?

[Lone Wolf]

It's gonna be a great winter here on Whiteblaze now that minnesotasmith is back.:D This place was getting boring. Give em' hell MS!:banana

[Sly]

It's gonna be a great winter here on Whiteblaze now that minnesotasmith is back.:D This place was getting boring. Give em' hell MS!:banana

Better watch it LW, next thing you know you'll be a bad influence on the trail and MS will call for your banishment! :p

But yeah, if MS sticks to his guns and continues to offer patently absurb advice and comments, it will be interesting and there'll be no stopping the thread! :rolleyes:

[warren doyle]

Yikes!! Before I drink water on the trail, I always consider the source. I don't think I will dipping my sierra cup into this one!

[Lone Wolf]

Stick around. Your buddy Jack and company will be on later.:)

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/popcorn.gifhttp://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/threadnotdead.jpghttp://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/popcorn.gif

[Lone Wolf]

Nowhere near dead.

[Lone Wolf]

2 orders of house lo mein to go please.

[The Old Fhart]

Lone Wolf-"2 orders of house lo mein to go please."Looking at their address I'd say you'd be better off getting delivery rather than pick-up!:-?

[Gray Blazer]

He lookha like a man.

[Heater]

He lookha like a man.

Prolly the steroids.

[Dances with Mice]

Somebody spammed The Thread?!

[DawnTreader]

of all the nerve. did every thread get spamed?

[Alligator]

The women were spammed too, but that's completely understandable because the spammer was selling shoes:p .

[The Old Fhart]

Alligator-"The women were spammed too, but that's completely understandable because the spammer was selling shoes:p "LOL! While I thought that was a great response, I can see why they don't want you posting in the pink forums!:D

[Toasty]

The women were spammed too, but that's completely understandable because the spammer was selling shoes:p .

Yeah, but you know what they say about men who wear small shoes

--- small socks. :p

[Nean]

hmmmmmm. no he isn't, he's just another hiker who went on a really really long end to end hike of the at :)

MS did not end to end. Had he not flipped odds are that he would not of completed the trail, which is why he did.:-? :)

[Blissful]

That smallshoe post has got to be a joke by someone. To post it on this particular thread to keep it all going...sure.

I mean, we even have Chuck Norris somewhere around here.

[The Old Fhart]

Nean-"MS did not end to end. Had he not flipped odds are that he would not of completed the trail, which is why he did.:-? :)It would appear that MS has hiked the entire A.T. this year. To say that he should have an * after his name because he flipped doesn't make any sense to me. As much as I disagree with him on all but one recent viewpoint of his, he deserves to be considered a thru hiker, just like anyone else. There is nothing in 'the rules' that says you have to carry anything or only hike one way, only that you complete the entire trail. Trust me, there are plenty of other things about MS to complain about!

[Mother's Finest]

Everyone knows that God and Jesus hate Gays........


Just typing that makes me feel sick to my stomach. On the subject of tolerance, we part company Minnesota.

peace
mf

[Nean]

It would appear that MS has hiked the entire A.T. this year. To say that he should have an * after his name because he flipped doesn't make any sense to me. As much as I disagree with him on all but one recent viewpoint of his, he deserves to be considered a thru hiker, just like anyone else. There is nothing in 'the rules' that says you have to carry anything or only hike one way, only that you complete the entire trail. Trust me, there are plenty of other things about MS to complain about!

I'm not sure I follow what your saying OF. Where did I say "he should have an * after his name because he flipped" ???:confused: Doesn't make sense to me either.;)
*s are for WD!:D

I just pointed out that he flipped to improve his odds and he did not end to end. I don't care how one hikes or with what. Hope that is more clear.:)

[max patch]

Words have meanings, which is why we all have dictionaries. Words used incorrectly lose their meaning. Love him or hate him, Mr Smith did not do an "end to end" hike of the trail as correctly pointed out by Nean.

[emerald]

http://home.earthlink.net/~norsemyths/norsemyths.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~norsemyths/Thor2.html

[PgDn] to Thor in His Chariot

[The Old Fhart]

Nean-"I just pointed out that he flipped to improve his odds and he did not end to end. I don't care how one hikes or with what. Hope that is more clear.:)

Max Patch-"Words have meanings, which is why we all have dictionaries. Words used incorrectly lose their meaning. Love him or hate him, Mr Smith did not do an "end to end" hike of the trail as correctly pointed out by Nean."The way words are used have meaning too. When I read "MS did not end to end. Had he not flipped odds are that he would not of completed the trail, which is why he did", it sounds like that big implied BUT, saying that he hiked the trail-but it shouldn't be viewed the same as someone who follows 'the rules' and hikes in one direction only; or that he wouldn't have finished the trail if he hadn't flipped-so he cheated by flipping.(he certainly wouldn't have finished, BTW)

If the two of you are arguing semantics only, I'll certainly agree with that explanation but if the intent was to differentiate MS's hike (a literal *, not a real one-you made an assumption there as well), I feel that's wrong. I think perhaps we're all on the same literal page.;)

[Panzer1]

Actually on the AT Trail Conservancy web site: (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.848729/k.6FA1/Alternative_Itineraries.htm
they actually suggest a "flip flop" under "alternative itineraries".
They even suggest something called "Cool Breeze" which is a double "flip flop". I think that this gives the whole idea of a "flip flop"ing a official nod. At least as far as the AT Trail conservancy is concerned.

Panzer

[mweinstone]

im doin a one and a half northern flip with an end to end tripple calender crown and a sectional counterflip with hot sausce to go. and im usein paddles and bottled air above 5000 feet.

[mweinstone]

did i mention im bringin four sleeping bags? yup . count em and weep. four identical 15 degree bags. no reason at all. just want contraversy. and im hiking for jihad!

[mweinstone]

wearing blackface and carrying a dead hampster the whole way in a 10 gallon hat with an onion in my pocket and making fart noises .

[mweinstone]

we have a caller asking about the onion..... hes upset about onion trash in shelters and says he cant sleep with oinion skins no matter how tightly sealed up in a trash bag.

first of all im useing a titanium electricaly deionizing ziplock trash storage system and it isnt made in china.

next question...........

[mweinstone]

i have a question i like to ask . please allow me to use ms's thread for a moment.

question:if a button was before you that if pushed, would destroy all of man and his works and leave only nature and the chance for a new man to evolve,.... would anyone push it for the sake of the plants and animals thinking they have a right to the place?

as a child i allways answered yes. not sure now.

[Darwin again]

The way words are used have meaning too. When I read "MS did not end to end. Had he not flipped odds are that he would not of completed the trail, which is why he did", it sounds like that big implied BUT, saying that he hiked the trail-but it shouldn't be viewed the same as someone who follows 'the rules' and hikes in one direction only; or that he wouldn't have finished the trail if he hadn't flipped-so he cheated by flipping.(he certainly wouldn't have finished, BTW)

If the two of you are arguing semantics only, I'll certainly agree with that explanation but if the intent was to differentiate MS's hike (a literal *, not a real one-you made an assumption there as well), I feel that's wrong. I think perhaps we're all on the same literal page.;)

Translation: I'm off my meds again. Literally.

[Sly]

End-to-enders on the LT don't need to hike the trail in one direction or all at once, they just have to hike all of the trail.

[Skidsteer]

Translation: I'm off my meds again. Literally.

Took The Old Phart off 'ignore' did we?

[mweinstone]

certianty about a hiker finishing or not and its corrolation to flipping is conjecture only. god knows stuff. we guess. and rename guessing. and kill the renamer. and make laws against knowing.

[Heater]

im doin a one and a half northern flip with an end to end tripple calender crown and a sectional counterflip with hot sausce to go. and im usein paddles and bottled air above 5000 feet.

No chili on that?

[emerald]

Words have meanings, which is why we all have dictionaries. Words used incorrectly lose their meaning. Love him or hate him, Mr Smith did not do an "end to end" hike of the trail as correctly pointed out by Nean.

I couldn't agree more!:rolleyes: He still lacks the portion north of The Maine Junction.:eek: The only part of what some insist upon calling the A.T. that could count toward an end-to-end hike lies between the Massachusetts/Vermont line and The Maine Junction.;) The approach trails leading to The Long Trail can be hiked however one so chooses as their sole purpose is to make it more convenient for hikers not from Vermont to access it.:D

[Sly]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sly http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=280843#post280843)
End-to-enders on the LT don't need to hike the trail in one direction or all at once, they just have to hike all of the trail.



Why is the AT different?

I don't believe it is. I'm always debating semantics with Nean!

[The Old Fhart]

Translation: I'm off my meds again. Literally.I guess we forgot to flush twice!:D

[The Old Fhart]

Max Patch-"Words have meanings, which is why we all have dictionaries. Words used incorrectly lose their meaning. Love him or hate him, Mr Smith did not do an "end to end" hike of the trail as correctly pointed out by Nean."Ah, and words used incorrectly can gain new meaning as well. I quickly checked both my 1921 and 1937 Long Trail Guidebooks and found no mention of "end-to-enders" so the term is 'new'. As a peak bagger, section hiker, thru hiker, and, yes, an end-to-ender, I realize these terms can mean different things to different people and Sly and others have mentioned the same. So if 'End-To-End©' is reserved only for the LT, then no one who hikes the A.T. can do it 'End-To-End©'.;)

[MedicineMan]

did i mention im bringin four sleeping bags? yup . count em and weep. four identical 15 degree bags. no reason at all. just want contraversy. and im hiking for jihad!


A new catch phrase-'hiking for jihad!-very inventive Mweinstone

[Sly]

Ah, and words used incorrectly can gain new meaning as well. I quickly checked both my 1921 and 1937 Long Trail Guidebooks and found no mention of "end-to-enders" so the term is 'new'.

I wonder if at the time everyone thought it was impossible to hike the ENTIRE LT at once. Or came up with, "the LT wasn't built/meant for End-to-enders!

I laugh when I hear the same about the AT. Like it was solely built for day trippers, weekenders or section hikers! :rolleyes:

[Lone Wolf]

Half gallons of ice cream weren't meant to be eaten in one sitting. Kinda makes you sick of ice cream.

[Sly]

Neither were 6 packs of beer.

[Lone Wolf]

A six pack is a good section of a case.

[Sly]

One beer is a day hike.

[Lone Wolf]

a whole case makes you feel like s**t. sections are better.

[Heater]

a whole case makes you feel like s**t. sections are better.

I have several thru-drinks under my belt... and over my belt... hanging off the sides of my belt.

I once tryed to triplecrown a keg but had to stop due to injury.

I am a section drinker nowadays too.

[Lone Wolf]

I'm a section drinker with a hikin' problem.

[DawnTreader]

Nean,
So whats the deal here. Did Ms both end to end, and thru-hike? or is he an end to ender, but not a thru-hiker? Is he a thru-hiker who didn't end to end because he flip-floped? I'm going to say he is an end to end thru-hiker, no matter how disfunctional his hike really was.

[Lone Wolf]

A 2000 miler.

[Skyline]

If he applies for it, he'll get the same 2,000 miler patch from ATC we all get if we do the entire AT. Some of us thru-hiked it end-to-end without skipping around, some of us skipped around, some of us slack-packed part of it, some of us carried a heavy pack the whole way, some of us did it in under two months, some of us did it in nearly 12 months, and alas some of us were section hikers who took many, many years.

We all get the same patch. Very democratic. Very fair. That's how ATC sees it, and since it's ATC giving out the patches and publishing our names in their newsletter, it's their opinion that counts most.

[DawnTreader]

Skyline,
This is how I see it also. I am wondering if this opinion is widely shared by the people of the thread...

[mweinstone]

in an effort to be solvent. i will now sell my favorite object. my leon kelly self portrait. if this works, ill be hiking come spring.

[mweinstone]

as to the question burning on so many lips, will ms walk with me on that faitfilled day when and if i finnish?,......yes he will. if i have to drag him away from a jar of fluffenutter.

[Skyline]

Skyline,
This is how I see it also. I am wondering if this opinion is widely shared by the people of the thread...

Don't know about THIS thread, but on other threads there have been widely varying opinions anytime the topic has come up. There are even people who think one deserves the official ATC patch and recognition even if they skipped part of the official white-blazed AT as it existed at the time of one's hike.

(Ducking...)

[Sly]

Don't know about THIS thread, but on other threads there have been widely varying opinions anytime the topic has come up. There are even people who think one deserves the official ATC patch and recognition even if they skipped part of the official white-blazed AT as it existed at the time of one's hike.

(Ducking...)

I'm one of those. I know some that hiked old AT blue blazes or grey blazes and feel their hike is as valid as any that follow the white blazes. I feel, arguably so, that the guidelines set up by the ATC are just that. Taken in perspective, if someone decided to hike as near the the trail that Myron Avery or Earl Shaffer hiked, to many "purist" they'd not be considered 2000-milers or thru-hikers, and that to me is ludicrous.

I also find it amusing, that Warren, who likes to espouse freedom and free thinking, mentions following the official white blazed trail like it's the only way to hike the trail.

[Lone Wolf]

I'm one of those. I know some that hiked old AT blue blazes or grey blazes and feel their hike is as valid as any that follow the white blazes. I feel, arguably so, that the guidelines set up by the ATC are just that. Taken in perspective, if someone decided to hike as near the the trail that Myron Avery or Earl Shaffer hiked, to many "purist" they'd not be considered 2000-milers or thru-hikers, and that to me is ludicrous.

I also find it amusing, that Warren, who likes to espouse freedom and free thinking, mentions following the official white blazed trail like it's the only way to hike the trail.

That's the ONE thing Jack and Warren agree on.:)

[ARambler]

I hear the ATC (Autocratic Trail Critics) are going to expunge the records of all 2000 milers who did not carry 6 rolls of TP and a cell phone.
Rambler

[Lugnut]

in an effort to be solvent. i will now sell my favorite object. my leon kelly self portrait. if this works, ill be hiking come spring.

Who's Leon Kelly? :confused:

[Nean]

Nean,
So whats the deal here. Did Ms both end to end, and thru-hike? or is he an end to ender, but not a thru-hiker? Is he a thru-hiker who didn't end to end because he flip-floped? I'm going to say he is an end to end thru-hiker, no matter how disfunctional his hike really was.

In my humble opinion, and you can take that for what it's worth:eek:, MS is is a thru hiker who did not end to end. Seems pretty easy to comprehend to me, end.....to......end, as in terminus to terminus. No need for assumptions. It is one way of many. Not a better way or the best way just another way. If time because of weather is a factor a flip-flop,-hop, (etc.) improves the odds of the NB thruhiker. It makes completing the trail easier, more time = less mpd and better conditions. No different than describing a 2000 miler as either one who thru hiked the trail or hiked it in sections. Is hiking the trail in one trip out the same as hiking the trail over multiple years the same thing? Ask Earl and Myron.:) No implied better or worst, just accurately discribed as different.

As for the LT, they give you a sticker and rocker that says end to ender only to discribe that you have hiked the whole trail, not how. (Sounds better than 275 miler!) Doesn't matter if you flipped, sectioned it over 50 years, etc. And besides, that trail is so short it isn't in the same catagory. Heck, if you want to find an outside opinion, you can hike the Smokies + 50 miles I think, and the NPS thinks you are a thru hiker. Doesn't make it so though.;) However, if you want to describe a "thru hike" you either end to end or flip and where, why, when, or how many times doesn't matter!

.....What?:D

[warren doyle]

"I also find it amusing, that Warren, who likes to espouse freedom and free thinking, mentions following the official white blazed trail like it's the only way to hike the trail."

Mr. Sly,

It is the only way to hike the trail for the individual I see in the mirror. You can hike the trail any way you want to. I offer no apology on the way I hike the trail to anyone. You are also free to be amused at this.

Happy trails!

[Nean]

"I also find it amusing, that Warren, who likes to espouse freedom and free thinking, mentions following the official white blazed trail like it's the only way to hike the trail."

Mr. Sly,

It is the only way to hike the trail for the individual I see in the mirror. You can hike the trail any way you want to. I offer no apology on the way I hike the trail to anyone. You are also free to be amused at this.

Happy trails!


That's Right Mr. Sly!

Why you be messin' w/ Mr. Warren? Don't you Know he's an *AFH!!! :mad:













*American Folk HERO :banana (self described):eek: (so it must be true):rolleyes:

[Skyline]

I'm one of those. I know some that hiked old AT blue blazes or grey blazes and feel their hike is as valid as any that follow the white blazes. I feel, arguably so, that the guidelines set up by the ATC are just that. Taken in perspective, if someone decided to hike as near the the trail that Myron Avery or Earl Shaffer hiked, to many "purist" they'd not be considered 2000-milers or thru-hikers, and that to me is ludicrous.

I also find it amusing, that Warren, who likes to espouse freedom and free thinking, mentions following the official white blazed trail like it's the only way to hike the trail.

Since it's all on the honor system, ATC would give you credit as a 2,000 miler. Your example might be a more interesting way to get from Georgia to Maine, but it doesn't square with ATC "expectations" of those who apply for a patch and recognition. Here is what is at the top of the ATC application:

"The Appalachian Trail Conservancy recognizes anyone who reports completion of the entire Trail as a “2,000-miler.” The term is a matter of tradition and convenience, based upon the original estimated length of the Trail. Conservancy policy is to operate on an honor system, assuming that those who apply for 2000-miler status have hiked all of the A.T. between Katahdin and Springer Mountain, either as a thru-hiker or in sections. In the event of an emergency, such as a flood, a forest fire, or an impending storm, blue-blazed trails or officially required roadwalks are viable substitutes for the white-blazed route. Issues of sequence, direction, speed, length of time or whether one carries a pack are not considered. ATC assumes that those who apply have made an honest effort to walk the entire Trail, even if they did not walk past every white blaze. If you meet these standards, please complete and sign the form below.


"I, ___________________________________, verify that I have hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail.
(print name)"


************************************************** ********


And what is a gray blaze? :-)

[Lone Wolf]

should have to be stamped and notarized by a lawyer. who would doubt it then? i wish i had one of them fancy certificates.

[Sly]

I know what's on top of the application, read it a 100 times. Write them you blue blazed the Mau-Har Trail and road walked the Shenandoah's and I'll all but gauarntee you they'll send you a patch and certificate.

[Sly]

Mr. Sly,

It is the only way to hike the trail for the individual I see in the mirror. You can hike the trail any way you want to. I offer no apology on the way I hike the trail to anyone. You are also free to be amused at this.

Happy trails!

I realize that, and that's the irony, that you're so regimented when it comes to white blazes, but can't seem to follow what's expected of you when it comes to gate crashing, entrance fees, park rules, etc.

[warren doyle]

Mr. Sly,

I can understand how you might see that as ironic.

Let me explain.

The trail to me is like a church is to deeply religious people (who worship in a church). It is a physical entity that has spiritually nourished me for 36 years, longer than anyone else in my life. It has given me more unconditionally than anything/anyone else has, asking nothing in return. It has never let me down. It does not judge or condemn me. It allows me to give all that I am without restraint. It is both consistent and ever-changing. There is a powerful freedom I feel within the structure of the blazed trail. Like any deep faith, there is also superstition.
I feel that because I have been true to the white blazes, that the trail has protected me from serious, debilitating injury over the 30,000-miles that I have walked it, and this 'honoring the white blazes' will continue to protect me. My pilgrimage route is on, around and across a long set of mountains from Springer to the holy mountain of Katahdin. My reasons to walk freely are more noble and righteous than any man-made rule/regulation that interrupts or constrains this particular movement.

Thanks for your post. It had a nice spirit about it.

"Dismiss fear, prudence, conformity...
Remember only what is promised"
Thoreau

I have made a promise to the trail and myself that I will never forget.

[Sly]

Warren, tahnks, I can respect that. I feel somewhat similar, but not just with one trail or color blaze.

[Skyline]

I know what's on top of the application, read it a 100 times. Write them you blue blazed the Mau-Har Trail and road walked the Shenandoah's and I'll all but gauarntee you they'll send you a patch and certificate.

Yeah, they might. They have bigger fish to fry.

On a WB or Trailforums thread a year or more ago when this came up, someone wrote in to relate that he'd sent ATC a letter asking to have his 2,000-miler status rescinded because he had a moment of conscience. The reply from ATC (Laurie, I think) was not to rescind, but an admonishment to go ahead and finish the missing link.

I think ATC's expectations are clear, and I chose to honor them. If I ever do the whole Trail again (unlikely) I think I would look for many alternate routings and detours just to be doing something different. It might even produce a better hike. But if I did it this way I would not apply to ATC for a second patch, certificate, or to have my name published again.

[The Old Fhart]

WD-"It is a physical entity that has spiritually nourished me for 36 years......"It has also enriched your life through a process the law calls thieft but you call a free lunch.

WD-"It has given me more unconditionally than anything/anyone else has, asking nothing in return."It actually is conditional, you just ignore the signs, gates, and laws.

WD-"It does not judge or condemn me."Except for the times you've been jailed, cited, and fined.:-?

[Jack Tarlin]

Before people get all hot and bothered about this, this is meant to be light-hearted:

Maybe walking most of 30,000 miles without the pesky and annoying burden of a full backpack might also have something to do with protecting one from serious debilitating injury!

I suspect my knee troubles over the years have more to do with family genetics and the weight of my pack than they do with my insistence on following the white blazes, but I can't help but wonder if my legs would be happier today if I'd done most of my walking from road to road burdened only with my thoughts and a water bottle.

Stop me if I'm wrong, but it's easier to "walk freely" when one's objective most days is a road and a vehicle.

Just a thought. :rolleyes:

[Lone Wolf]

You're jealous is all. You've done your fair share of slacking btw. Off your pedestal.

[Jack Tarlin]

And I've never denied it, Wolf, tho slacking just about every day of a thru is something I've never come close to doing, never mind doing this several times over. (I'm speaking of approximates and guesses, as I'm not really sure how many of Warren's miles were achieved this way; he's been asked this flat-out on many occasions, but has steadfastly refused to volunteer the information.
Evidently, this is something about his hiking history that he feels compelled
to keep hidden, for reasons left to himself).

One of the principal differences between W. and me, Wolf, is that I'm not reclusive, deceptive, or dis-ingenuous about how I hike. I also don't feel the need to constantly remind people of what I've done, post accumulated mileage in Trail registers (like anyone would care!!), etc. So we're actually quite different Wolf, and you know it.

And as for being jealous of him or his accomplishments, Wolf, I assure you it isn't so.....first off, I actually ENJOY carying a backpack, and second of all, I'm not remotely interested in being known for having the most miles, or the most thrus, especially if most of my achievements required automotive support.

The hobby I most enjoy, Wolf, is Long-Distance Backpacking, so that alone makes me very different from Mr. Doyle. He does his thing, I do mine, which is as it should be, but if you wish to think I'm envious of his adventures or mode of travel, or what's he's done over the years, well all I can say is you don't seem to know me as well as you claim.

Hell, I don't want to deal with an automobile in the fall and winter when I'm NOT hiking, so I sure as hell don't want to be tied to one when I am.

[Panzer1]

in an effort to be solvent. i will now sell my favorite object. my leon kelly self portrait. if this works, ill be hiking come spring.

Who is Leon Kelly? Did you paint/draw/whatever this yourself?

Panzer
(sorry, I know nothing about art)

[Skidsteer]

Who is Leon Kelly? Did you paint/draw/whatever this yourself?

Panzer
(sorry, I know nothing about art)

Know anything about Google? :D

http://www.sullivangoss.com/Leon_Kelly/

[bfitz]

I yellow-blazed while on a slack.

[Dances with Mice]

Know anything about Google? http://www.sullivangoss.com/Leon_Kelly/ Oh. I thought he was the guy that drew Pogo.

[StarLyte]

Mr. Sly,

I can understand how you might see that as ironic.

Let me explain.

The trail to me is like a church is to deeply religious people (who worship in a church). It is a physical entity that has spiritually nourished me for 36 years, longer than anyone else in my life. It has given me more unconditionally than anything/anyone else has, asking nothing in return. It has never let me down. It does not judge or condemn me. It allows me to give all that I am without restraint. It is both consistent and ever-changing. There is a powerful freedom I feel within the structure of the blazed trail. Like any deep faith, there is also superstition.
I feel that because I have been true to the white blazes, that the trail has protected me from serious, debilitating injury over the 30,000-miles that I have walked it, and this 'honoring the white blazes' will continue to protect me. My pilgrimage route is on, around and across a long set of mountains from Springer to the holy mountain of Katahdin. My reasons to walk freely are more noble and righteous than any man-made rule/regulation that interrupts or constrains this particular movement.

Thanks for your post. It had a nice spirit about it.

"Dismiss fear, prudence, conformity...
Remember only what is promised"
Thoreau

I have made a promise to the trail and myself that I will never forget.


Very touching Warren - thank you.

[warren doyle]

Thanks StarLyte. Emerson once said, "We see only what we possess." It is nice to know there are people out there with good hearts and healthy souls rather than those few people with hardened hearts and shriveled souls who are definitely are more vocal than their actual numbers.

Happy trails!

[mweinstone]

warren doyal is a thru hiking god. also,.. there will be no bears while you are sleeping. and,... minnesota smith has alot to teach us all. also,.. lone wolf will be hiking next year and im not seeing any women fainting. as to the issue of my leon kelly drawing. it can now only be seen at the schwartz gallery at 1806 chestnut.i offered it to my friends first , then sold that puppy like it was goin out o style. acctually that didnt come out funney. im not in a funny mood. im serious as a heart attack about thruin and need to focus on work. thanks goat and bfitz for slaving for me. and mothers finest i will come to port clintin this weekend dammit.

[Panzer1]

sorry to hear that you had to sell your Kelly drawing. If I get a chance I'll stop by at the Schwartz gallery to take a look at it.

Panzer

[DawnTreader]

Nean,
I'm on the ship that agrees that "end to end" does not necessarily have to be continously from one end to the other, but a collective, everything inbetween one end to another. Does this make sense?

[MOWGLI]

You're jealous is all.


And I've never denied it, Wolf.

Finally, we arrive at the truth. ;)

[max patch]

Does this make sense?

no

345678910

[DawnTreader]

your mom............

[Gray Blazer]

no

345678910
I like how you got your 10 characters in. I'm gonna copy you from now on. GO THREAD !

[Nean]

Nean,
I'm on the ship that agrees that "end to end" does not necessarily have to be continously from one end to the other, but a collective, everything inbetween one end to another. Does this make sense?

It doesn't DT.:confused: Perhaps if you imply you walked all of the trail from one end to the other and let folks assume you walked from one terminus to the other- it would.:eek: But if you want to accurately describe your thru hike and not take/imply credit for something you did not do, don't describe the way you thrued as end to end, if you flipped or sectioned. I did not invent the term flip flop.

I have mentioned before w/o shame that I have flipped, sectioned, thrued and slacked..... and (dare I say) may have backpacked more than anyone on this site. My guess is that we all tend to base our opinions on our experience.:-? I consider your opinion valid; I just don't agree.;)

Btw, did you read my post explaining why/how I came to my opinion. If not please do and explain where/why you disagree with me.

[Ender]

Nean,
I'm on the ship that agrees that "end to end" does not necessarily have to be continously from one end to the other, but a collective, everything inbetween one end to another. Does this make sense?

Made sense to me.

If you ask me though, it's just another lable. 2000 miler, thru-hiker, end to ender, flip flopper, etc... all of them mean basically the same thing, that someone got to spend a long time in the eastern woods having a good time.

[Nean]

Made sense to me.

If you ask me though, it's just another lable. 2000 miler, thru-hiker, end to ender, flip flopper, etc... all of them mean basically the same thing, that someone got to spend a long time in the eastern woods having a good time.

basically, almost, if ..........:D

[Mother's Finest]

yeah matty---you feelin a bit better? I will call tomorrow.

As for the spirituality of a trail, I feel the same way when I am walking thru an alley deep in Philadelphia.....its all the same, its all the woods and its all whats in your mind that matters. It sure is neater and cleaner in the woods though.

peace
mf

[Jack Tarlin]

Note to Mowgli:

I've never denied that I enjoy an occasional slackpack; several great ones have actually been supplied by Lone Wolf, so he knows this to be true.

As far as the other matter, I think I explained things pretty clearly, even to you, Mowgli:

I actually enjoy backpacking and would hardly be envious, ever, of anyone who so obviously doesn't.

[Sly]

Hey Nean, MS didn't actually flip-flop he *leaped frogged* then returned to finish southbound. What would that be called?

[MOWGLI]

Note to Mowgli:

As far as the other matter, I think I explained things pretty clearly, even to you, Mowgli:



Note to Jack:

I find it funny that while you suggest (above) that I am either slow or have reading comprehension issues, you obviously failed to notice that I used your very own words ("Before people get all hot and bothered about this, this is meant to be light-hearted") to indicate that my post was humerous in nature. :)

You can dish it with the best of them Jack, but you sure have trouble when you're on the receiving end. ;)

[MOWGLI]

..and (dare I say) may have backpacked more than anyone on this site.

"Our" friend :rolleyes: Ed is a member of Whiteblaze, although not a very active one, so if you're over about 45,000 miles, than you could probably accurately make that claim

[Jack Tarlin]

In re. to Post #5132, I actually have a great sense of humor Mowgli.

It's just that you've attacked me so frequently here at WB on so many occasions, it's actually quite difficult to tell when you're kidding or not.

And no, I wasn't suggesting that you have any sort of learning dis-ability or are perhaps a bit slow. I hadn't even considered it.

But now that you've thoughtfully brought the subject up...... :D

[MOWGLI]

It's just that you've attacked me so frequently here at WB on so many occasions, it's actually quite difficult to tell when you're kidding or not.



I've actually scaled that back quite a bit in the last year. You must have noticed. Or... ;)

[warren doyle]

Let me make this obvious:

I enjoyed my 14-day backpack of the JMT last July with my wife. Except for one meal at Reds Meadow and day-old pastries at Mammoth, we did not resupply the entire distance. Yes, it was hard, but enjoyable, fording swollen streams (of snowmelt from a record snowfall), and slogging through 4-7 miles of snowfields around the passes. Moving forward while others turned back.

The truth of the matter is that I enjoy long distance hiking. When I have the opportunity to day hike (even it is the 31 mile roadless section of the Mahoosucs or the 32 mile roadless section of the western Smokies) I will take it. When backpacking is the only option (the JMT), I will take that.

I learned a long time ago that it is far better to be a smart hiker rather than a strong hiker, and my 56 y.o. knees appreciate that wisdom.

And I'm still waiting to feel like cat meat. Meow! Meow!

Happy enjoyable trails (whether day hiking or backpacking)!

[Jack Tarlin]

Mr. Doyle:

Thank you for pointing out, as you say, "the truth of the matter".

But please don't put words in my mouth.....I never said you didn't enjoy hiking or being in the out-of-doors. What I said was I didn't particularly think you enjoyed BACKPACKING which is a very different thing, as you well know.

And speaking of the difference between the two activities, you have been asked, several times, by several different people, how many of your A.T. miles have been achieved WITHOUT a backpack.

So please, in the interest of "the truth of the matter" feel free to inform us of the facts on this. In that you always seem to know EXACTLY how many miles you've hiked on the Trail (at least your hundreds of register entries posting this info would indicate you have a pretty good idea of your mileage statistics), I'm sure you also have a good idea how many of these miles were NOT achieved as a backpacker.

Oh, and if you duck out of answering yet again, we'll be left with one of two conclusions:

1. Either the number of packless A.T.miles is so vast you actually DON'T
know how many you've racked up over the years, or
2. You feel unfortable discussing or being honest about this particular
subject, for reasons left a mystery to us.

But in that Mr. Doyle is evidently interested in "the truth of the matter" I'm sure he'll happily provide the information.

[mweinstone]

lites in sand live.

[MOWGLI]

So please, in the interest of "the truth of the matter" feel free to inform us of the facts on this. In that you always seem to know EXACTLY how many miles you've hiked on the Trail (at least your hundreds of register entries posting this info would indicate you have a pretty good idea of your mileage statistics), I'm sure you also have a good idea how many of these miles were NOT achieved as a backpacker.



Really Jack. Who the heck do you think you are demanding answers like that from Warren? And why are so so obsessed wth how many miles Warren has walked with or without a pack? There must be something like 3 people in the whole world who care about such triivial matters.

Do us all a favor and stop this ritualistic ranting about Warren. It flies in the face of EVERYTHING that the AT stands for.

[woodsy]

oops, Is this another attack thread? I'm outta here!

[mweinstone]

i just got off the phone with minnesota smith. hes well . i filled him in on trashgiving and the trailwork we did. hes goin to be road trippin for a few. me and moms finest are hikin this weekend at port clinton and wonderfoot may show. hey finest? wanna invite hords? meanwhile back at the matcave. i just this post got a new signal in my front room that allows me to sit normaly . the window sweet spot went the way of all traveling vagabond vortexes. kapoof! also, there will be no bears while you are sleeping. and. im thinking end of world thruhike. whos in?

[Jack Tarlin]

Calm yourself, Mowgli.

There are any number of reasons perople are curious about this:

Mr. Doyle is an extremely well-known hiker.

He also is a well-known self-promoter.....he never fails to let people know how many times he's hiked, or that he's hiked more miles and has more complete A.T. hikes than anyone else. He posts this information publicly on many occasions, including in his "Member Profile" here on Whiteblaze.

He also boasts of his accumulated A.T. Trail mileage and is the only well known hiker to repeatedly post this figure in Trail registers. I can't think of any other well-known hiker who assumes that their accumulated A.T. is of interest to anyone but themselves; it is only Mr. Doyle who insists on repeatedly sharing this data with the public.

He is very concerned with talking about his Trail accomplishments, Mowgli, but is assiduously dis-ingenuous, in fact, downright dis-honest about what he's really done.

Most folks, Mowgli, as you well know, assume that when one speaks of having hiked the entire A.T., the assumption on the part of the listener is that this was done with a backpack, and that the hiker was reasonably self-sustaining and self-supporting. Most people do not associate automobiles and automotive support with long-distance back-packing. Therfore, for a well-know hiker to crow about his trips, their number, or his total mileage, it is extraordinarily dishonest to avoid mentioning that much, if not most of this A.T. experience came about NOT as a backpacker, but as a walker with car support.

So calm yourself, Mowgli. I'm not obsessed with Mr. Doyle, I assure you. I just wish he'd either stop crowing about his trips unless he's willing to be more honest about them.

And as for my making a "demand" of Mr. Doyle, Mowgli, well the subject of his miles would never have arisen at all had he not taken it upon himself to raise the subject several hundred times a year himself, in registers or elsewhere. By raising the subject, Mowgli, he invites questions and discussion of same. If he's uncomfortable about discussing the details, well perhaps he should be more restrained with his incessant boasting, OK?

And now, since I have no doubt that Mr. Doyle will yet again fail to answer this, I suggest we let this thread get back to Minnesota Smith.

[bfitz]

assiduously dis-ingenuous

Say that three times fast after a few drinks....

[mweinstone]

hey bfitz? heard speed racer,trixi,sprittle,sparkyand chim chim and mom and pops racer and even racerx were all admiring your driving prowless on the last leg of your trip home from trashgiving. heard you coasted in on caffiene fumes and ciggs. thats what you get for being a driver. come with me as a freeloader sometime. its way cool. panzers sherpin me to pa ruck. hes another happy nut!




silly drivers. trix are for kids.

[mweinstone]

ms called. hes pregnant again.

[mweinstone]

pregnant with ideas on the trail and what needs doing.