View Full Version : Thru Hikers to Katahdin
What is the count so far of Class of 2008 hikers that have completed their thru-hike? And, who is on track to finish?
Chaco Taco
08-06-2008, 15:42
All I know is that this hiker is going to Katahdin!!!!:D
TJ aka Teej
08-06-2008, 15:48
Only a few dozen would have reported in to Harpers Ferry by now. I think a week or so ago the Ranger at Katahdin said 60ish had stayed at the Birches. Exact numbers are, of course, impossible to know.
Magic Man
08-06-2008, 17:04
What is the count so far of Class of 2008 hikers that have completed their thru-hike? And, who is on track to finish?
According to the ATC's website:
2008 Northbounders as of August 1, 2008Springer Mtn., Ga.1250Neels Gap, Ga. (30 miles)1150Fontana Dam, N.C. (160 miles)1050Harpers Ferry, W.Va. (1,000 miles)662Katahdin, Maine (2,175 miles)13*
*This number will continue to climb as reports are sent in.
Dirty Harry
08-06-2008, 17:06
I finished on the 25th of July, and was number 48. Started march 17th. 60 or so would sound about right. God I miss the trail.
I did the section between Rangley and Stratton Maine last week and met 8 hikers who were all poised to finnish in the next 10-14 days. Four of these included the "Four Sisters" who seemed to be having a blast and who have really defied the odds by starting and soon-to-be-finishing together.
Peanut is on track to finish strong & happy!
Early Bird
08-06-2008, 20:57
would you hike it again?
I finished on the 25th of July, and was number 48. Started march 17th. 60 or so would sound about right. God I miss the trail.
Congratulations on your great accomplishment!
Chaco Taco
08-11-2008, 20:13
Its funny to see these names in the registers in the past couple of days, now knowing they have finished. Congrats to all who have finished. We are looking at Sept. 27- October 1 as our window to completion.
Hey dad!!!
I finished on the 25th of July, and was number 48. Started march 17th. 60 or so would sound about right. God I miss the trail.
You really were right behind me, I was number 47.
Kirby
Its funny to see these names in the registers in the past couple of days, now knowing they have finished. Congrats to all who have finished. We are looking at Sept. 27- October 1 as our window to completion.
Hey dad!!!
Hi! Proud to be Papa Chaco Taco.
Dirty Harry
08-12-2008, 17:01
Just got back from hiking in the catalinas in Tucson AZ. I have to say I think I would rather be in Maine. It was pretty cool out there though. Yes congrats to everyone who has completed there hike on the AT thus far.
Bigglesworth
08-12-2008, 19:01
Bigglesworth, slowly but surely, is 3/4 there!
The RR from Abol just told me the count was right around 80.
Kirby
Dirty Harry
08-13-2008, 03:09
...and the count begins!
summited yesterday and i was 84, and there were a few others that day, and i know that it was in the lower 90's after the next-days crowd came in.
PUSHER
Time Traveler
08-14-2008, 00:41
I'm numer 50... something? I think. A day after Kirby? Somewhere around that. That was a fun walk, I kinda wanna go again!
-TT
summited yesterday and i was 84, and there were a few others that day, and i know that it was in the lower 90's after the next-days crowd came in.
PUSHER
Pusher! haha i cant believe you beat me... #85.... ill get you next time
i finished on june 18th. started jan. 31st. Number 3 for the class of 2008.
Summiting 9/11 as #232
Woohoo!
Dirty Harry
09-16-2008, 18:53
Hey Peanut Congratulations! Last Im saw you, you where hiking with wing it, and that whole big bunch of peeps. I wonder if any of them made it to K-TAD.
The ridgerunner told me this week that the trail has been busy with the Birches filling up a few times last week.
Kirby
Are these numbers asigned by the Baxter rangers? When I summited in 2006 no one gave me a number.
Dirty Harry
09-17-2008, 16:50
Ya, they give you a # when you register for the Birches. Which is positively absolutly mandatory to register, or they prosecute you, take all your gear including your boots, and leave you naked, alone in the Maine woods.
john gault
09-17-2008, 16:53
Anyone seen Slow Barbara?
I know that Mouth, Fire, Wing It, Top Hat, Hangman, Danger Danjo, and I think Grasshopper finished!! Congrats to you, too!! Enjoy your upcoming section with your friend!
And I haven't seen Slow Barbara since the south, I think.
Chaco Taco
09-18-2008, 08:35
IM ALMOST THERE! Saw the mamouth mountain off in the distance the other day.
Hey Kirby, Peanut, Bad Idea, Dirty Harry. Congratulations - Glad to hear that you guys made it.
I summited on September 2nd. (# 167). Smokin Joe, Cranky Pete, Freebird, The Professor, Meat Bag & Doxie, Spider, and Billy the Kid also summited that day.
Danger Danjo, Zero, Stomp & Shuffles, Wet Sox & Jukebox, and Shadow Cast plus maybe a few others summited on September 1st.
Best Wishes for a safe and successful journey to all those out on the trail.
dessertrat
09-18-2008, 10:22
How many started this year? How many finished so far?
275 thus far according to Abol Bridge Ridge Runner.
Kirby
Hey Shiloh!! Congrats to you, too...and thanks for the info on the others, too..I've wondered about some of them. Did Blake summit Sept. 1, too, with Danger Danjo?
Hope you are well and enjoying where you are...I'm still working on the transition...it's getting better every day, but I think I regressed when I went downtown for a bachelorette party--so many lights, loud music, people, craziness. Anyway, Peace,
Peanut:)
Shiloh! Holy ****! Man, thanks for everything you and shadowmoss did for me at Amicalola Falls State Park. Congrats on making it.
Thinking aboutre-hiking GA next Spring, you interested? I'll send you a PM.
Kirby
Chaco Taco
09-21-2008, 15:45
Hope to summit a week from Wednesday.
Slo-go'en
09-21-2008, 19:13
I just got back from hiking from Gorham to the north side of Saddleback Mnt a couple of days ago. Still a lot of thru-hikes doing the final streach. I'd say at least 20 who I meet along the way. Some of them were Keychian, Zen, Tailgate,Trout Bum, Bull Dog, Zero-Zero and my partner for this section, Peregrine trail dancer. When I got back to Gorham, saw there were still a lot of hikers passing through town, so it isn't finsihed yet either.
Man, I forgot how hard that section of trail is! Using my 6 pound Limmer boots didn't help, but being able to walk up slick ledge without slipping was nice, too bad my knees didn't like it too much. Only took one full body plant into a mud hole. But except for one rainy day, the weather was great and the views spetacular!
Looks like I got a little over 800 miles of the AT done this year, not to bad for section hiking, wish I had the time to have done all of Maine.
Chaco Taco
09-23-2008, 15:54
I just got back from hiking from Gorham to the north side of Saddleback Mnt a couple of days ago. Still a lot of thru-hikes doing the final streach. I'd say at least 20 who I meet along the way. Some of them were Keychian, Zen, Tailgate,Trout Bum, Bull Dog, Zero-Zero and my partner for this section, Peregrine trail dancer. When I got back to Gorham, saw there were still a lot of hikers passing through town, so it isn't finsihed yet either.
Man, I forgot how hard that section of trail is! Using my 6 pound Limmer boots didn't help, but being able to walk up slick ledge without slipping was nice, too bad my knees didn't like it too much. Only took one full body plant into a mud hole. But except for one rainy day, the weather was great and the views spetacular!
Looks like I got a little over 800 miles of the AT done this year, not to bad for section hiking, wish I had the time to have done all of Maine.
Good to hear from ya! Was wonderin where you were. Ill bet Keychain was glad to see ya. We are in Monson set to walk into the 100 tommorow and summiting next Thursday.
Good to hear from ya! Was wonderin where you were. Ill bet Keychain was glad to see ya. We are in Monson set to walk into the 100 tommorow and summiting next Thursday.
I hope you checked General Delivery in Monson.
Hot Cheese
09-28-2008, 12:57
Birdbath and I summited September 26 after a final almost epic push due to weather. I will post details later. We were #337 and #338.
neighbor dave
09-28-2008, 13:23
Birdbath and I summited September 26 after a final almost epic push due to weather. I will post details later. We were #337 and #338.
YIPPPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!!
TAH RAH RAH BOOM TI-AY!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:banana:welcome:sun
Spottzie
09-28-2008, 15:07
Buttercup and Duck (known as Jon and Steph for the first 600 miles) summited the big K on September 20th with The Animal, Thoughtfoot, Wookie, Big Brown, Daisy, and Eman.
Congrats and good luck to everyone!
Yeah Hot Cheese and Birdbath!! Way to go!!! :)
Blissful
09-29-2008, 14:57
Congratulations everyone!! Great memories.
MODS:
Where did my posts go? I would PM you directly, but I don't know who runs this forum, just seeking information. Please send PM.
Thanks,
Kirby
Chaco Taco
10-01-2008, 08:40
#363 9-30-2008 11 am
Cassiusblack
10-03-2008, 11:56
I (Longman) summitted on the 29th Sept with Seeker and Someday and we also saw Rama and Sedar and Mike from Conneticut. I know that there was a whole load of people waiting to summit the next day. I was number 340 by the way...
This is turning out to be an incredible year. The ridgerunner said she was on the summit with 30 thru's one day.
Kirby
boarstone
10-04-2008, 08:56
Pappa Sarge, Freckles and Sprite are half-way tru the "100 mile" as of 9/30
Chaco Taco
10-04-2008, 09:12
Pappa Sarge, Freckles and Sprite are half-way tru the "100 mile" as of 9/30
Aww sweet. They should have a beautiful summit after the mess pushes out. Great people, some of my favorites
Bigglesworth
10-08-2008, 11:09
I (Bigglesworth) was #386 on Oct 3, and 7 others summitted that day. I hear the pack of 50 or so waiting are probably going to be able to go up today (Wed)!!!:banana The ranger said they expected about 100 more to have a good shot at finishing - the total may approach 500 this year!
jessicacomp
10-08-2008, 12:59
congrats, bigglesworth, im very happy for you :)
TJ aka Teej
10-08-2008, 13:10
Congrats Chaco and Bigglesworth!
Yeah!! Congrats Bigglesworth!!
MARKO HANGMAN III
10-09-2008, 15:05
This is my first post to whiteblaze. Hello everybody!
I summited Katahdin on August 30 with Tangent, Filadelfia Greenberg and Rocko.
Hiking the AT was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I have joined whiteblaze in an attempt to stay in touch with all of those cool people that I met on the trail (just to name a few: Bronco, Blake, Alf, Vagabond, SmEllie Cat, Chef, Sage, Sailboat, General Delivery, Stomp & Shuffles, Peanut, Wrongway, Stripe, Wing-it, Fire, Top Hat, Mouth, Grasshopper, Mainiac, Pipper, Mr. Burns, Sojo, Recurve, Boat, Thinker, Lotus, Bill, Josh, Jesse, Skooter, Daddy-O, Peacock, Danger Danjo, Dirty Harry, Avalanche, Leaping Turtle, Grateful Greenpeace Guy, Pilot, Dirty Girl, and all the cool Southbounders I met). I hope you will stay in touch!
I would like to say a special thanks to anybody and everybody who provided trail magic (including whoever happened to drop a rubber band on the trail exactly when I needed one). I promise to pay it forward...
HANGMAN
on September 10 Bronco, Alf , Pack Animal, Lady and The Tramp, Steadyon and a lot of people I can not remember there names summitted Katadin. I arrived at 10:45 temperature 38 degrees winds 20-30 mph with gust to 40 and cloudy with no view from summit. On the way back down the views started to open up. there was a large group that summitted on September 11 also.
Powder River
10-10-2008, 01:33
Summited September 26th, at the very end of that long 3 week stretch of beautiful weather, in fact it was supposed to rain around noon on that day but no clouds ever came in, and it was beautiful. Took the knife edge down, and once I got to the parking lot it started to rain, and watching the weather forecast it looks like it rained straight through the following week. Also finished just 3 days before my long standing contract to start work on the 29th. Talk about good timing!!! My parents and brother flew out, and my dad and brother summited with me. (and I took them down the knife edge. No, I didn't take out life insurance on them ahead of time) Our flight plans were messed up by hurricane Kyle, so I switched to Boston and so we found ourselves at Fenway on the last day of the regular season watching the Red Sox-Yankees game!!! Not a bad ending to the story, eh?
The cool part was that I was up there when the National Geographic crew were filming their summit scene for an AT documentary with some fancy airplane equipped with some fancy camera, which flew circles around the top, and even buzzed us. The star was Babu, a thru-hiker who they picked to feature. For the shot we staged a fake scene where we are all cheering for Babu, who is at the sign. The documentary should hit sometime next summer, so look for it and if you see a crowd atop Katahdin at the end, I'm in there!!!!
Powder River
10-10-2008, 01:53
Oh, and most importantly, I BEAT KARL MELTZER TO THE FINISH!!! By 3 days...
Speedgoat Karl
10-10-2008, 11:32
Anyone know how many sobo's are gonna make it?
You ROCK Powder River! Congradulations.
trailangelmary
10-13-2008, 16:20
Anyone know how many sobo's are gonna make it?
Laurie Pottieger of the ATC announced some current figures at the ALDHA meeting on Sunday at the Gathering but I didn't jot them down. You can probably view their count at the ATC Website (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.1423119/k.BEA0/Home.htm)
There are still SOBOs coming through Duncannon. Some left the Doyle this morning. There was about 6 there on Tuesday.
BarleyRain
10-25-2008, 19:53
This is my first post. My husband and I summited Katahdin in the snow on 10/21...it was awesome! Nobody had summited for the three days prior to that and I'm pretty sure we were the last NOBOs...numbers 474 and 475!
Congrats class of 2008! So glad we were able to join you!
Record year, I believe.
Kirby
Jack Tarlin
10-25-2008, 21:56
Certainly not a record year. Plus just because someone signs in at Katahdin Stream, this does NOT mean they walked the entire Trail from Maine.
In point of fact, maybe 10% of them did. :rolleyes:
whitelightning
10-25-2008, 22:35
Congrats to Barley & Rain. It's good to know you finished. I was wondering if you were still on the trail. I thought I was pretty much at the end of the NOBO pack finishing Oct. 8th.
WL
TJ aka Teej
10-26-2008, 11:02
This is my first post. My husband and I summited Katahdin in the snow on 10/21...it was awesome! Nobody had summited for the three days prior to that and I'm pretty sure we were the last NOBOs...numbers 474 and 475!
:welcome to WhiteBlaze, Barley&Rain! #471 was the last of a group back on 10/14, and #472 was a solo on 10/16 - it sure was a quiet week at Baxter before your summit!
Congrats!
TJ aka Teej
10-26-2008, 11:15
Record year, I believe.
Kirby
Ah... numbers. These tallys are just those GAMErs who check in with the Ranger at KSC. The number of long-distance hikers checking in and/or staying at the Birches was much higher. After the snow delay at the start of October a group reported to be as large as 60 ATers summited on one day, and only a few of those checked in at the Ranger Station or signed the register on the porch. I was recently told the checking-in-at-KSC numbers have been trending down since a 500+ season several years back.
As far as 'purity', the Ranger told me a few years back that only 2/3s of the GAMErs took the ATC form when it was offered to them. Make of that what you will.
....As far as 'purity', the Ranger told me a few years back that only 2/3s of the GAMErs took the ATC form when it was offered to them. Make of that what you will.
As a guess, it probably means that at least one third of GA-MEers are honest. A lot of us have started at Springer and ended six months or so later on Katahdin, but didn't meet all the qualifications the ATC form requires. I was a GAMEer in 1993. But I never took an ATC form because I delayed hiking southern New England for another two years in order to beat the likelihood of finding snow on Katahdin.
So for that reason and a few others I don't have a piece of paper on my wall proclaiming me a "2,000 miler." ATC did give me a consolation prize a few years ago -- a plaque and a silver cup proclaiming me an honorary member for alleged "distinguished contributions to the Appalachian Trail." I keep my car keys in the cup. The framed certificate hangs on the wall behind a filing cabinet above my computer.
ATC recognized my decades of maintaining the trail, serving as an overseer, and even thought I had contributed to recovering 400,000 acres of public land in Maine, public land through which the trail runs for 50 miles or so.
Not being terribly honest, I didn't tell ATC that several other people contributed immensely to that recovery. I had just alerted others to the existence of the land, and wrote about efforts to recover it.
My apologies for intruding on this thread. But TJ stirred memories and I made the mistake of looking at my wall hangings.
Weary
Jack Tarlin
10-26-2008, 13:22
The "qualifications" that the ATC asks for are pretty simple, and that is that the hiker in question make an honest and sincere effort to hike the entire Trail at one go. If this is not a goal that is important to folks, that's all well and good, but it isn't the ATC who makes the decision on whether or not someone actually completes a thru....that decision, first and foremost, is made by the individual hiker. And the hiker knows very well what the "qualifications" are.
Jack,
Every six months or so you argue this point. Do you think it does any good. Someone that didn't hike the all the trail and gets a certificate will never admit they are wrong and you will never budge any either. Give up man, life is to short.
Clyde
Jack Tarlin
10-26-2008, 14:07
Clyde:
Calm yourself, I'm not "arguing" anything. I'm merely stating a fact. There's no mystery as to what what the ATC considers a thru-hike, and you know what? There's no real mystery amongst hikers, either. People either know they've done the whole thing, or they know they haven't. But you're right, stating these simple facts isn't going to change some minds, especially the minds of folks who voluntarily elected to do one thing, and then, in later years, preferred to pretend that they did something else.
It's funny, Clyde, that none of these folks have any beef or any problem whatsoever with the ATC "requirements" or expectations.....until AFTER they are done with their hike.
Why do you suppose this is? :rolleyes:
lonehiker
10-26-2008, 14:17
"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."
The above quote is from the "2,000 miler application".
The "qualifications" that the ATC asks for are pretty simple, and that is that the hiker in question make an honest and sincere effort to hike the entire Trail at one go. If this is not a goal that is important to folks, that's all well and good, but it isn't the ATC who makes the decision on whether or not someone actually completes a thru....that decision, first and foremost, is made by the individual hiker. And the hiker knows very well what the "qualifications" are.
I thought you didn't have to hike at one go to get the 2,000-miler patch. 6 months, 6 years, 60 years, doesn't matter, just need to hike the white blazes, no?
lonehiker, thanks for posting the quote from the atc site. always best to get it from the source.
Is that it now for this year or might some still be coming if there is time?
What was the last date this year for summitting Katahdin from a thruhike or AT section hike?
Jack Tarlin
10-26-2008, 14:37
TM: No, of course one doesn't have to do the whole thing in one go to be recognized by the ATC for having hiked the Trail in its entirety, or to apply for a 2000 miler patch. But those who take more than a year to complete their hikes are more properly called "section hikers". Which, by the way, doesn't lessen their accomplishment in the slightest.
Bluebearee
10-26-2008, 14:38
Yes, Barley and Rain were the last, getting up the mountain last Tuesday before snow fell that night and shut it down. For the season? Don't know yet, but safe to say they were the last. We know we missed some folks the last full week of camping as some left due to flights, etc and others came in and out of town, up to then, the #s were right on target with 05 and 06 which ended ~500.
Remember folks, these are hikers who upon arriving in BSP are asked if they hiked from GA. We don't audit that. Some who skipped sections may say yes. Of those, they may submit to the ATC and vice versa. It's an inexact science and in the end, does it really matter?
Thanks for another great season in the shadow of Katahdin. I had a marvelous last climb myself last Monday, truly had the mountain to myself.
TM: No, of course one doesn't have to do the whole thing in one go to be recognized by the ATC for having hiked the Trail in its entirety, or to apply for a 2000 miler patch. But those who take more than a year to complete their hikes are more properly called "section hikers". Which, by the way, doesn't lessen their accomplishment in the slightest.
Thanks for the clarification.
What is the fascination for the patch anyway? I kind of grew out of patch collecting when I graduated the boy scouts.
Jack Tarlin
10-26-2008, 14:48
I think its a mistake to think that everyone has a "fascination" with the patch, TM.
Some thru-hikers certainly do, and even get multiple ones, so they can adorn every backpack or fleece that they own.
Some folks could care less. I know where exactly two of mine are.....Bob Peoples has one, and Miss Janet has one; we decided they deserved to be made "honorary thru-hikers" some years back, so we gave them patches and certificates. As to my other patches, I haven't a clue as to where they are.
One was on a long since lost Red Sox cap. As to the others, they're probably in storage somewhere.
So not everyone is "fascinated" by patches or certificates, TM. There is a feeling tho, amongst a lot of folks, that if it's important enough for someone to report into ATC that they finished the Trail, then perhaps they should actually do so.
Thanks Jack. I guess picture collecting, especially the completion picture on Katahdin or Springer or wherever amounts to the same thing as a patch. I have an AT map on the wall that I stick pins in after each section. I suppose each has their own way of memorializing their hike. And I didn't mean to sound derogatory to those who collect the patch. I simply don't feel the need to fill out some form to prove to someone else that I accomplished something... not that there is anything wrong with it. My boy scout sons do it all the time. :)
Thanks Jack. I guess picture collecting, especially the completion picture on Katahdin or Springer or wherever amounts to the same thing as a patch. I have an AT map on the wall that I stick pins in after each section. I suppose each has their own way of memorializing their hike. And I didn't mean to sound derogatory to those who collect the patch. I simply don't feel the need to fill out some form to prove to someone else that I accomplished something... not that there is anything wrong with it. My boy scout sons do it all the time. :)
It's not about filling out a form to prove to the ATC that you've hiked, at least it wasn't for me.
I said this a few weeks ago. It's like hanging up your degree in your office or home. It's a nice reminder of the hard work that went into something that you accomplished. My patch is on my bulletin board and my certificate in my room. I don't feel the need to wear the patch in public, but it's a nice reminder when I'm having a bad day.
Of course the patch means little compared to the photo album I have and the memories I've stored for life. And the friends made aren't bad either :)
It's not about filling out a form to prove to the ATC that you've hiked, at least it wasn't for me.
I said this a few weeks ago. It's like hanging up your degree in your office or home. It's a nice reminder of the hard work that went into something that you accomplished. My patch is on my bulletin board and my certificate in my room. I don't feel the need to wear the patch in public, but it's a nice reminder when I'm having a bad day.
Of course the patch means little compared to the photo album I have and the memories I've stored for life. And the friends made aren't bad either :)
Thanks for putting things in perspective. I like looking at my map and my pictures. All the completion papers and patches I have collected are in a box somewhere. But I think you have hit on the most important thing here - the memories and the friends you make are worth a heck of a lot more than all the collectibles you store.
Thanks for the info Bluebearee.
Kirby
Yes, Barley and Rain were the last, getting up the mountain last Tuesday before snow fell that night and shut it down. For the season? Don't know yet, but safe to say they were the last. We know we missed some folks the last full week of camping as some left due to flights, etc and others came in and out of town, up to then, the #s were right on target with 05 and 06 which ended ~500.
Remember folks, these are hikers who upon arriving in BSP are asked if they hiked from GA. We don't audit that. Some who skipped sections may say yes. Of those, they may submit to the ATC and vice versa. It's an inexact science and in the end, does it really matter?
Thanks for another great season in the shadow of Katahdin. I had a marvelous last climb myself last Monday, truly had the mountain to myself.
Congrats on another successful hiker season and the chance to have Katahdin to yourself!
AtGroupie
10-26-2008, 19:54
:welcome to WhiteBlaze, Barley&Rain! #471 was the last of a group back on 10/14, and #472 was a solo on 10/16 - it sure was a quiet week at Baxter before your summit!
Congrats!
First Post ever on Whiteblaze--Not a big hiker but a HUGE hiker supporter. #472 solo hiker was my husband who finished his thru-hike on Oct. 16. Congrats to him and all the other thru-hikers!
traildust
10-27-2008, 19:29
Congrats to all. Any idea who was No. 1 or No. 2. Great job Vargas.
TJ aka Teej
10-28-2008, 01:11
First Post ever on Whiteblaze--Not a big hiker but a HUGE hiker supporter. #472 solo hiker was my husband who finished his thru-hike on Oct. 16.
:welcome to WhiteBlaze!
Mike, his name was? We spoke a little bit about it being the last day of camping at BSP.
Did anyone meet a hiker named "D and D"? I was told he finished at the start of the month.
Kirby
whitelightning
11-02-2008, 19:48
Not sure if it's the same hiker, but I hiked with a "D & D" for awhile. "Dirty & Deranged". Went by "Double D" by the time we were in VA. He was on a tight budget and was several weeks ahead of me by the time I finished. So he most likely finished early to mid September. He was planning to live in Maine afterwards.
I leap frogged with Double D for a while in NH and ME...should've finished a couple days after me..(I summited 9/11).
earthbound
11-28-2008, 01:07
He finished. Let me know if you want his contact info.
bikeman123
12-07-2008, 21:11
Yeah, he's livin in Portland now, as am I. Good guy.
-Fester
Bigglesworth
12-10-2008, 15:47
I agree that the patch or certificate are more like nice reminders/memories than a resume or bragging point, for many of us. A lot of people like to be negative toward those who choose to get the certificate, but why? There isn't anything wrong with having that up on your wall or in an album, just like many people display photos, maps, etc. It's part of the fun, even if it is more for "you" than for others. For that matter, if you want to put it where others can see it or enjoy it, who cares! Not like earning it was always easy; there's nothing wrong with being proud of what you've done, and having a reminder of it.
After I summitted, I went back and did two short stretches that I missed, so I would feel - for myself - that I did it honestly. Then I sent in for my certificate - for my mom, and others like her who supported me and I know would like the memory, too. After all, few of us do this completely alone.
I think there are a lot of good reasons to get the patch and certificate. I think it is fine to choose not to also. But don't get down on others, whatever their choice!:)
Thanks for putting things in perspective. I like looking at my map and my pictures. All the completion papers and patches I have collected are in a box somewhere. But I think you have hit on the most important thing here - the memories and the friends you make are worth a heck of a lot more than all the collectibles you store.
Anyone seen Slow Barbara?
Way late on this, sorry. I met Slow Barbara a few times near Damascus. This fall I went to SNP for a week and read her entrie in the register at I believe Rock Spring Hut. She was discouraged about a lost or stolen hiking pole. In a very brief post script she said that she was going to leave the trail. Don't know if she did or not.