Trail name?

[freightliner]

I just had an argument with my Triple Crown hiking partner about whether to give yourself a trail name or be given a trail name on the trail. I was asking her about some trail names I came up for myself and she says that it would be better to be named on the trail because that's part of the spirit of a Appalachian Trail thru hike. So I ask you is she right or is it no big deal anymore.

[Second Hand]

I gave myself the trail name of "second hand" because I get most, if not all, my gear second hand. I was happy with the choice to give myself the trail name. I was doing a section hike in CT and chatting with some thru-hikers a few years ago while eating cheeze-wiz and wheat thins, when one of the hikers declared, "if you don't have a trail name, I'm naming you cheeze-wiz"

Nothing against the name Cheeze-Wiz, but I feel like Second Hand is a bit truer to my persona.

[lonehiker]

I just had an argument with my Triple Crown hiking partner about whether to give yourself a trail name or be given a trail name on the trail. I was asking her about some trail names I came up for myself and she says that it would be better to be named on the trail because that's part of the spirit of a Appalachian Trail thru hike. So I ask you is she right or is it no big deal anymore.

If you name yourself it isn't a trail name but rather a nickname. I read this in Yogi's PCT guide. I agree with her.

[Mags]

If you name yourself it isn't a trail name but rather a nickname. I read this in Yogi's PCT guide. I agree with her.

A trail name IS a nick name.

[Lone Wolf]

so this yogi person is the expert?

[lonehiker]

so this yogi person is the expert?

Just a source.

[lonehiker]

A trail name IS a nick name.

Astute. By definition a trail name IS (your emphasis) a nickname. BUT (my emphasis) not all nicknames are trail names.

[Tuckahoe]

Astute. By definition a trail name IS (your emphasis) a nickname. BUT (my emphasis) not all nicknames are trail names.

Forgive me as I am honestly having a hard time seeing a difference.

[Mags]

Astute. By definition a trail name IS (your emphasis) a nickname. BUT (my emphasis) not all nicknames are trail names.

Ah..but let's use some logic: If you use a nickname on a trail, it IS also a trail name. Whowouldathunkit?

I'll leave the need for Super Secret Squirrel names to others.

Forgive me as I am honestly having a hard time seeing a difference.

There isn't. People like to create artificial and convoluted differences I suspect.

I'm using the same nickname I've had for many years, because that's who I am, and that's how you all know me. .

My nickname is a family nickname that is 80+ years old at this point. Apparently, it is not a real trail name even if I use it on the trail. I need to let the hiking community know that from this point forward I will forever be known as Obscure Lord of The Rings Literary Reference as my new trail name.

Though Mags has been used on trails for 17+ years now, it is not a real trail name as deemed by the High Holy Council of Hiking representative. Let it be known!

[Sarcasm the elf]

My nickname is a family nickname that is 80+ years old at this point. Apparently, it is not a real trail name even if I use it on the trail. I need to let the hiking community know that from this point forward I will forever be known as Obscure Lord of The Rings Literary Reference as my new trail name.

Though Mags has been used on trails for 17+ years now, it is not a real trail name as deemed by the High Holy Council of Hiking representative. Let it be known!

To give you fair warning, any time I meet someone on the trail that introduces them self as a lord of the rings reference, i automatically reassign them a name from the Harry Potter series. Gandolf becomes Dumbledor, Frodo becomes Harry Potter etc. I'll have to look back into the series to find a super obscure harry potter reference to assign to you.

[Disclaimer, this Elf works for Santa, not Tolkien ]

[rickb]

My nickname is a family nickname that is 80+ years old at this point. Apparently, it is not a real trail name even if I use it on the trail.

Better than Magaroni.

Mags conveys a sense of authority.

When it comes to hikers, I am not so sure a rose is a rose by any name. Rather your moniker and persona are intertwined.

I am jealous.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Bottom line is that it's a nickname, no more, no less... It it fits it fits if it doesn't it doesn't.

The whole idea of the "trail" giving you a name is kind of BS. If you're given a name while hiking that fits you and your personality then great, go with it., Then again if you're hiking and you bump into some neckbeard who tries to give you a monicker that makes no sense then tell him to go scratch and keep being called what you want to be called.

Basically, if you're over the age of 12 years old both physically and mentally, then don't worry about it.

[illabelle]

Bottom line is that it's a nickname, no more, no less... It it fits it fits if it doesn't it doesn't.

The whole idea of the "trail" giving you a name is kind of BS. If you're given a name while hiking that fits you and your personality then great, go with it., Then again if you're hiking and you bump into some neckbeard who tries to give you a monicker that makes no sense then tell him to go scratch and keep being called whar you want to be called.

Basically, if you're over the age of 12 years old both physically and mentally, then don't worry about it.

Agreed!...

[Tuckahoe]

Bottom line is that it's a nickname, no more, no less... It it fits it fits if it doesn't it doesn't.

The whole idea of the "trail" giving you a name is kind of BS. If you're given a name while hiking that fits you and your personality then great, go with it., Then again if you're hiking and you bump into some neckbeard who tries to give you a monicker that makes no sense then tell him to go scratch and keep being called whar you want to be called.

Basically, if you're over the age of 12 years old both physically and mentally, then don't worry about it.

Agreed!...

Even the French Foreign Legion will let you make up your own nom de guerre.

[Lone Wolf]

I just had an argument with my Triple Crown hiking partner about whether to give yourself a trail name or be given a trail name on the trail. I was asking her about some trail names I came up for myself and she says that it would be better to be named on the trail because that's part of the spirit of a Appalachian Trail thru hike. So I ask you is she right or is it no big deal anymore.

it wasn't a big deal 28 years ago when i named myself. it's a non-issue

[Damn Yankee]

I named myself also, it fits and it stuck. Now when I hike the trail and get a name that suits better, it may change.

[bigcranky]

If you let the Trail decide your name, then don't be upset when it turns out to be Mud Butt.

[MuddyWaters]

Irrelevant really.
A name imposed on you by friends and hiking partners may hold some sentiment that a self chosen name doesn't.

People choose names often based on how they see themselves.
People are given names often based on how others see them.

As
Long as it works, ie is basically unique, it works. Picking a name that is common is kind of questionable, might as well use "Mike" if you choose strider, hiker ...., etc.

[Old Hiker]

I'm not there for the "spirit". I'm there to complete a thru-hike. My Scouts named me "Old Hiker" decades ago. It was on a trail. It's my trail and Trail name.

If I recall, Trail names were to differentiate between all the Joes, Bobs, Anns and Bettys (Betties?) on the Trail.

My problem is: I'll remember your face forever after seeing it a couple of times. I won't remember your name after 5 minutes unless I have been in fairly close proximity for a LONG time. Don't take it personal if I just say, "Howdy" a lot.

I take memory pills, but they don't help unless you remember to take them.

[Coffee]

The only names I remember on the trail are trail names. There are too many people with common names and I forget almost immediately unless I've spent some time with them. I don't see anything wrong with giving yourself a trail name especially if you hike solo and don't hang around other hikers that much. It would seem to me that you have to be hanging around a lot of the same hikers for a while to be given a trail name. It would seem pretty rude to assign a trail name to someone you just met although I'm sure that happens. I gave myself my trail name but I got the idea when I was sitting on the side of the AT at the north end of the Roller Coaster using my Jetboil to make coffee around 10 am (as is my custom most of the time) and a hiker coming down the trail exclaimed "Coffee!" referring to what I was drinking.