reading all the posts about unsubstainable numbers of thru hikers, etc. on the AT I often wonder if we (the WB community as a whole) aren't part of the problem. My thinking goes like this....outside of anonymous WB posters or while hiking the AT itself, I have never, ever met anyone who has thru hiked, either before or after my hike. And I have been on this globe for awhile. I stumbled onto this place just prior to my thru hike. It seems like this place is a "search engine" for any conceivable question a priori and every prospective hiker can submit a list of gear for "approval" before setting out. We all laugh, slap him or her on the back and tell everyone to "enjoy the vacation" and "it's just walking", etc.
This is not a complaint or critique...I have enjoyed this site over the years. it's been a great source of information. but i often wonder if 'we" aren't part of the problem vis-a-vis overcrowding or overuse of the AT. Comments?