Warren Doyle's 'Book' now available on-line

[warren doyle]

Just wanted to let AT dreamers that my 'book' on thru-hiking the AT is now available at

www.warrendoyle.com

It is in its 22nd edition (the longest continuously published thru-hiking 'guide').
It is the lightest guide physically and may be the heaviest guide psychologically.
It has been tested and proven 'on the trail' for the last 30 years.

Enjoy it and happy trails to all!

[rickb]

11) If your goal is to walk the ENTIRE Appalachian Trail, then do it. People who take shortcuts, i.e., blue blazes, or hitchhike do so because it usually is shorter, quicker, and/or easier. So where is the challenge in that? We have enough 'shortcuts' in the real world (i.e., ENRON, personal bankruptcies).

You have given everyone something to think about. You might consider adding this to your book:

11.5) If you value SELF RELIANCE, then let go of your fears. People who take shortcuts, i.e., have experts plan thier meals, determine their daily milage, choose thier hiking partners, find thier camping spots based on van access rather than beauty, and (horrror of horrors) carry thier gear each and every day, may well do so because it seems shorter, quicker and/or easier. So where is the self-reliance in that? We have enough hand-holding in the real world (i.e. TNT Vacations, Bush Gardens)

Then again, I might not. To do so would be kind-of insulting to those who had really wonderful experiences hiking in a way that was right for them.

Nah, I'd include it. Being sef-reliant is AT LEAST as important for many (MOST) people's AT experience as most of the other stuff in Warren's treatise. Like so many others, I can't shut up about some of this stuff.

Rick B

Question for Warren: On your AT van-supported trips, if one is sick and wants to keep up with the group, what happens?

[Blue Jay]

Warren, what did I tell you about leading with your chin, you clearly must love it when these yahoos jump on you.

Rick, since you are giving literary advice to a puplished author clearly you must have an anthology yourself. Is it out of print? Amazon does not have one under your name.

[weary]

You have given everyone something to think about. You might consider adding this to your book:

11.5) If you value SELF RELIANCE, then let go of your fears. People who take shortcuts, i.e., have experts plan thier meals, determine their daily milage, choose thier hiking partners, find thier camping spots based on van access rather than beauty, and (horrror of horrors) carry thier gear each and every day, may well do so because it seems shorter, quicker and/or easier. So where is the self-reliance in that? We have enough hand-holding in the real world (i.e. TNT Vacations, Bush Gardens)

Rick. Walking the Appalachian Trail is a wonderful experience, regardless of how one does it. Some are not as self reliant as you and me -- or have less time, or need the discipline of a group. Let's all just do our walking in whatever ways that seem best.

The few times I've met Warren's groups the members have struck me as having had a wonderful time. I once even participated in a reunion of one of the guided hikes. (I wasn't an alumni. I just brought the lobsters.) Everyone seemed happy reflecting on shared memories.

It was something like the atmosphere of thru hikers meeting at the biennial ATC conferences, at the Gathering or at a RUCK.

Most of my walks are by myself. Some are with a group. A few are "guided" by someone who strikes me as having something extra to offer.

Weary

[chomp]

Wow, what a coincidence, I just finished my "paper" on hiking SOME of the Appalachian Trail. For your satirical pleasure, here it is:


Walking SOME of The Appalachian Trail:

By: Tim "Chomp" Scott (1st edition-March 2004)

This 'page' is based on my opinions on what helps a person enjoy their time on the Appalachian Trail, whether they stop by the wayside or not (mmm... Blackberry Shakes..). These ranting are based on four principals:

1. Walking the ENTIRE Trail in a foolish endeavor;
2. That many people when they start at Springer or Katahdin hope to complete the ENTIRE Trail in one hiking season;
3. That those who don't aim to hike the ENTIRE Trail have a more stress-free, enjoyable journey.
4. That southbounders are completely insane for wanting to finish the trail on a tiny, wooden summit rather than on Katahdin, the best mountain on the east coast.

My Dogma
My dogma is based on my one (1) hike along MOST of the Trail and on my delivering trail magic and support to over one hundred (100) other hikers on the trail.


1) Walking the Appalachian Trail IS a recreation, as no goods or services are produced from this effort. While the activity is not easy, it is clearly not a job. Well, unless someone pays you to hike the trail, that is.

2) Walking the Appalachian Trail can be as simple as 'going on a hike'. It is a challenging task for sure, but with the right attitude it can be an educational and fulfilling activity. Are you willing to unburden your load and enjoy your trip?

3) Don't taunt the Trail, or a mountain. Taunting the trail will always result in a good butt kicking climb, or never-ending PUDS or a torrential downpour. Be respectful of the Trail.

4) Don't expect the Trail to respect or be sensitive to your domestic comfort level and desire to control your environment - That is what Trail Towns are for! In an effort to avoid discomfort, make sure that you frequent these cozy hamlets that dot the trail and take a break. Enjoy a beverage, indulge in Ben and Jerry’s, and by all means, enjoy a BIG BREAKFAST! You can't make a mountain any less steep, a hot day any cooler, or a cold morning any warmer. But you can hitch into town and take a break from the harshness of the Trail.

5) Time and space are immutable unless your last name is Einstein or Hawkings. Don't waste any of your energy pouring over the profile or trying not to get wet. Just get out there and hike. Or don't. Look to yourself for the answer, and be happy with your decision.

6) The Trail knows neither you nor the horse that you rode in on. Don't expect any favors from the Trail, and don't EXPECT any favors from Trail Angels. However, you will certainly experience Trail Magic at some point on your journey, as well as Trail Angels willing to make your trip easier. The Trail is inherently hard, so accept this help, and be thankful. Everything has to be earned, unless its a cooler of soda sitting by the road on a hot summer day. Never take Magic for granted, and never direct scorn at an empty cooler.

7) Reduce your material wants - the less you carry, the happier you will be.

8) "The more I know, the more I know that I don't know anything." Yes, one can wear one t-shirt the entire journey (or several journeys if your name is Baltimore Jack). You don't have to take any showers, but then again you don't have to have any friends on the Trail. You can survive on one hot meal a day, but you can THRIVE on one pint of ice cream. You don't need a roof and four walls around you at night, but it sure is nice if its raining. You don't need to carry a pint of Guinness out of town, but somehow it tastes even better drinking it from a Nalgine in a shelter than in a glass at a bar.

9) It is far better, and less painful, to take the old AT down Killington and directly to the Inn at Long Trail than to follow the new tread way halfway off the ridge and a mile away from Guinness Bliss.

10) Leave your fat at home, the less weight you have to lug up the mountains, the easier of a hike you will have. And leave as much other stuff at home as you possibly can. After all, the heavier your pack is, the heavier your pack is. Feel free to feel free. Relive your childhood, but only if you had a good childhood. Otherwise, you would be reliving a nightmare and that just wouldn't be good. Go ahead and blame your discomfort or depression on the Trail and the weather. After all, it’s not YOUR fault. And its not like the Trail is going to get angry at you for blaming it. If something goes wrong, just say:

"I ran out of gas. I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake! A terrible flood! Locusts! It wasn't my fault, I swear to god!"

11) If your goal is to walk the ENTIRE Appalachian Trail, then good luck to you. Not all people who take shortcuts do so because it is shorter, quicker, and/or easier. Sometimes it makes sense to hike a different trail. The old AT near Killington and into Gorham are two prime examples. The only reason to hike the Rattle River Trail is because you are White Blind. The Shelbourne-Moriah Trail is a MUCH nicer trail (Mt. Suprise, anyone?), and it leads directly into downtown Gorham. And if you want to take a shortcut, go ahead. We all take shortcuts in the real world, why not on the trail?

12) Expect the best but be prepared for the worst. If you are not enjoying your journey, why would you continue? If you wanted to be miserable, you would have just stayed at work. Do what you need to do to enjoy your trip, and to hell with what anyone else has to say. Just be honest about your adventure. It will make things less stressful for you and your honesty will earn the respect from those on a different kind of journey. And if it doesn't, they are pompous jerks not worthy of your time.

Weather? There will be more bad weather days than good weather days. Try to spend as many bad weather days as possible in town. And, if at all possible, don't hike over Max Patch or through Mahoosuc Notch in bad weather.

There are two (2) surfaces for walking:

1. This Way: Going this way, typically along the AT
2. That Way: Going that way, typically not along the AT


Some thoughts to have in your head:
Upon reaching the top of a mountain: "Is this the summit? Am I sure that this is REALLY the summit?"
Upon reaching your campsite: "Where is the water source?"
Upon reaching town: "Where can I get a pint of ice cream and a beer?"
Upon entering a restaurant: "Do you have an All You Can Eat buffet?"
Upon starting your hike: "I'm going to hike in a manner that will make me happy."
After your first week on the Trail: "The rain has got to stop eventually!"
During your sixth straight day of rain: "I don't know how many more days in town that I can afford."
During your third week of drought: "How can it not have rained in 21 days, but my clothing STILL doesn't dry overnight?!?!"
During the second straight week of mosquitoes and/or black flies: "Boy and I glad that I am carrying more than just a tarp."
And when you are exhausted, bored, lonely, dehydrated, hungry, hyperventilated, or have the runs: "Somewhere, there is someone sitting in a cubicle farm who would gladly switch places with me."

13) However, please remember that we are all different. Hike your own hike, do what makes you happy and fulfilled. Listen finally to yourself, and respect others by being honest about your decisions. "One man's justice is another's injustice; one man's beauty another's ugliness; one man's wisdom another's folly."

[c.coyle]

... what is/are PUDS?

[chomp]

... what is/are PUDS?

Pointless Ups and DownS

[Blue Jay]

Bravo, chomp. Truer words were never written. I especially like the cubicle farm part because that is exactly where I'm currently sitting. I long to be "exhasted, lonely, dehydrated, hungry, and hyperventilated with the runs" AGAIN (and soon will be).

[rickb]

Post Deleted

[rickb]

Edit: Tried to clarify what I was attempting to communicate in my prior post, for the benefit of those who don't think like me, but thought better of it. I don't have a great need to be understood.

I am sure Warren has had a positive impact on far more people than most, and certainly more than I have. That alone commands my respect.

That he has walked 26,000 miles, or writes stuff that I might think off the mark, is far less important.

Rick B

[rickb]

Post Deleted

[VSA]

Man, i know how i would rather give my money to !
Chomp, i'll pay you to carry my beer all along the PCT.

[warren doyle]

Rick Boudrie #2 - 11.5) I don't know what you are implying. However; if you are referring to the Appalachian Trail Circle Expeditions (rather than the book) - 1) I do not plan expedition members' meals (lucky for them!);
2) I do not choose their hiking partners;
3)We only have to be together 12 times during the 127-day journey;
4) Members do not have to camp by the road.

The circle expedition's mission is not centered around self-reliance as most people's thru-hikes are. The expedition stresses commitment to helping everyone in the group finish. There is space enough on this planet for both (i.e., self-reliance & group commitment) to be practiced without harming or threatening the other.

Q: On your AT van-supported trips, if one is sick and wants to keep up with the group, what happens?

A: If they have made the commitment to the circle, they keep on walking, with the physical/emotional support of the other circle members, until they are healthy again.


Chomp #5 - Well-thought out. That was a satire that was a pleasure to read.

Happy trails to all!

[Frosty]

I do not plan expedition members' meals (lucky for them!)

Warren,

Let me guess what your menu plan would be like:

Day 1:
Breakfast: Little Debbies
Lunch: Little Debbies
Dinner: Little Debbies

Days 2 through 120:
Repeat

Am I close?

[warren doyle]

Frosty,
Pretty close. But I would highly recommend Little Debbie brownies bought in 2 'big' boxes for $5 in Wal-Mart. The menu would be varied when there was access to AYCE places along the trail and restaurants with their leftover menus.

PS - now let's see if the internet police have something hypercritical to say about my answer to your question.

[A-Train]

Frosty,
Pretty close. But I would highly recommend Little Debbie brownies bought in 2 'big' boxes for $5 in Wal-Mart. The menu would be varied when there was access to AYCE places along the trail and restaurants with their leftover menus.

PS - now let's see if the internet police have something hypercritical to say about my answer to your question.

What exactly are left over menu's? I've seen you mention this in conjunction with AYCE's a couple times. Never heard of them

[warren doyle]

Oh boy A-Train, now I'm really going to cause trouble!

Leftover menu definition (disclaimers: This definition only applies to when I am on a long section hike or a thru-hike. This definition only is applicable in non-AYCE restaurants)

When a hungry, long-distance hiker enters a restaurant they observe to see if there are any leftovers on other tables that have not been cleared off yet. Leftovers are foods that have not been bitten into or chewed up yet or have had cigarettes put out in them - buns, slices of bread, pizza slices, hoagies, french fries, chips, pickles, etc. After the hiker orders their regular meal, for an appetizer (and the extra needed calories) the aforementioned hiker scavenges the remaining leftover foods from adjacent tables and proceeds to consume them at their table.

For me it is an ethical question boiling down to this "Is that food going to go to the maggots or is it going to me?" And even though I have been equated to a cockaroach by one WB poster, even a cockaroach would say "No way!" to a maggot.

Happy eating!

[gravityman]

You gotta respect that level of dedication to "recycling"!

Hmmm.... we use to raise pigs and we got our food for them from the local schools - the "leftover menu" Then they got the bright idea that they could sell it to the highest bidder. We were small time, so it didn't make sense for us. I wonder if restaurants do a similar thing?

Gravity Man

[steve hiker]

Hmmm.... we use to raise pigs and we got our food for them from the local schools - the "leftover menu" Then they got the bright idea that they could sell it to the highest bidder.

Before you know it they'll start mixing the bitten-up pieces in with the whole leftovers. That could create some real problems for hikers, ala Mad Cow Disease.

(For those that don't know, some blame Mad Cow Disease on the practice of livestock feed manufacturers of mixing cattle parts and carcasses in with other ingredients to make cattle feed. Same danger could be present here.)

[RAT]

Hey Warren, RAT > PATROL here. I have practiced many of your techniques like the "leftover menu" and most useful the "stack" method at AYCE`s (always purple goo at end), but most enjoyed was the dress funny and run/jump like a deer thru the militarized zone in the middle of the night on the trail down south during maneuvers, lol. HA HA. Hope things are going well with you, good luck on the book. I dont have a copy as I am poor hiker trash and will never be able to afford one! Have you heard anything of our dear friend Sam Waddle lately? His developing severe Altzheimers a few yrs back was sure some sad news. I miss our monthly trips to the mtns. and cherish the memory of his last trip which was with me. Take care, sure to see you soon. RAT