How many foreigners do you get hiking the AT?

[bfayer]

apparently the french just gave up

That's cold. Maybe true but cold.

[hikerboy57]

That's cold. Maybe true but cold.

i will concede we'd be speaking the kings english were it not for the french.
and their toast is terrific!!

[bfayer]

i will concede we'd be speaking the kings english were it not for the french.
and their toast is terrific!!

I had an English friend that kept a sign in his office:

"Surplus French Army Rifles For Sale. Like New. Dropped Twice, Never Fired."

I did love my old Peugeot road bike back in the day.

[jimmyjam]

So Germany does seem to crop up a lot. Even more than UK? Was sure UK would be number one after perhaps Canada.

Don't you mean the countries that used to make up USSR, one of which is Russia.

Yep, that's what I meant. I'm just used to calling all of it Russia. I think what they told me was Kazakhstan and Latvia.

[Sevsa]

As a slight aside whenever I travel the Germans and the English are the most often encountered nationalities so it doesn't surprise me that they are well represented on the AT. In 2014 my wife and I will be attempting a thru-hike and she is Singaporean. She will be the second woman from that country to thru so they might have the highest percentage of the population to complete a thru-hike.

[CarlZ993]

On my thru-hike this year, I met a lot of Germans & Austrians. Quite a few Brits. A few Aussies & Kiwis. A couple from Israel. I heard of other nationalities out there but they weren't in my bubble of travel.

Note: And almost everyone of them were really strong hikers!

[fertilizer]

I was heading south from the Grayson Highlands to Damascus over Memorial Day weekend (end of May) and within an hour or 2, met an Austrian couple and a couple from South Africa.

[OzJacko]

Ignoring Canadians as if you're not from the US or Canada you generally can't tell anyway, Germans are far and away the most common out there.
A smattering of others, numbers too few to give an accurate prediction each year. Lots in total but no individual standouts.
If the Walk in the Woods book gets turned into a movie expect a significant increase the year after it's release in any country it does well in.

[DeerPath]

If you're not Native American, aren't you ALL foreigners?

I'm 1/16 Cherokee, by the way.

Are you getting your casino money?

[DeerPath]

Can't figure out how to delete a double post?

[Dogwood]

Thank you Laurie for posting those stats.

The French have garnered too great a negative rep in this country unjustifiably. I do agree with some of the statements/observations about the French but a good amount of the negative French rep by Americans stems from American culture. Much of America(although it applies everywhere!) has a hard time gaining a deeper understanding and acceptance of others when it flies in the face of an intolerant do as we do 'American culture'-(perspective, that can occur anywhere). It can happen on the individual level all the way to the highest American Federal and national l levels too. Think about that for a moment just as it pertains to American citizens. Think about the opinions, attitudes, intolerance, lack of understanding, and friction that sometimes exists in the relationships between those of residents of different geographical areas inside the borders of the U.S. And, this certainly is not solely relegated to America. It can happen around the globe.

In a nutshell, when I readjust my attitudes/behavior toward the French and redefine the French from what is typical here in America I have more constructive relationships with the French as an American. It can help in all relationships.

Wayne Dyer - "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

[GoodGerman]

For some reason Germans seem over represented. In the last couple of years I have met quite a few Asians of various nationalities as well..

FWIW there is a quite popular tv documentary about the Appalachian Trail in Germany. Called "Durch die Wildnis Amerikas". I believe its from 2008.
They rerun it every year and right after the broadcast the german outdoor forums get a lot of Appalachian Trail related topics.

German people are very much into hiking and trekking. However there are 82 Millions of us living in a Country smaller than Montana. Basically every peace of land is somehow used. So for the real wilderness experiences* we have travel abroad.


* I'm aware that the AT is a limited "wilderness experience". Compared to the German forests however, its an ancient rainforest

[Pedaling Fool]

Thank you Laurie for posting those stats.

The French have garnered too great a negative rep in this country unjustifiably. I do agree with some of the statements/observations about the French but a good amount of the negative French rep by Americans stems from American culture. Much of America(although it applies everywhere!) has a hard time gaining a deeper understanding and acceptance of others when it flies in the face of an intolerant do as we do 'American culture'-(perspective, that can occur anywhere). It can happen on the individual level all the way to the highest American Federal and national l levels too. Think about that for a moment just as it pertains to American citizens. Think about the opinions, attitudes, intolerance, lack of understanding, and friction that sometimes exists in the relationships between those of residents of different geographical areas inside the borders of the U.S. And, this certainly is not solely relegated to America. It can happen around the globe.

In a nutshell, when I readjust my attitudes/behavior toward the French and redefine the French from what is typical here in America I have more constructive relationships with the French as an American. It can help in all relationships.

Wayne Dyer - "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

Actually the French have a pretty awful reputation not just in the U.S. Check this out http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/l...avelers-309852

I wasn't too impressed with them when I use to visit the country.

[Odd Man Out]

i will concede we'd be speaking the kings english were it not for the french.
and their toast is terrific!!

My wife has a family heirloom cookbook from the late 1800's. It has a French Toast recipe that is no different than the French Toast I make today. The only thing, back then it was called American Toast. Go figure.

[hikerboy57]

Actually the French have a pretty awful reputation not just in the U.S. Check this out http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/l...avelers-309852

I wasn't too impressed with them when I use to visit the country.

they wine a lot

[Dogwood]

I agree with these statements about some of the French in general but more as it applies to Parisians: "French people are known for “their abrupt and curt nature. especially while facing foreign tourists" and “The French are very protective of their language." These statements have to be taken in context of a broader perspective THOUGH!!!

Here's one of the potential problems I notice with polls like that. Paris is BY FAR the most visited city in France by foreigners. If you look at where those pollsters opinions are mainly coming from it's taken from foreigners who typically ONLY visit Paris, which IMHO, does have more of a hoity toity nose in the air atmosphere in general compared to much of the rest of France's regions. That can result as there seeming to be more a French superiority complex or the French being rude than it actually is and perhaps particularly in relationships with foreigners that can also have a superiority complex(uhh Americans?) OR limited world view(uhh Americans?). Imagine being a foreigner to America not having any other experiences in the U.S. other than in Manhattan at the typical touristy middle to higher end hotels, restaurants, venues, etc and arriving at anything realistic or comprehensive of an opinion about the U.S. as a whole. Isn't happening. How about if all you knew of the U.S. based upon a feet on the ground experience was taken from limited experiences in just Miami, Los Angeles, Anchorage, Tulsa, or El Paso? Heck LA is like a country in itself with wildly ranging possible perceptions of it depending on a great many factors. How about if as an American you never travel or hike west of the Mississippi as an east coast only resident? Pretty different opinions are arrived at, possibly regarding a great many things, hey?

Again, as another commentator said on that link, "I think it also comes down to how one behaves as a guest in other nations!" I notice all too often Americans ignoring their own behavior and preconceived ideas in how perceptions of the French being rude or acting with their noses in the air or being cowards etc play a role in American perceptions. And, this occurs with other non- American foreigners to France as well.

As I said earlier, and seemed to be ignored, it is our personal behavior that we have the most control of! I think that's the higher road to take, being noticeable of and responsible for our own behavior! We can(as in us, as in you and me) redefine things to a more empowering paradigm.

When I backpack in other nations, and even different areas in my home country the U.S., I not only want to be aware of these things but rather than adopting a negative bitchy finger pointing perspective take on this attitude: challenges in language and culture actually form part of the fun of traveling and backpacking in different areas! As a result, it's my contention that I have more rewarding experiences when traveling. And possibly those who I meet also have more rewarding experiences!

As it DIRECTLY applies here to us we might remember these things as we are the hosts when foreigners come here when we're both hiking the AT or other American trails.

[fiddlehead]

Depends on the person traveling.

I had some great times in Paris (hitchhiked through there 3 times in the 90's), but especially memorable times in the Pyrenees hiking the HRP.

Mountain people are the friendliest people I've met in most any country I've hiked in.

I didn't see the Nepalese mentioned, but I've hiked on the AT with 2 of them (Sherpas) Although they weren't out to do the distance.

[Dogwood]

As I said earlier, and seemed to be ignored, it is our personal behavior that we have the most control of! I think that's the higher road to take, being noticeable of and responsible for our own behavior! We can(as in us, as in you and me) redefine things to a more empowering paradigm.

Not only do I make mention of this here as it pertains to this thread topic You might notice me saying the same thing on threads ranging far and wide involving: negatively perceived by humans human centric bear/human encounters, Kent Laundromat relationships, donations at hostels based on them operating on a donations basis, faster(speed hiking) vs slower(smell the roses) hiker long winded debates, UL haters, conventional gear(gear wt) dislikers, west coast vs east coast hiking opinions, HYOH vs you should do it my way alternatives, etc etc etc. And I'm no expert on this stuff. I may have no clue what may be right or acceptable for others. And, I'm not above unjustly engaging in ignorant self serving pts of views either BUT I'm noticing my behavior and I'm working on myself..

I feel better now. WB therapy sessions are working. No need to make out the check this week to the psychiatrist.

[hikerboy57]

american travelers are not perceived in the best light either outside of this country.
dogwood, i understand your point.
but still, its the french.

[HikerMom58]

As I said earlier, and seemed to be ignored, it is our personal behavior that we have the most control of! I think that's the higher road to take, being noticeable of and responsible for our own behavior! We can(as in us, as in you and me) redefine things to a more empowering paradigm.

Not only do I make mention of this here as it pertains to this thread topic You might notice me saying the same thing on threads ranging far and wide involving: negatively perceived by humans human centric bear/human encounters, Kent Laundromat relationships, donations at hostels based on them operating on a donations basis, faster(speed hiking) vs slower(smell the roses) hiker long winded debates, UL haters, conventional gear(gear wt) dislikers, west coast vs east coast hiking opinions, HYOH vs you should do it my way alternatives, etc etc etc. And I'm no expert on this stuff. I may have no clue what may be right or acceptable for others. And, I'm not above unjustly engaging in ignorant self serving pts of views either BUT I'm noticing my behavior and I'm working on myself..

I feel better now. WB therapy sessions are working. No need to make out the check this week to the psychiatrist.

And that's all we can do Dogwood.. just keep doing that ^, you'll be fine. You're not alone, either, cause this girl is right beside ya doing the same thing.... constantly workin on myself.