So if you wait until someone gives you one on the trail and you don't like it do you just introduce yourself to the next person/group using your "real name" until you are given one you like?
As a section hiker, do you just accept a new trail name every time you go out?
I will never be a thru hiker.
The minutia of hiking never ceases to amaze. 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. No need to confuse everyone.
AKA "DANGER" AT Thru-Hiker Class of 2015
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.
There isn't. People like to create artificial and convoluted differences I suspect.
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!
Last edited by Mags; 10-22-2014 at 15:35.
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
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 ]
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
IMHO a trail name is one used on the trail and accepted by the hiker. It does not matter the origins, just that is is what the hiker desires (or accepts) as a form of identity and recognition, and the recognition of other hikers in identifying the hiker by this name.
If the hiker desires a certain name and gets know by it it is in the recognition of othe rthru hikers of this name that gives it its status as a trail name.
Here's a helpful Venn diagram to illustrate the concept.
For this diagram, the following people use the same nickname for their, er business activities AND on the trail:
Bugsy
Lucky
Nucky
Scarface
Look at that!
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Last edited by Mags; 10-22-2014 at 18:37.
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
David, Yogi is just another leg.
I've got to say that sometimes the posts on this site about inconsequential rubbish numb my brain.
I got "Moose" in 1977 when I was posted to my first regular army unit (infantry). It was good enough for my "brothers from different mothers" it's good enough for me. But seriously call me that JJ, Jim or anything else as long as you smile when doing it, and I don't care.
If you are going to stress about something, make sure it's something important like where the next pub is or how to appear like your not ogling the half naked hiker girl/boy at the shelter or whether you should wear shoes or not on "Naked Hike Day" or how to get those day hikers to cough up their food and a cold drink? Worry about the really important things in life and you can't go wrong.
"He was a wise man who invented beer." Plato
Your trail name could be cooler if given to you while on the trail, but it could be one you don't like. However, you'll have a story to go along with it when people ask, "Hey, how'd you get your trail name?" You'll hear that a lot.
Flatfoot
AT 2013, GA->ME
PCT 2017, Mexico->Canada