Slackpacker's dilemma.

[Heater]

What percentage of the trail can you slackpack and still have it considered a valid thruhike?

[terrapin_too]

What percentage of the trail can you slackpack and still have it considered a valid thruhike?

100%, apparently. Ask Warren Doyle.

[Grampie]

I only have one question. Who decides who is disqualified?

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

The ATC does not specify that a backpack must be carried to earn the 2,000 mile patch. In the same spirit, I cannot see any reason that that anyone who walks the entire length of the trail in a single year should not be considered a thru-hiker regardless of what they did (or didn't) carry on their back during any portion of the trip.

If carrying a pack is necessary, then does being an ultralighter make you less worthy than carrying a MN Smith size load?

[Cookerhiker]

The ATC does not specify that a backpack must be carried to earn the 2,000 mile patch. In the same spirit, I cannot see any reason that that anyone who walks the entire length of the trail in a single year should not be considered a thru-hiker regardless of what they did (or didn't) carry on their back during any portion of the trip.

If carrying a pack is necessary, then does being an ultralighter make you less worthy than carrying a MN Smith size load?

Agree. And if one must carry a full pack 100% of the way to be a "pure" thruhiker, I guess that means even up the 5.2 miles to Katahdin.

[SGT Rock]

I said 0% just to be a jerk.

I decide how you will hike!!!

[Lone Wolf]

What percentage of the trail can you slackpack and still have it considered a valid thruhike?

slackpack once and you're a weenie.

[Lone Wolf]

Agree. And if one must carry a full pack 100% of the way to be a "pure" thruhiker, I guess that means even up the 5.2 miles to Katahdin.

i've carried a full pack up katahdin many times

[generoll]

clarify a point for me, if you please. the 2000 mile patch or whatever it is called, must this be done in one calendar year or within 365 days from start to finish? just wondering if there's any reason why someone who sections hikes the trail from start to finish over a period of years would be considered dishonest if they applied for the patch.

[SGT Rock]

nope. no time limit

[Heater]

I said 0% just to be a jerk.

I decide how you will hike!!!

Do I have to carry one of those greasepots?
...and hammock?

[generoll]

nope. no time limit

Thanks for the response. I'd assumed that there was no time limit, but hadn't actually researched the matter.

[Moon Monster]

If my pack weighed 20 lbs with all my gear and yours weighed 40 lbs with all your gear, do I get credit for only half a thru-hike or do you get credit for two thru-hikes? Silly, so slackpacking can't be a weight issue. Must then be an issue of support.

[Footslogger]

I only have one question. Who decides who is disqualified?

==============================

RIGHT ON !!

'Slogger

[Heater]

If my pack weighed 20 lbs with all my gear and yours weighed 40 lbs with all your gear, do I get credit for only half a thru-hike or do you get credit for two thru-hikes? Silly, so slackpacking can't be a weight issue. Must then be an issue of support.

Everything you need to be self sustaining without dedicated resupply support or shuttles.

[Footslogger]

slackpack once and you're a weenie.

==============================

Slackpack once, twice ...whatever.

Walk from GA to ME (or vice versa) and you've hiked the trail end-to-end and walked more than 2000 miles.

'Slogger

[Heater]

I only have one question. Who decides who is disqualified?

Well it's a dilemma... so I guess it would be the hiker his/herself.

If not, then Lone Wolf.

[terrapin_too]

If my pack weighed 20 lbs with all my gear and yours weighed 40 lbs with all your gear, do I get credit for only half a thru-hike or do you get credit for two thru-hikes? Silly, so slackpacking can't be a weight issue. Must then be an issue of support.

Good point. We've some folks here who clearly feel that ultra-lighting (or slackpacking) is for weenies, and real hikers (ie., hikers back in the "good old days") would never stoop to carrying a load less than 45 lbs, or -- g*d forbid, not carring a full pack at all.

It's almost as if we want credit for simple pain, deprivation, and boredom. You know, I'm a better hiker than you 'cuz my hike was boring and hurt a lot more.

[Gaiter]

backyard boogie who is hiking this year tried slackpacking for the first time at miss. janet's (he ended up spending a week there) last i saw him his goal is to slackpack at least 20% of the trail. HooYah!!! (as he likes to say)

[Rain Man]

Everything you need to be self sustaining without dedicated resupply support or shuttles.

Hmmmm... what if my wife resupplies and shuttles me, BUT she's not very dedicated?!

I can easily see how a 20 lb pack only qualifies as half the hike that a 40 lb pack qualifies a hiker for. But how does we reliably rate support dedication? And what happens if she starts out 100% dedicated to the undertaking, but abandons me by Maine? Do I get partial credit for a real thru-hike?

What if it's sunny more than half my days? Or, rainy more than half? I can see this is a slippery slope, not to mention a tough nut to crack!

What if I fall down and slide on my butt past a white blaze or two, instead of actually hiking past them?! Oh my gosh! Am I losing it?!

RainMan

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