another record attempt

[Mizirlou]

Man up, Matthewski.

uh huh

[Alligator]

Weinstone owes Mr. Tennison a public apology.

The mods who didn't shut this thread down when Weinstone made his unsubstantiated allegations owe Mr. Tennison a public apology.

Troll as owner owes Mr. Tennison a public apology.

Mr. Tennison,

I apologize for letting this thread detour for so long. Initially, when there was a question of your record, I looked into how one might find verification of being a Navy SEAL. I found that there were several sites which may provide this verification. Those sites provide lengthy descriptions about how many people falsely claim SEAL status. Since there were several sites and it was considered particularly egregious by SEALs themselves, I was waiting to hear back from the site I wrote, as well as I asked vamelungeon to provide an update if possible. I had to balance your statement of being a SEAL vs. the possibility that there could be a misrepresented fundraising attempt.

Thank you for your service and I wish you good fortune in your attempt.

Sincerely,
Alligator

[Cookerhiker]

....Now what will White Blazers do to encourage our fellow hiker Crazyhair?

Crazy Hair:

I hope you're able to hike the entire AT safely without injury or mishap:
I hope you enjoy your hike, finding the AT an enriching experience;
I hope you meet great people along the way including Trail Angels;
I hope your charities receive a nice infusion of donations resulting from your hike.

Crazyhair, are you planning on keeping a journal along the way and posting it somewhere so we could follow your progress?

That would be interesting but how in the world could he have the time with his planned schedule, especially since his hike is "unsupported?" Guess I'm not sure what constitutes "unsupported" - if someone at home can take his phone calls and post his progress, that's "support" of a sort.

[Johnny Thunder]

...especially since his hike is "unsupported?" Guess I'm not sure what constitutes "unsupported" - if someone at home can take his phone calls and post his progress, that's "support" of a sort.

i agree. though i think we can all reasonably imagine "unsupported" to mean, "not followed by a supply van stocked with pizza and masseurs." i did initially take exception to his saying that he was going to do it "unassisted" which i think is a rather large over-site on his part. on a day-to-day basis the whole world is steve nash to each and every one of us. no man is an island. especially not one standing on the side of the road in the rain with his thumb out.

[jersey joe]

That would be interesting but how in the world could he have the time with his planned schedule, especially since his hike is "unsupported?" Guess I'm not sure what constitutes "unsupported" - if someone at home can take his phone calls and post his progress, that's "support" of a sort.

There is always time. Galilee man kept a fairly regular update on his unsupported hike. I think he took some sort of electronic device to do this. I'm not talking about anything in crazy detail, just updates, where, how far, injury status, etc.

[Mizirlou]

Crazyhair, are you planning on keeping a journal along the way and posting it somewhere so we could follow your progress?

Crazyhair, I’m volunteering to maintain your TrailJournal. Contact me by WhiteBlaze e-mail if you want to take me up on it.

Today I made a donation today to your charity. There was a box “In Honor Of” where I entered your name.
www.sandalwoodfoodbank.com/

[Sly]

Hey, now that sounds interesting.
I'm tempted to join up.

But this guy is attempting an unsupported hike.

Yeah, sorry for the hijack. Still, why not a seniors record for the AT. The have them in the marathon

[Sly]

Why does this guy need donations? He's attempting a unsupported record break of the AT....

Well, it is ironic, he's attempting an unsupported record and the 1st thing he's asking for is support.

[Crazyhair]

First I would like to thank you for your positive support. I know all too well how difficult it can be to accept claims at face value, especially when we have germinated a generation of people (including myself) to be skeptical and less trusting than in generations past. I looked you up through whiteblaze but there was no email attached to your profile, but then again I'll be the first to admit that I'm not as computer savvy as I'd like to be. I hope you understand that at this time I'm a little weary about plastering my email address on this thread so if you don't mind...I believe my email can be found through Whiteblaze.

There has been much discussion about my timing for the hike as well as my training methods but before I go any farther I would like to let Matthewski know that I didn't know he held an AT record and that in no way am I attempting to lower his standing on the AT totem pole. We all hike for our own reasons and I have mine. In the end, it doesn't matter if I shatter a record. What matters is that I stay true to the reasons (internal or external) for which I hike.

A claim was made about me not doing the math. I can assure you that while I'm training for hours on end it's the one thing that fills my head. Most hikers can cover 2.5 miles (including breaks) which they will take every couple of hours. I'm averaging 3 miles per hour (including breaks) and when it's a little chilly out will only need to stop once before dinner time at five o'clock or so. Even if I start late (7:am) that gives me 10 hours which equates to 30 miles and twilight on April 1 is at 8:21pm. So even with an hour to cook a hot meal I'm still left with two hours of enough light to hike by, which equates to 36 miles a day. I know that there are many things that can slow me down but I'm hoping for the best and planning for the worst, which brings me to the start date of April 1. This year was predicted to be light on snowfall. I know that it's just a prediction but that's what I have to go on. When it's cold I can move as quickly as my little legs can carry me but when the temperature gets much above 65 degrees I need to carry more water weight which slows me down and the simple fact that my body heats to a sweat will cause me to slow even more and require more breaks to replenish the lost minerals through perspiration. If the snow is too ridiculous I can always push the start date back a few weeks to give it a chance to break. Afterall, it's my hike.

Yes, it's true that my training is pretty much flat and that is unfortunate since the trail more or less meanders along the mountain tops which causes you to gain and lose lots of elevation throughout the day, but living where the nearest uphill or downhill grade is hundreds of miles away it isn't feasible for me to move to the hills for the next several months so I can train. Matthewski will like this phrase...I'm improvising, adapting and overcoming.

Lastly, in my years of hiking I've learned much from more experienced hikers. I've met friendly hikers and less than friendly hikers but I've never met a fellow hiker that I simply didn't like. I've always viewed us as a club that anybody could feel accepted in. Afterall, I would gladly discard the record attempt if I found a hiker in trouble along the trail, as I'm sure all of you would too. There is a documentary available through Netflix called The Endurance. It's a perfect example of a man putting the safety and security of his men before his own personal desire to cross the Arctic Circle. It's a great clip that all should see.

[Mizirlou]

Sly, he's past that:

when I received an email from an unknown source telling me to look at this website, I was deeply saddened...You're right, I am a poor marketer...I am no longer accepting donations for the hike...All I want to do is hike...Happy hiking.

People are supposed to come to White Blaze for hiking support.

[Lone Wolf]

I would like to let Matthewski know that I didn't know he held an AT record and that in no way am I attempting to lower his standing on the AT totem pole.

he thinks he holds the the record for most AT starts with 0 finishes but i got him beat

[Sly]

Weinstone owes Mr. Tennison a public apology.

The mods who didn't shut this thread down when Weinstone made his unsubstantiated allegations owe Mr. Tennison a public apology.

Troll as owner owes Mr. Tennison a public apology.

I'll agree Matty owes an apology but as a 1st amendment rights advocate neither do the mods or troll. If Matty wants to look like a fool, that's his choice.

[Lone Wolf]

I'll agree Matty owes an apology but as a 1st amendment rights advocate neither do the mods or troll. If Matty wants to look like a fool, that's his choice.

the 1st amendment doesn't apply to websites

[Sly]

Sly, he's past that:


People are supposed to come to White Blaze for hiking support.

Yeah, well I started the thread from the beginning and commented as I went along.

Crazyhair, Matty doesn't hold any type of hiking record that matters. If he does have one, it's in his own mind.

You'll find you'll get much more support once you're on the trail and have a few hundred miles under your belt.

Best of luck on your endeavor.

[Sly]

the 1st amendment doesn't apply to websites

It can if the owner chooses. It's generally the members that can't stand the heat, talk of politics etc. and cry to the mods, therefore the editing.

Anyway, my point was neither the mods or Troll owe Crazyhair an apology for Matty's behavior.

[Mizirlou]

Yeah, well I started the thread from the beginning and commented as I went along.

Crazyhair, Matty doesn't hold any type of hiking record that matters. If he does have one, it's in his own mind.

Dig it. Same here, Sly, commented as I went along.

I thought Weinstone’s record was rolling the biggest blunt on the AT. Apt surname.

Crazyhair, e-mail sent.

[Sly]

here's a link to the Facebook article...

http://www.facebook.com/hikertrash1#...66.60175880377

[Slo-go'en]

CrazyHair,

Your web site didn't give us a good indication if you really had a shot at this or if you were just another want-a-be. Hence the skepticisim, though Matthewski does go to the extrem in that regard.

It now sounds like your going into this with your eyes open and have put more thought into it then was first apparent. If I may, a few additional points which may or may not of crossed your mind (or others thinking of trying the same thing)

o. Although you need to average 36 or so miles a day, there are times when you will have to do a lot more than that to make up for low milage days, which will occur.

o. Maintaining high milage days through NH and ME is extremly difficult. You will be lucky to keep a 2 mph pace and 20 mile days for most of these two states. Therefore, have lots of miles stored up in the bank by then (by doing a lot of 50 mile days in the "easy" mid atlantic states).

o. I concure that hiking when its cool and/or raining out is a lot better than when its hot and humid, which slows me down to a crowl. However, I still belive an April 1st start is a bit too early. A May 1st start will give you somewhat warmer days, but still reasonably cool, which would allow you to lighten the pack at least a little.

But more importantly, you would have more daylight and although hiking through NH and ME in mid/late June still isn't the best time of year to do so, it would be a whole lot better than in May, when the trails are still knee deep in mud and river fords are up to your chest.

In any event, good luck and please post a report when your done, win or fail. Way too often we hear about people planing these attempts, but there is never a follow up. Your chances of setting a new record are still pretty slim, but that's no reason not to try. Also, if it becomes apparent there is no way you can set a record, or even come close, slow down and enjoy the trail for however much time and/or money you have left.

Now its time for me to shovel the driveway for the 3d time since Saturday. I think we're going to get a lot more snow this winter than the Old Farmers Almanac thought we would..

[Mizirlou]

do i get any thanx?

YES.

Never met Matthewski. Something about you tells me you're an extraordinarily good-hearted guy. Yeah, I’m changing my mind again just like I did about Crazyhair. And I was right then, too.

Matthewski man, I love you in absentia. It’s all gonna work out.

Happy hiking to all.

[Mags]

I'll agree Matty owes an apology but as a 1st amendment rights advocate neither do the mods or troll. If Matty wants to look like a fool, that's his choice.

Bingo. WE all have our big boy pants on.