View Full Version : Should Hiker's elicit donations in order to complete a thru hike?
Almost There
10-27-2005, 12:14
This is your opportunity to help Blake and Michael make their trip and Maine2Georgia.com a success.Your donation to TheNorthernJourney.com will go towards specific expenses incurred on the Appalachian Trail. The donations will help Blake and Michael keep the web page up to date with photos, progress reports, and journal entries.
I saw this while looking at various posts, now I truly believe that everyone should hike their own hike, and I know that there have been others to start similiar threads, but seeing their web page irked me in some small way, because to me asking for donations to hike would be like hopping online starting a webpage about a cruise my wife and I are taking...and then asking for donations to go on said cruise. Now some really good people in the past have hiked for charity, and I applaud them...but they did pay for their own hike. These guys claim that they will donate what is left to the AMC, which with what they charge hikers to stay in huts...but I digress, the point is I guess they can do what they want, but to me it is little better than the guy who panhandles for a living and then goes home to his house. No offense UConn Mike, but you should be able to afford the trip before you go on it!
What do you all think, should one ask for donations to complete one's own thru hike?
Almost There
10-27-2005, 12:16
Oh, one other thing, the only reason I found out about this is because I went to his website and saw donations. Thinking that they were hiking for a charity I clicked on it to see which one, and found out they were the charity. I have in the past donated to a hiker's cause, so I think that is why I was irritated by seeing it. Anyways, I'll shutup and wait to see what people think.
Lone Wolf
10-27-2005, 12:18
Ask all you want. And if someone is fkn stupid enough to fund your soiree, good for you. Millions of idiots give $$ to TV preachers.
D'Artagnan
10-27-2005, 12:18
Just doesn't feel right to me personally.
Almost There
10-27-2005, 12:22
Good point, LW! There are many sheep out there!
Alligator
10-27-2005, 12:24
If they are not directing you to their website they can ask for whatever they want. You have entered their space.
the goat
10-27-2005, 12:26
a fool & their $$$ are soon parted
I would like to point out that I am now taking donations in order to do a future thru-hike. I'd never stop hiking if I had $$, $o $end $ome now, any extra will go towards my next adventure. Its a good gig if you can get it. I'm serious, if Lone Wolf donates 2,500 i'll start next week. Thanks in advance LW;)
Almost There
10-27-2005, 12:36
Alligator,
Actually I got to their website by clicking on a link in a thread he had started right here on Whiteblaze, in regards to Snow in the Smokies. Would never have gone there if I hadn't seen it here first. Oh, and they can still ask for whatever they want, but is it...and oh yeah about to start the philosophical debate...right? I guess I am asking you all could you do it?
Lone Wolf
10-27-2005, 13:18
Check is in the mail, Nean.
Ask all you want. And if someone is fkn stupid enough to fund your soiree, good for you. Millions of idiots give $$ to TV preachers. Yep..if somone is honest enough to say "We want your money to go hiking" and people donate to them..well, it is legit.
It is not something I would do, but then again it is not me.
Guess you could say it is more direct form of sponsorship. Rather than XYZ Gear Company donating money to them, it is people who stumble upon their website.
As with Nean, I'll be accepting donations to fund my hike. ;-)
Dances with Mice
10-27-2005, 13:30
What do you all think, should one ask for donations to complete one's own thru hike?I'll be doing a thru-hike of the Strip in Vegas (http://www.jugglingcompetition.com/convention.html) in a few weeks so reach deep into your hearts and wallets! I promise to donate all leftover funds to a needy cocktail waitress.
the goat
10-27-2005, 13:38
I'll be doing a thru-hike of the Strip in Vegas (http://www.jugglingcompetition.com/convention.html) in a few weeks so reach deep into your hearts and wallets! I promise to donate all leftover funds to a needy cocktail waitress.
if by chance you need a support team, i'm there for ya.
Id like to see the list of idiots that actually gave them money.....
Dances with Mice
10-27-2005, 14:33
if by chance you need a support team, i'm there for ya.Goat, you're just too nice. There is the dreaded 100 yard wilderness between Spring Mtn and Desert Inn streets, where the only resupply option is the Fashion Mall. I could cross the street to resupply at the New Frontier casino but I'm a purist and, besides, nobody would cross the street to go to the Frontier.
the goat
10-27-2005, 14:40
Goat, you're just too nice. There is the dreaded 100 yard wilderness between Spring Mtn and Desert Inn streets, where the only resupply option is the Fashion Mall. I could cross the street to resupply at the New Frontier casino but I'm a purist and, besides, nobody would cross the street to go to the Frontier.
no one should attempt the 100 yard wilderness unsupported, way too risky. i'll meet you 50 yards before desert inn street in my van. i'll have a cooler of beer, some snickers, orange slices and a couple of cocktail waitresses to administer back rubs..... you'll probably be exhausted by that point.
Almost There
10-27-2005, 14:43
Hey Dances,
The least I can do is "donate" to your cause there are alot of desperate women on the strip in need of a place to stay!
Spartan Hiker
10-27-2005, 14:46
I'll be doing a thru-hike of the Strip in Vegas (http://www.jugglingcompetition.com/convention.html) in a few weeks so reach deep into your hearts and wallets! I promise to donate all leftover funds to a needy cocktail waitress.The strip is a cakewalk. Might be worth a few donated bucks just to watch you survive the local wildlife if you were thru hiking from Sahara Blvd north to The Western, downtown between sunset and sunrise. I lay odds at 5:1 that you would never make it intact without L. Wolf as your on site security blanket.
Dances with Mice
10-27-2005, 15:38
The strip is a cakewalk. Might be worth a few donated bucks just to watch you survive the local wildlife if you were thru hiking from Sahara Blvd north to The Western, downtown between sunset and sunrise. I lay odds at 5:1 that you would never make it intact without L. Wolf as your on site security blanket.Might be like the night I survived Boulevard near I-20 in SE Atlanta when my clutch died. I had just walked up to the first stoplight when a cab driver stopped beside me, opened the door, and told me to get in.
Spartan Hiker
10-27-2005, 15:43
Might be like the night I survived Boulevard near I-20 in SE Atlanta when my clutch died. I had just walked up to the first stoplight when a cab driver stopped beside me, opened the door, and told me to get in.
I used to live in that general area in quarters at Fort McPherson. We called it Fort Apache, for good reason.
If you ask me, it's bogus.
Like putting up a website to pay off your credit card bills. Speaking of which, anyone know a good website designer? I'll split. ;)
Before I reply, I must say that The Goat & Dances With Mice "Just ain't right". In fact, it took me 10 minutes to stop laughing :jump Great posts you 2.
Anyway, back on topic: I wouldn't donate, probably wouldn't ask. Mostly feel it isn't right, I think :rolleyes:
Seems to me they want to thru AND keep up a web site, therfore the "need" for donations. I say screw the web site and spend the mony on hiking, leave me (us?) out of it.
But, if you want to send me money for my thru, well that would be just fine :sun I only need $20,000.00 ;) after all, I kant be woryin bout them there bills t home :p
Doctari
Almost There
10-27-2005, 18:01
Hey Sly,
We can call it something like the the Relief Organization for Down-Trodden Hiker Trash. Or RODDT for short. We can get a commercial with that old guy from the hungry children commercial walking in front of a shelter after a long hot day, the camera pans to the tired beleaugered hikers lying on the ground behind him, maybe get a shot of dirt streaked faces and rotting feet....We might have something here.
LOL.. yeah.
We can't help ourselves, we're hiking junkies. Please help! Send money, beers and butts!