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DavidNH
08-07-2015, 16:57
I am not asking why you or I attempt a thru hike but why does the average person so want to hike from Springer to Katahdin? ATC stats show that 2500 or so left Springer Mountain in 2014 intending on hiking to Katahdin. A full 50 % were done by Harper's Ferry.. just over 1000 miles up the trail.
This suggest to me that most of the hikers didn't know what they were getting into.

Beyond these 2500, some crazy higher number must be thinking of hiking the trail. What brings so darned many to this trail? is it just publicity or is it more than that?


And what ever hiking the trail " to seek fellowship with the wilderness) as the plaque on Springer says. I don't think most thru hikers are seeking fellowship with the wilderness.

Wülfgang
08-07-2015, 17:39
I think people romanticize it. It's by far the most well-known long trail, countless books and movies have been made about it, and it's accessible.

I'd also venture to say most people who attempt a thru-hike are not experienced backpackers, hence the higher attrition rate.

Lone Wolf
08-07-2015, 17:42
I think people romanticize it. It's by far the most well-known long trail, countless books and movies have been made about it, and it's accessible.

I'd also venture to say most people who attempt a thru-hike are not experienced backpackers, hence the higher attrition rate.

yes. fantasy and reality are 2 different things

4shot
08-07-2015, 18:40
because it's there.

squeezebox
08-07-2015, 18:44
PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! party!!!!!!!!!! party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Starchild
08-07-2015, 19:07
I did it to change my life, a 2000+ mile doorway to a better life.

To me the AT is meant for many of us, but society has stopped them from this path (there are also other such paths of life). Now more and more are forgoing conventional wisdom and attempting it, it is a spiritual evolution of humanity (not just the AT, but people really living life, and the AT thru is more living life then many people do in a lifetime).

So it is a calling of life, of really living, and a diminishing of conventional views of what is needed for one to do.

Busky2
08-07-2015, 19:36
Peace and Quiet.......it beats the crap out of hot yoga.... H'om. Ohm. Om. $#!% I don't know what one is right and it is pizzing me off. I gotta hike soon.

Walkintom
08-07-2015, 20:30
I believe that most people want to achieve things.

The majority of thru-hike attempts are started with the desire to achieve something. Exactly what that something is varies from one individual to the next, but the commonality is the desire for that achievement.

fiddlehead
08-07-2015, 20:45
Adventure.
(and a good one at that)
I wouldn't stress so much over other people's reasons for doing something that you like to do.
Either do it, or find a better adventure.

MuddyWaters
08-07-2015, 21:49
adventure
party
dont want to get a job
its easy logistically

Tuckahoe
08-07-2015, 22:03
How can any of us state with any certainty why someone other than ourselves attempts to thru-hike? Any answer is just projection.

4shot
08-07-2015, 22:21
How can any of us state with any certainty why someone other than ourselves attempts to thru-hike? Any answer is just projection.

furthermore, there are a few of us who aren't even sure why we thru hiked, let alone anyone else.:)

Another Kevin
08-07-2015, 22:22
I see that you have in your avatar that you thru-hiked. Why did you do it, and why do you think that others did it for a different reason?

Is the thinking of someone who's been hiking for a lot of weekends and never thru-hiked relevant? For whatever it's worth:

I've thought about it, and never done it. I've never thought I could walk away from my life and responsibilities for six months. I suspect that I never will be able to, and I'm cool with that. What I do for my family, my friends, my church, my community are part of who I am, and I'm not just going to drop them beside a trailhead. But if I were to go off for half a year's hiking, it would be partly to prove one thing to myself.

You see, I've had far too many years of parents, teachers, bosses telling me that I'm 'undisciplined,' even at times that I'm outperforming peers. (I've been 25 years with the same company, so the lack of discipline can't have hurt me too terribly much!) I hear things like, "If only you applied yourself, you could...," always listing some goal that isn't my goal. Something that someone thinks I should want. Some rainbow that I'm not willing to spend a lifetime of dedication chasing.

For me, if a thru-hike were ever to happen, it would be partly about showing myself that I can do something that broad society believes is intrinsically difficult, that requires some self-denial, that needs the discipline of doing something that's physically and spiritually challenging day after day, and do it for no better reason than that I want to do it. Not to save the world - I do my share of pro bono work - not to climb the ladder - I rather like my rung, thank you - but just to be self-motivated for once. For no better reason than, "it's hard, and I want to try."

MuddyWaters
08-07-2015, 22:24
Most people say in the first page of their trail journal why they want to hike.
No projection about it

Another Kevin
08-07-2015, 22:28
Most people say in the first page of their trail journal why they want to hike.
No projection about it

But do they still think that was the reason by the last page?

CELTIC BUCK
08-07-2015, 22:28
Maybe for each it is a unique reason; none of us want to be too alike. Adventure & a walk thru America comes to my mind.

Slo-go'en
08-07-2015, 22:36
The real question is what has caused the sudden surge in interest in thru hiking the AT? Why have all these people decided this is something they always wanted to do? The individual reason is only a justification. Maybe "The Internet"?

DavidNH
08-07-2015, 22:40
Another Kevin.. why did I want to thru hike the AT? since you asked..

I had been reading books about the trail for years watched several movies on it and attended the LDHA gatherings in Hanover a couple times. For me it was the chance for adventure the chance to experience wilderness for an extended period of time. Going out west to do the PCT would have been logistically a lot harder and probably more than I was up for. If I could reverse time and go back.. I probably would do a different trail.. something perhaps like the Colorado Trail which only takes a month or so but has spectacular scenery. Or maybe Id just do the New England portion of the AT. Had I known before that the AT had become the party trail that it is I would likely have changed plans. But that is all water over the bridge. I DID do the trail and have a lot of great memories of it. Ive seen the best of eastern wilderness.

Venchka
08-07-2015, 22:52
They have never seen the Rockies or the Sierras or the Cascades.
They actually believed the myth that a person had to hike the AT first. Followed by the PCT. Then, and only then, could they attempt the CDT.
They read somewhere that re-supply points on the western trails could be a whole week apart. Perhaps farther.
They knew that nobody could carry enough food for a week. In a bear canister?
They learned that their tiny alcohol stoves could be banned on the western trails.
A person could loose cell phone service for days at a time.
There were no shelters on the CDT and PCT. A hiker had to carry their own shelter, know how to use it and find a place to camp all by themselves.

No, the long western trails are far too uncivilized.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

Dogwood
08-07-2015, 23:07
Asking these questions have no definitive answers. I'll opine anyway.

As a AT thru-hiker and many time AT section hiker having met and observed many many AT thru-hikers(literally 1000's upon 1000's), and those labeling themselves as AT thru-hikers, I've asked many what motivated them to thru-hike the AT and then listening to/pondering the answers. There is no generalized answer as to why. The answers given are all over the place. In AT thru-hiker trail journal after trail journal the "whys" are varied. This will not deter some from trying to place AT thru-hikers motivations into neat acceptable easy to understand categories though.

What I observe for the overwhelming majority of AT thru-hikers is this is their first thru-hike or their longest duration and longest distance hike to date. In short, these are Newbie LD hikers.

As such, there is no doubt AT thru-hikers, and all the many that label themselves as such, often have rude eye opening awakenings as they come to learn what they imagined, or failed to imagine, is different than the realities of being on trail thru-hiking the AT. It's why MANY go home - back to the familiar where they feel more comfortable.

A requirement of successful LD hiking, thru-hiking if you like, defining success as actually completing the hike as originally intended, is the ability to expand comfort zones, to be willing to embrace and overcome uncertainty - the unknown. To be a regular successful LD hiker desiring fresh experiences as an adventurer and explorer, not simply approaching this desire by bouncing to different well known trails experiencing the journey much as one has before, such as what is typical for those that go on to attempt other thru-hikes after having thru-hiked the AT do, one can't become complacent either. It requires continual comfort zone expansion by further continuing to delve deeper into the unfamiliar, embracing it, accepting, and overcoming all that can come your way.

It is no doubt to me many AT thru-hikers elect to hike the AT because of publicity. They hike this trail because they can associate with the accomplishment, that many others have thru-hiked it before, and because it is so well known, endlessly opined upon, over analyzed and over documented. It offers a good a dose of familiarity, association, and recognition for a first time LD hiker while offering opportunities for some degree of independence, self actualization, drastic departure from the norms, and a bit of adventure and exploration.

After having the great fortune to be able to compare the "wildness" of the AT with hikes in remote locations, where no evidence of humans having gone before exist, where there is no trail, where most would have a hard to impossible time relating as no trail acronym/rocker/patch/diploma/noted summit picture/dedicated website/massive endless opining/public acknowledgement as to one's accomplishment and ego imagined greatness exists, no footprints, no blazes, no signage, no thru-hiker trail guide book, no one to ask how to get unlost, no road crossings, no established campsites, no trail shelters, no trailside pizza deliveries, where one is not at the top of the food chain, etc - it is you, map(s), and compass - the "trail" being where one is standing - being enjoyed, appreciated, respected, and left in a LNT No Wake zone- I have arrived at the current perspective, thru-hiking the AT has some wildness, perhaps arguably, wilderness aspect to it, but far from true wilderness. Saying all that, I refuse to debate, judge or qualify other's "fellowshipping with the wilderness" experiences based on how I choose to experience or define it for myself.

However, make no mistake, regardless of how "wilderness" or "fellowshipping with the wilderness" is defined, - communing with Nature, fellowshipping with that which is wild is unequivocally possible on the AT. HYOH not HMHDI

Carbo
08-07-2015, 23:10
I don't know why I attempted a thru, it was just a feeling inside and I can't describe it with words. It was the most difficult thing I ever did and I want to go back and try it again.

TearDrop1776
08-08-2015, 02:40
You know, I hear people say the politically correct crap all of the time, but here is my take. I think people hike the trail for one of two reasons...It is either for the same reason that people summit EVEREST, which is the bragging rights of the ACCOMPLISHMENT and JOURNEY, or it is because there is something in real life that they want to get away from. Hell, that can even mean that they just don't feel that they can continue paying regular bills and they want to take a break and regroup. I think people WANT their hike to seem noble, so they say it's all about nature or becoming one with the forest. Whatever that is supposed to mean. I think there are a LOT of people that are trying to get past drug addiction or get through being broke or get over being fired or get over a girl friend or wife. I think a lot more people than you think have reasons like THAT for hiking. Then there are people that just simply want the accomplishment. To them, they may feel as if they haven't accomplished something MAJOR in their life and this is actually pretty major in my opinion since there hasn't been THAT LARGE of an amount of people to finish it. I am sure there will be plenty of people to disagree with me and the chances are that THOSE people are publicly saying what they are saying because they don't want people to know that they are trying to get away from their wife, life, and the rut that a lot of us get stuck in....Almost every time that I chose to hike it's because I wanted my marriage to be over. I wanted to start fresh and change my life. I ended up falling in love with the idea and that's why I still do it.

TearDrop1776
08-08-2015, 02:41
THEN you got the people running from the LAW, which is a whole different story...

TearDrop1776
08-08-2015, 02:43
Adventure.
(and a good one at that)
I wouldn't stress so much over other people's reasons for doing something that you like to do.
Either do it, or find a better adventure.

Pretty sure that asking people's reasons is NOT stressing over it...lol...Some people are just curious. I think it's a hell of a topic.

rickb
08-08-2015, 06:07
I think it is for the same reason some travelers go on escorted group tours to "exotic" destinations.

As pre-packaged adventures, all you really need to do to make them happen is do a bit of research on line, save some money, carve out some time and then show it.

Pretty much the same with an At thru hike.

Lone Wolf
08-08-2015, 06:36
The real question is what has caused the sudden surge in interest in thru hiking the AT? Why have all these people decided this is something they always wanted to do?

they see all the youtube vids of the excessive partying from GA to ME on facebook

Dogwood
08-08-2015, 12:43
While I agree with you TearDrop that a great many AT thru-hikers fall into your two motivational categories, - 1) gaining bragging rights, a sense of accomplishment, recognition 2) running from something - there is a flip side that many outside of the regular hiking and LD trail communities, as well as some within these communities, fail to consider. This may seem like semantics, but a very real possibility is that some hike NOT so much for the sake of ego or to display haughtiness or to run away from something, to avoid challenges and responsibilities but to actually lessen their ego, become more humble, move towards something embracing something in a very directed way, to habitually learn to step up to meet challenges, accept personal responsibilities, and find acceptance, courage, and a greater understanding.

If we reaaly tink about itcan't it e said orlookd upon that everyone is at times running aay while

Dogwood
08-08-2015, 12:52
One of the things I was hoping to convey by ending with - HYOH not HMHDI - is we can so easily, often without even realizing it, not even intending to do so, assume our motivations for hiking are what motivate others to hike. Then, we often start judging other folks based on our sometimes mistaken assumptions.

RockDoc
08-08-2015, 12:59
It's a conformist move, doing it all by rules that others have made (and strictly enforce).

Few individuals seem capable of designing their own experience.

I think that the let down associated with doing something others have dictated to you, yet it doesn't quite fit you, has a lot to do with the high "failure" rate. True, some can completely internalize the rules and dreams of others, but how much of an accomplishment is that??

TearDrop1776
08-08-2015, 23:28
While I agree with you TearDrop that a great many AT thru-hikers fall into your two motivational categories, - 1) gaining bragging rights, a sense of accomplishment, recognition 2) running from something - there is a flip side that many outside of the regular hiking and LD trail communities, as well as some within these communities, fail to consider. This may seem like semantics, but a very real possibility is that some hike NOT so much for the sake of ego or to display haughtiness or to run away from something, to avoid challenges and responsibilities but to actually lessen their ego, become more humble, move towards something embracing something in a very directed way, to habitually learn to step up to meet challenges, accept personal responsibilities, and find acceptance, courage, and a greater understanding.

If we reaaly tink about itcan't it e said orlookd upon that everyone is at times running aay while

I can't disagree with that my friend...at all..I was generally speaking...I now there are always exceptions. Hell, I met a couple on the AT that was hiking JUST to get to Franklin and pawn some sort of stones..IT was an odd reason, but they were homeless and serious about it. They never made it, but there reason was definitely different.

August W.
08-09-2015, 00:44
I believe some (okay, maybe not "most") are hiking it for the luxury of a well established trail with all it's conveniences while seeking awe, wonderment, and the tremendous beauty that can only be found not just in wild places but in rare moments within wild places....like a heartbreaking golden, pink, and orange sunset at the satisfying end of a long, high mileage day as experienced from a vantage point where no car or atv can ascend, with a full belly and a dry sleeping bag waiting, and the coolest, freshest air you have ever breathed, followed by a crisp,clear night of shooting stars and coyote howls, and a sleep so hard-earned, so deep and restful that it seems to both be over in an hour yet also seems like 20 hours of luxury.... to awaken with the first songbird while night's sky is just turning from purple to blue and the last star still shines, thrilled to be alive and free in one of the most beautiful places on earth where time slows down and life gets simplified to it's core, with the freedom to pack your bag and do it all over again, and again. Yup, to experience the kind of richness of life that can't be bought, the kind of sights and feelings that no camera can capture, and no tongue can fully tell... to revel in the beauty and wonderment that is so much more accessible in these far away places. Thats why some of us are on the trail. You know, for nature and freedom and ****. But I haven't talked to most people about why they are attempting a thru hike. Hopefully they will chime in.

BirdBrain
08-09-2015, 09:08
Given that I have not thru hiked and that I am not the other person, let alone most people, I have not ventured a guess. Seeing other people like me answering, I will weigh in. In studying anything, it is hard to look by the most visible to see the actual. We hear the vocal. We see the trash. We read the blogs. We have friends that do it. Some of us have actually done it. Conclusions are drawn on the visible. Those conclusions reveal a sketch that would likely be obliterated if we could see the final painting. Thus, I think it is impossible to know why most do it. All anyone can see (if they can really see themselves) is why they would or did or don't.

I don't, right now, because I prioritize my job above a many month vacation. That is not intended to judge anyone else's choice. I do not know their situation. For me, my job is part of a long term calculation. I have a bird in the hand and am not willing to gamble it on something as hard to catch as 2 other birds somewhere else. When that part of my life runs its course, and if I am still physically able, I will consider it then. If I attempt it, it will not to be part of any conformists or nonconformists group. It will not because I saw a movie. It will be to see a large tract of country away from square things and things that plug into a wall or make noises or make our life "convenient". It will be to reflect on many things that the noise of this life impossible to consider. It will to be to get away. It will be to see if I still can. I have to believe that amongst the loud and visible that there are some like me that do not do it for noise and clamor and consumption, but rather for self and quiet and appreciation.

I know they are out there. It is just hard to see them amongst the hooray for me and to hell with you trash and noise. I suspect the visible represent only a small fraction of reality. I am not saying that all that is visible is garbage. Much of what is visible is great. The garbage make for better gossip and headlines though. Therefore, the answer to the original question is a guess at best... in my opinion.

Malto
08-09-2015, 09:49
I had a pretty shallow motivation...... I love to walking and Seeing nature at her best and worst.

TearDrop1776
08-09-2015, 15:09
Given that I have not thru hiked and that I am not the other person, let alone most people, I have not ventured a guess. Seeing other people like me answering, I will weigh in. In studying anything, it is hard to look by the most visible to see the actual. We hear the vocal. We see the trash. We read the blogs. We have friends that do it. Some of us have actually done it. Conclusions are drawn on the visible. Those conclusions reveal a sketch that would likely be obliterated if we could see the final painting. Thus, I think it is impossible to know why most do it. All anyone can see (if they can really see themselves) is why they would or did or don't.

I don't, right now, because I prioritize my job above a many month vacation. That is not intended to judge anyone else's choice. I do not know their situation. For me, my job is part of a long term calculation. I have a bird in the hand and am not willing to gamble it on something as hard to catch as 2 other birds somewhere else. When that part of my life runs its course, and if I am still physically able, I will consider it then. If I attempt it, it will not to be part of any conformists or nonconformists group. It will not because I saw a movie. It will be to see a large tract of country away from square things and things that plug into a wall or make noises or make our life "convenient". It will be to reflect on many things that the noise of this life impossible to consider. It will to be to get away. It will be to see if I still can. I have to believe that amongst the loud and visible that there are some like me that do not do it for noise and clamor and consumption, but rather for self and quiet and appreciation.

I know they are out there. It is just hard to see them amongst the hooray for me and to hell with you trash and noise. I suspect the visible represent only a small fraction of reality. I am not saying that all that is visible is garbage. Much of what is visible is great. The garbage make for better gossip and headlines though. Therefore, the answer to the original question is a guess at best... in my opinion.

People having reasons that differ from yours does not make it trash...but hey, you have the right to your opinion. Not everyone has to be motivated by a romantic or noble idea.

Coffee
08-09-2015, 15:20
I've talked to a lot of hikers but I never ask the question "why are you hiking" and don't really like to be asked either. Why someone attempts a long hike is usually a very personal issue and maybe it is better to know people well before delving into that type of topic. What I have heard volunteered about reasons usually falls into a few categories: (1) physical challenge "because it's there"; (2) Life transition - college to workforce, workforce to retirement, married to single, etc etc; (3) desire to see the country and experience the wilderness. For many it is probably a combination of these factors. For me it is basically equal parts of #1 and #3.

Hoofit
08-09-2015, 18:01
Out of work for a long period......feeling a little bummed out by it all... Sitting in Barnes and Noble one February morning with my dear wife.....and ��, I found this article in one of the dozen mags that I was browsing through in the coffee bar...there really was a footpath that went from one end of the States to the other, almost all the way to Canada!!
Being a die hard lover of all things in the woods and raised on the great love of the outdoors, I was smitten!
Only one small snag.......what on earth would my dear wife think? I kept reading, transfixed by the idea of living like a hobo in the woods for months on end, shielding my new found buzz from the curious eyes of my wife, who was firmly entrenched mid year in her teaching career.
So I thought, f..k it, I'll just throw it out there, after all, what do I have to lose??
the conversation went something like this.....
" Hey Hun, you know, all this time out of steady work, sometimes I just wish I could get back to the woods and feel a passion for life again , I'm just sitting around, getting fat and going nowhere....."
She looked at me with sad eyes....I had left England to live here with her in the States, her homeland and she knew only too well that I badly needed an injection of fun in my life.
A few minutes went by and then, barely able to contain myself, I blurted out,
" wow, check this out, have you ever heard of the Appalachian Trail?"
She had indeed and told me of some friends of hers, from her hippie days that had hiked some of the trail in the seventies, members of the Rainbow Tribe.
So right then I put it to her,sort of......
"wow, I sure would love to try that!"
" Well why don't you, work has been slow for some time now, it would do you good!
Truth be told, I almost fell off the hard wooden bench!
I replied,
"Yeah right, take off for months on end, go live in the woods, what would you do?"
"I'll be fine, do it, go on, you need this!"
The rest is history...
( That was 2010, I got as far as Pennsylvania when the deer tick got me and I came down with Lyme Disease in a big way. Returned to knock out 'Rocksylvania/New Jersey and some of New York in 2012.
Next year, I am returning to New York State and doing the last 830 miles. Katahdin here I come!
Yes, I set out to thru hike the AT, I am sure there are a multitude of reasons people try to do this, curiosity and the desire to get fit were two big reasons for me, I can honestly say that it has been on my mind ever since that eye opening day back in 2010)
and so here I am, scouring Whiteblaze to get my daily fix until I return next July!
Damn,this is one addictive way of life!

BirdBrain
08-09-2015, 20:22
People having reasons that differ from yours does not make it trash...but hey, you have the right to your opinion. Not everyone has to be motivated by a romantic or noble idea.

I am not criticizing reasons. I am criticizing those that have no regard for the trail or rules or property. See The Cleaners latest thread for an example of who I am talking about. People like that and their reasons are not viable choices. Read the entire post. I am clear that I am not condemning all or even a majority. I believe the vast majority have good reason and are good people. Those that are "hooray for me and to hell with you" are just like what they leave behind... trash. To deny their existence is either to deny reality or throw in a lot with them.

BirdBrain
08-09-2015, 21:01
For those that think I am bashing reasons different than mine for if I might thru hike someday, allow me to clarify.

If someone, for whatever reason, thru hikes and practices LNT and obeys every rule, regulation, or law, you hear very little about it. They do not grab the front page. It is my belief and hope that they are the majority.

If someone takes a dump in the middle of the trail or leaves trash all around or acts like an idiot in town or breaks rules, regulations, or laws, you are much more likely to hear about it. That fact makes it seem like they might be the majority. I do not believe they are the majority. They just happen to be advertised more because people like to talk, debate, or argue the provocative.

I am in no way suggesting a middle aged or retired way of hiking is the best or even to be preferred. I am saying the radical or offensive or provocative is more likely to be visible. The invisible is invisible (for the most part) because it does not make great headlines.

The point of my quoted post was not to glorify reasons for something I might not ever do. It was, simply, to state that we can't possibly know why most do it because the percentages are skewed by who is discussed and who is not discussed. I believe, and it is a guess, that more people are respectful than what the stories appear to portray.

Lone Wolf
08-09-2015, 21:09
For those that think I am bashing reasons different than mine for if I might thru hike someday, allow me to clarify.
.

there's nothing to clarify. you've never attempted a thru-hike. you're input is not helpful

BirdBrain
08-09-2015, 21:19
there's nothing to clarify. you've never attempted a thru-hike. you're input is not helpful

The person questioning my intent has not thru hiked either. I did not post until several that have not thru hiked posted. I don't see you bashing him or them.

Sarcasm the elf
08-09-2015, 21:23
there's nothing to clarify. you've never attempted a thru-hike. you're input is not helpful

You might want to re-read the opening post. The question wasn't about personal experience.


I am not asking why you or I attempt a thru hike but why does the average person so want to hike from Springer to Katahdin?


Beyond these 2500, some crazy higher number must be thinking of hiking the trail.

Lone Wolf
08-09-2015, 21:25
nothing personal.

BirdBrain
08-09-2015, 21:30
You might want to re-read the opening post. The question wasn't about personal experience.

I saw that original wording and was tempted to opine. However, I remained silent out of respect for experience. Many that posted don't have that experience, so I joined in.

Lone Wolf
08-09-2015, 21:34
you're so wrong. let it go

BirdBrain
08-09-2015, 21:37
you're so wrong. let it go

Okay. I will believe you and edit out the offensive remarks.

Lone Wolf
08-09-2015, 21:44
Okay. I will believe you and edit out the offensive remarks.

i will admit you get my hackles up about the jurek/baxter thing. but i agree to disagree.

BirdBrain
08-09-2015, 23:34
i will admit you get my hackles up about the jurek/baxter thing. but i agree to disagree.

I was unaware we were discussing Jurek or Baxter. I thought we were discussing why people would want to thru hike. I sought to dispel some of the previously listed negative stereotypes that, in my opinion, are created by the visible actions of an irresponsible minority, not rehash a volatile debate.

Bucketfoot
08-10-2015, 06:10
People want an adventure but they don't want it to be too hard or challenging. A thru hike 25 years ago was far different than it is today with our I phones and trail guides that document every single mile of the trail and every road crossing and what conveniences and amenities are available if you go left or right.A lot of the adventure is being taken out of it. The easier it is to do the higher the number of people that will be doing it.

full conditions
08-10-2015, 07:16
Dois probably one of the older through hikes amongst our little group (1976) and there was very little info about the trail available back then. My own inspiration to thru hike came from doing a 50 miler in Vermont with the scouts. Nobody had mentioned that that section wasn't just the Long Trail bit the AT well and that the AT went all the way down to Georgia until a young thru hiker spent the night with us at Little Rock Pond and told us about his hike. I stayed up all night listening to his stories and made up my mind there and then to do my own adventure.

LittleRock
08-10-2015, 08:53
Lots of them are kids who just finished college and don't want to get a job, pay taxes, be responsible, etc. Hiking the AT is a good way to avoid those things for another 6 months.

Another Kevin
08-10-2015, 17:11
Lots of them are kids who just finished college and don't want to get a job, pay taxes, be responsible, etc. Hiking the AT is a good way to avoid those things for another 6 months.

If everyone were responsible, how would anyone ever thru-hike? This is at least a half-serious question. I have never thru-hiked and probably never shall, because I've never been able simply to walk away from my responsibilities. Even in retirement, I expect that I'll have duties to family, to church, to community, and possibly to a less demanding paying job. The idea of half a year without attending to those things is well-nigh inconceivable.

Dogwood
08-10-2015, 21:21
Lots of them are kids who just finished college and don't want to get a job, pay taxes, be responsible, etc. Hiking the AT is a good way to avoid those things for another 6 months.


If everyone were responsible, how would anyone ever thru-hike? This is at least a half-serious question. I have never thru-hiked and probably never shall, because I've never been able simply to walk away from my responsibilities. Even in retirement, I expect that I'll have duties to family, to church, to community, and possibly to a less demanding paying job. The idea of half a year without attending to those things is well-nigh inconceivable.

You both have it incorrect which is no surprise since neither of you have thru-hiked. It's a somewhat common misconception, especially by those who see no way themselves how they could possibly thru-hike, WHILE BEING RESPONSIBLE AT THE SAME TIME, that thru-hikers are not responsible people or avoiding responsibility. It's also a mistaken assumption made by some thru-hiker wanna bees.

Assuming responsibility is not required to thru hike is patently inaccurate. Anyone assuming they are going to dodge all responsibility by attempting thru-hiking is sorely mistaken. At best what can occur is that one set of responsibilities are exchanged for another set of responsibilities. I regularly notice drop out thru-hiker wanna bees for this very reason as this reality sets in. They mistakenly assumed LD hiking entails a free ride, that responsibility, a high degree of responsibility at that, somehow ceases to exist because they decided to LD hike. It is also false to assume another person is being irresponsible because your idea of responsible behavior or your own set of responsibilities does not exactly match or closely parallel theirs.

I find many in the the thru-hiking community who regularly successfully LD hike to exhibit a high degree of responsibility, organization, and considerate behavior.

fiddlehead
08-10-2015, 21:42
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

Another Kevin
08-10-2015, 23:15
I find many in the the thru-hiking community who regularly successfully LD hike to exhibit a high degree of responsibility, organization, and considerate behavior.

That actually doesn't surprise me. I don't see how you could possibly thru-hike successfully without a considerable measure of planning, discipline and persistence. People with those virtues are seldom irresponsible. What puzzles me is how they've managed to detach themselves from their other responsibilities for such a length of time. I'm not thinking that they're shirking, so much as envious that their duties have allowed them to pull off such a feat without neglecting something else. I can hardly imagine being in that fortunate position.

rafe
08-11-2015, 09:39
Some come to laugh their past away
Some come to make it just one more day

There are as many rationales as there are long-distance hikers. One's chosen rationale may prove to be shaky once reality hits, which is why so many attempts fail. None of us know what it's like until we go do it. I got into it thinking I was pretty well prepared, but after two months and ~700 miles, it felt more like drudgery than fun. I didn't need to walk another 1500 miles and three or four more months to make a point.

Why do people quit half-way? Just as well to ask, why did they walk that far?

Malto
08-11-2015, 09:46
That actually doesn't surprise me. I don't see how you could possibly thru-hike successfully without a considerable measure of planning, discipline and persistence. People with those virtues are seldom irresponsible. What puzzles me is how they've managed to detach themselves from their other responsibilities for such a length of time. I'm not thinking that they're shirking, so much as envious that their duties have allowed them to pull off such a feat without neglecting something else. I can hardly imagine being in that fortunate position.

I have found that many serial LD hikers have structured their lives in a way to avoid those responsibility that you referenced. Some evolve/devolve from that lifestyle and others make it a permanent way of life. I know quite a few that work the winter just enough to fund the next season's hike. A whole different lifestyle than a 9-5 job working to build up a 401k for retirement or looking to fund their kids college. Not right or wrong, just very different.

full conditions
08-11-2015, 13:07
That actually doesn't surprise me. I don't see how you could possibly thru-hike successfully without a considerable measure of planning, discipline and persistence. People with those virtues are seldom irresponsible. What puzzles me is how they've managed to detach themselves from their other responsibilities for such a length of time. I'm not thinking that they're shirking, so much as envious that their duties have allowed them to pull off such a feat without neglecting something else. I can hardly imagine being in that fortunate position.
For me it meant working an after school job for four years and delaying my entry into college for a year. In other words, it was a priority that came ahead of doing other normal, kid things like sports, dating, etc... . I was aware enough to realize that the window between high school and college would likely be my only window as I figured I'd head off to grad school after college and then go shopping for a career.

Wülfgang
08-11-2015, 13:39
What puzzles me is how they've managed to detach themselves from their other responsibilities for such a length of time. I'm not thinking that they're shirking, so much as envious that their duties have allowed them to pull off such a feat without neglecting something else. I can hardly imagine being in that fortunate position.

I've often wondered the same. How do these people manage to do serial LD hikes? Year after year? It's a pretty massive undertaking for me to take 4-5 months off from working and still keep my home life afloat.

I think these people tend to be either A) retired, B) have little to no debt, responsibilities, and low overhead expenses, C) independently wealthy in some way, or D) live a pretty spartan hippie lifestyle when they aren't hiking. Or some combination of the above.

Another Kevin
08-11-2015, 16:37
For me it meant working an after school job for four years and delaying my entry into college for a year. In other words, it was a priority that came ahead of doing other normal, kid things like sports, dating, etc... . I was aware enough to realize that the window between high school and college would likely be my only window as I figured I'd head off to grad school after college and then go shopping for a career.

That window never opened for me. I've never had a moment when I was done with something and hadn't started with something else.

The idea of saving for a trip in high school would have been anathema in my house when I was in high school. I was expected to work part time during the school year and full time in summer (I got a dispensation for part-time work when I started taking summer classes at the local university), but the money was supposed to go to my college fund, not to any plans for a vacation.

Between high school and college was also Right Out because I wasn't yet "able to be responsible for myself." I graduated high school early. By the time I was 18 and "independent," I had junior standing in college.

At that point, like a high-flying skyrocket, I kind of exploded. Kids make mistakes. Smart kids make worse ones. It took me the better part of two years to reboot my life, but during that time, I was actually (in retrospect) building a career. And my parents' demand as a condition for continuing to live in their house was that anything I made beyond the necessities was to go into my "return to college" fund, so I had few opportunities to do "kid things" then, either.

I eventually went back to school full time and finished my undergrad. I had solid job offers by the time I was out. In fact, I started work for a few days and then took an arranged day or two off to drive back to campus and attend my commencement. That's how eager my new boss was to have me.

I stuck with the job I had out of school (plus a couple of transfers/promotions) for about seven years, and did a master's degree part time during that time. I bought a house and "settled down" although I was still single. (When did I have time to meet anyone?) By the time I had the master's degree, I came to realize that the PhD was the union card for the job I wanted. I rented out the house and took off for grad school once again, carrying a half-time teaching load while working on the degree. While I was there, I met my wife, rather by coincidence, since I still didn't have a lot of time to socialize. We married a couple of months before I finished the doctorate. Once again, I had immediate job offers waiting - in fact, our honeymoon was the longest vacation I've ever taken.

In the next few years, we went through a couple of job changes and a couple of transcontinental moves, and my daughter arrived.

And through all of this, I've always been responsible for caring for others. When I was a kid, it was the brother ten years younger, the elderly and disabled auntie across the street, the grandmother with early Alzheimer's. When I was a young single man living far enough from my birth home that I couldn't care for family, it was a collection of pro bono jobs that I took on whenever work and school allowed. Then I was married, and wife and daughter came first.

I managed to get back into hiking, justifying it to myself by saying that it was part of my daughter's education. I believe that part has paid off handsomely. The lessons that she got in preparedness and self-reliance have stood her in good stead in many situations. Moreover, she's a competent hiker. She's planned and executed hikes that were entirely off-trail, and done 4000-foot summits in the Northeast in deep winter.

Now my daughter is moved away (although her education is still eating away alarmingly at the family finances) and I have a little time to hike again on my own part (as opposed to hiking to train the daughter). I can count the years to a normal retirement age without taking off my boots. Even in retirement, though, I don't expect ever to have a big block of time. My wife has had several health crises. One of these days there will no doubt be grandchildren. I have work to do in church and community. All of that is likely to go on until I'm too feeble even to contemplate an extended hike.

I wouldn't have had it any other way, but I can still barely imagine any other way. I'm not saying that those who find another way are negligent. I merely can barely imagine, from my experience, the circumstances under which another way would open.

That's why I say that if I were do do such a thing, it would be for the experience of doing something hard, something that requires discipline, and planning, and stamina both mental and spiritual, for no better reason than that I want to do it for myself. For the whole of my parents' lives, I always heard from them how undisciplined and lazy I was, and that was what stuck in my mind even as those outside the family told me how I was always the serious one and the straight-arrow. It wasn't until my wife started to relay comments to me that I ever learnt how fiercely proud my parents were of me when I wasn't there. What you learn early largely defines your identity. I'd really like to find out, someday, what I'm capable of without being motivated by a sense of duty, and being left afterwards with a sense that the duty could have been better fulfilled.

Cobble
08-11-2015, 17:20
Kevin, that's pretty cool. Kudos to a well lived life.(I say that cuz you said you wouldn't have it any other way.)

Thru hikers in my experience are not running away from things, rather they are running towards something. You hear that in the conversations and see it in the determination on rainy days. What that something they go towards is often very different but those that are running from things tend to run away somewhere else once they realize how hard the trail is.

I suspect the successful thru hikers are the ones running towards something they can only get from the trail.(or else they'd leave too!)

I section hiked the AT for a reason and now I am going to thru hike the PCT for a very different reason.

CarlZ993
08-11-2015, 20:51
I don't know why most people want to hike the AT. When I started backpacking again 20 yrs ago, the thought of thru-hiking the AT would occasionally rumble around in my head. Job, career, & family prevented me really acting on it. I was able to do quite a bit of backpacking in the US & other countries over the years. Seven years after I retired, I was able to finally give the AT a try. I knew that I'd likely only have one shot at this hike. I was fortunate to finish the hike. It was harder than I expected, though.

The original poster mentioned about 50% drop out by the time they get to Harpers Ferry. If I were to guess, I think that percentage would be higher. Not quite 50% done in miles (if going NoBo). A lot of people dropped off the trail before Harpers Ferry in 2013. I saw people dropping out after the 2nd or 3rd day on the trail.

MuddyWaters
08-11-2015, 20:58
I've often wondered the same. How do these people manage to do serial LD hikes? Year after year? It's a pretty massive undertaking for me to take 4-5 months off from working and still keep my home life afloat.

I think these people tend to be either A) retired, B) have little to no debt, responsibilities, and low overhead expenses, C) independently wealthy in some way, or D) live a pretty spartan hippie lifestyle when they aren't hiking. Or some combination of the above.


Some are self-employed, or work contract and set their own work durations.

In the end, your life is yours to spend as you see fit. Not everyone wants a house in the suburbs, spouse, dog, two car garage, and 2.3 kids.

I have a friend i admire who only works contract 10 mo per year max. The rest is spent all over the world doing things they love with like minded individuals.

No kids, no huge 401k, but a heck of a lot of adventure.

fiddlehead
08-11-2015, 23:34
Some are self-employed, or work contract and set their own work durations.

In the end, your life is yours to spend as you see fit. Not everyone wants a house in the suburbs, spouse, dog, two car garage, and 2.3 kids.

I have a friend i admire who only works contract 10 mo per year max. The rest is spent all over the world doing things they love with like minded individuals.

No kids, no huge 401k, but a heck of a lot of adventure.

The key is NO DEBT!
I did it for 15 years. Hiked, travelled the world, worked the winters, and saved almost all I made for next year's trip. NEVER went in debt.
It's not so hard as long as you keep a simple life, and continue eating inexpensive food that you cook for yourself and work, work, work, in your off-travel period.
I miss those days.

I have a 10 year old now and it will be 7 more years before I can even hope to rejoin the hiking world and do another long trail.
I still travel when I can, but must limit it to a week at a time.
My son has already been to 4 countries, 28 states and 61 Thai provinces.
He's not much of a hike though. At least not yet.

TearDrop1776
08-12-2015, 03:32
The person questioning my intent has not thru hiked either. I did not post until several that have not thru hiked posted. I don't see you bashing him or them.

I have attempted thru hikes THREE times, so I have ATTEMPTED the thru hike which means I understand the REASONING behind it on my end...just so you know.

Dogwood
08-12-2015, 05:01
It's difficult to impossible to understand, even more so to accept or coexist with, that which you are not familiar(the unknown), whether they be other people, lifestyles, ways of believing/thinking/behaving, cultures, gov'ts, standards of living, economic systems, medical ways of thoughts, the natural non man made environment, etc etc etc unless you're willing to let go of that which you are accustomed, perhaps just momentarily, looking at these not through your own eyes, according to your own norms, your own comfort zones, what you're familiar with, and when you're in the habit of coming to quickly judge things, especially on a good/bad based duality value system.

I've had so many ask me how I can regularly afford to take months off to travel or LD hike, how I can financially do it, meet responsibilities, etc. I used to tell them my situation but it was like I was speaking Chinese - Mandarin dialect and they didn't understand a word of the Chinese language. More importantly, they didn't really want to understand! They fall back to the excuse that they can't hike because their life is not exactly as mine. I feel like saying, "No kidding. That was not my point by telling you all about how I do it. I certainly didn't assume your life, your situation, is exactly like mine. I told you all about my situation to encourage YOU to think outside of your box, to expand the limits you've allowed to be imposed on your life, and to inspire you to find a way appropriate for your own situation! In short, many will not understand because they will not imagine a world, a lifestyle, a country, a religion, a culture, a meal, a home, etc outside of their own, what they currently are accustomed. They are so rigidly set in their lifestyle, believing, thinking, and behaving, down loaded onto and programmed to be dumb downed automatons. AND, it's why some will not thru-hike!

They often suppose some degree of irresponsibility, neglectfulness, or extreme unique circumstances are involved in LD hiking. I can tell you for a fact most of the LD hikers I know ARE NOT independently financially wealthy! Some associate or stereotype LD hiking with being a hippie, slacker, homeless, living on the dime of society or shoulders of someone else's labor, running from something, etc rather than considering it was achieved conscientiously, with purpose, constructed as a sober choice, and by design. It was a lifestyle chosen...aimed at moving towards something, with great commitment, organization, disciplined sobriety and much forethought. It was achieved by having the courage to step outside of cultural and societal norms, to lead more self directed states of being. NO, the LD lifestyle does not just fall out of the sky into the lives of those living it. It wasn't because they were born under a special star! It's typically arrived at by conscious design....with MUCH personal accountability!

Here's a harsh reality that's not often shared as it dictates personal accountability. It's one of the last things people want to acknowledge. And, it's not shared enough, that each one of us can lead more self directed lives. Some don't want you to know you can! MANY would very much prefer they lead and direct your life as it best serves their intentions and not yours!

Everyone of us, knowing it or not, admitting it or not, are currently right where we are as a result of our decisions NOTING every time we ceded the decision making process to someone else we were deciding not to decide for ourselves. And, we're now left contending with it. No matter our situation we always have a say in what our lives represent and how we live them! We have a say in the states of our being!

Removing oneself from the cultural and societal norms can truly be a sobering eye opening experience. It's what everyone should experience. I wish that for each one of you. Live outside the U.S. for a while, choose to ride a bicycle for a yr when you could be taking a car, live in the woods, walk across Costa Rica, kill your TV, severely restrict your electronic usage, eat at a different ethnic restaurant once per week rather than doing the Micky Dee's drive thru AGAIN, learn another language, perhaps even beginning with a few phrases, listen to music in a language you don't understand, attend a different religious service, make passionate love on the dunes of the beach maybe like you did as a teenager, etc. BEGIN by breaking away from the familiar. Get uncomfortable! Be spontaneous. Do something unplanned. LIVE! BECOME MORE AWARE! It's what happens as LD hikers spend increasing amounts of time "sobering up" in a more natural non man made environment where the MANY that wish to "manipulate, control, oversee, and direct" have less influence. In LD trail journal after LD trail journal a greater awareness is recognized as LD hikers "sober up." An AWAKENING OCCURS.

This greater awareness goes beyond a greater awareness of themselves. Often, what is communicated is a greater recognition of a culture a world they were once immersed in as being extremely wasteful, largely ungrateful, often intolerant, selfishly absorbed at times, ignorant of the consequences of consumerism and materialism and ignorant of a larger world. As a consequence they often desire greater frugality, simpler, less complex, less consumer driven, more tolerant, easier going, less judgmental, more self directed and self aware, less entangling lifestyles where they question wastefulness and materialism perhaps even considering something exists larger than themselves. Some of the most content, humorous, easiest going, free flowing, least judgmental, tolerant, least wasteful, joyful, generous, considerate, simple living, and responsibly acting people I know are those in the LD hiking community.

What you'll often notice if you look more closely at the regular LD hiking community is a blurring of hard lines between non trail and trail life. It's LIFE in total... period. Those two aspects of their lives, on and off trail, are often intimately intertwined. It's one lifestyle. Just today as I went to the grocery store intending to mainly buy food for home/non trail life, I bought food and nutritional supplements for the trail, looked at a Wilderness Area map, stopped by the outfitter, bought a shirt for the trail, and have started looking at purchasing more hiking shoes and trail runners even though I'm not planning a LD hike until Sept. In my heart and soul wilderness is always a necessity, the mountains are always calling, red rocked desert canyons beckoning, winds are whispering through the Bristlecone and Foxtail Pines, the salmon are beginning to spawn, a gushing waterfall is reaching out to mist me off on a hot summer day, the falcons and Condors are dancing on the thermals, I'm feeling the raindrops on my face, hearing the crunching snow underfoot, the bears are gorging on berries, the marmots are busy gathering food, the elk are bugling, the golden aspens are brighter than the brightest gold coin, and another sunrise and sunset warms me.

Heck, if it works for you great but I have little desire to cede to the cultural and societal norms, to always do as expected, to never question the answers, to be caged in among the concrete, steel, glass and plastic boxes, of being a married 8(9) to 5(6)er with 2.2 kids, two cars, one likely being a SUV, mini van(with those daddy, mommy, little Jimmy, little Susie, dog, cat stick figure decals on the rear windshield), or mid luxury sedan, white picket fence(I actually like white picket fences), enslavement to a bewildering variety of electronics and modern technology having absolute necessity for it at all times or life STOPS, major car payments, huge mortgage, often staggering enslaving debt, 401 k(Umm, I actually have one), working towards retirement - the so called golden years, with endless barbecues, baseball and soccer games to attend, attempting to proudly upkeep a lawn that resembles the infield of Yankee Stadium on weekends, and enjoying the "good life" of having a couple of weeks off per yr to paint the house or jam in a hurried touristy National Park road trip while my belly begins resembling a bag.

The wilds are where I want to be.

Lone Wolf
08-12-2015, 06:37
huh?............

Malto
08-12-2015, 06:39
Or to sum up Dogwood, life is about choices.

rafe
08-12-2015, 11:34
I'd say serial thru-hiking is largely incompatible with (most) spouses, responsibility to children, family, or aging/ailing parents, debt, mortgage, home-owning, career (professional or academic,) and all sorts of other things. OTOH, it is possible to forgo all of the above and make a life of hiking, if one wants such a thing badly enough. My guess is, there aren't too many such folks all told, and they're probably over-represented here on this forum.

We have our share of homeless and marginal folks in the USA, and if you hike long enough you will meet a few of those people on the trails as well -- folks who could probably use some help, but choose to go it alone in the woods.

Wülfgang
08-12-2015, 12:05
I'd say serial thru-hiking is largely incompatible with (most) spouses, responsibility to children, family, or aging/ailing parents, debt, mortgage, home-owning, career (professional or academic,) and all sorts of other things. OTOH, it is possible to forgo all of the above and make a life of hiking, if one wants such a thing badly enough. My guess is, there aren't too many such folks all told, and they're probably over-represented here on this forum.

I agree on all points. I think there is a selection bias here. But overall triple-crowners or serial LD hikers are a very small minority.

Barring having young kids, ailing parents, or a very unfavorable financial situation, I think most adults could make a long hike happen if they really wanted it bad enough. I'm no exception. It's all about what you're willing to sacrifice really. You have to count the cost against everything else you value in your life, same as any other big endeavor.

Dogwood
08-12-2015, 13:53
Or to sum up Dogwood, life is about choices.

Wait, you left out a whole lot of important details.:)

Speed hiker,...ummm...non speed reader. :D

August W.
08-12-2015, 19:44
It's difficult to impossible to understand, even more so to accept or coexist with, that which you are not familiar(the unknown), whether they be other people, lifestyles, ways of believing/thinking/behaving, cultures, gov'ts, standards of living, economic systems, medical ways of thoughts, the natural non man made environment, etc etc etc unless you're willing to let go of that which you are accustomed, perhaps just momentarily, looking at these not through your own eyes, according to your own norms, your own comfort zones, what you're familiar with, and when you're in the habit of coming to quickly judge things, especially on a good/bad based duality value system.

I've had so many ask me how I can regularly afford to take months off to travel or LD hike, how I can financially do it, meet responsibilities, etc. I used to tell them my situation but it was like I was speaking Chinese - Mandarin dialect and they didn't understand a word of the Chinese language. More importantly, they didn't really want to understand! They fall back to the excuse that they can't hike because their life is not exactly as mine. I feel like saying, "No kidding. That was not my point by telling you all about how I do it. I certainly didn't assume your life, your situation, is exactly like mine. I told you all about my situation to encourage YOU to think outside of your box, to expand the limits you've allowed to be imposed on your life, and to inspire you to find a way appropriate for your own situation! In short, many will not understand because they will not imagine a world, a lifestyle, a country, a religion, a culture, a meal, a home, etc outside of their own, what they currently are accustomed. They are so rigidly set in their lifestyle, believing, thinking, and behaving, down loaded onto and programmed to be dumb downed automatons. AND, it's why some will not thru-hike!

They often suppose some degree of irresponsibility, neglectfulness, or extreme unique circumstances are involved in LD hiking. I can tell you for a fact most of the LD hikers I know ARE NOT independently financially wealthy! Some associate or stereotype LD hiking with being a hippie, slacker, homeless, living on the dime of society or shoulders of someone else's labor, running from something, etc rather than considering it was achieved conscientiously, with purpose, constructed as a sober choice, and by design. It was a lifestyle chosen...aimed at moving towards something, with great commitment, organization, disciplined sobriety and much forethought. It was achieved by having the courage to step outside of cultural and societal norms, to lead more self directed states of being. NO, the LD lifestyle does not just fall out of the sky into the lives of those living it. It wasn't because they were born under a special star! It's typically arrived at by conscious design....with MUCH personal accountability!

Here's a harsh reality that's not often shared as it dictates personal accountability. It's one of the last things people want to acknowledge. And, it's not shared enough, that each one of us can lead more self directed lives. Some don't want you to know you can! MANY would very much prefer they lead and direct your life as it best serves their intentions and not yours!

Everyone of us, knowing it or not, admitting it or not, are currently right where we are as a result of our decisions NOTING every time we ceded the decision making process to someone else we were deciding not to decide for ourselves. And, we're now left contending with it. No matter our situation we always have a say in what our lives represent and how we live them! We have a say in the states of our being!

Removing oneself from the cultural and societal norms can truly be a sobering eye opening experience. It's what everyone should experience. I wish that for each one of you. Live outside the U.S. for a while, choose to ride a bicycle for a yr when you could be taking a car, live in the woods, walk across Costa Rica, kill your TV, severely restrict your electronic usage, eat at a different ethnic restaurant once per week rather than doing the Micky Dee's drive thru AGAIN, learn another language, perhaps even beginning with a few phrases, listen to music in a language you don't understand, attend a different religious service, make passionate love on the dunes of the beach maybe like you did as a teenager, etc. BEGIN by breaking away from the familiar. Get uncomfortable! Be spontaneous. Do something unplanned. LIVE! BECOME MORE AWARE! It's what happens as LD hikers spend increasing amounts of time "sobering up" in a more natural non man made environment where the MANY that wish to "manipulate, control, oversee, and direct" have less influence. In LD trail journal after LD trail journal a greater awareness is recognized as LD hikers "sober up." An AWAKENING OCCURS.

This greater awareness goes beyond a greater awareness of themselves. Often, what is communicated is a greater recognition of a culture a world they were once immersed in as being extremely wasteful, largely ungrateful, often intolerant, selfishly absorbed at times, ignorant of the consequences of consumerism and materialism and ignorant of a larger world. As a consequence they often desire greater frugality, simpler, less complex, less consumer driven, more tolerant, easier going, less judgmental, more self directed and self aware, less entangling lifestyles where they question wastefulness and materialism perhaps even considering something exists larger than themselves. Some of the most content, humorous, easiest going, free flowing, least judgmental, tolerant, least wasteful, joyful, generous, considerate, simple living, and responsibly acting people I know are those in the LD hiking community.

What you'll often notice if you look more closely at the regular LD hiking community is a blurring of hard lines between non trail and trail life. It's LIFE in total... period. Those two aspects of their lives, on and off trail, are often intimately intertwined. It's one lifestyle. Just today as I went to the grocery store intending to mainly buy food for home/non trail life, I bought food and nutritional supplements for the trail, looked at a Wilderness Area map, stopped by the outfitter, bought a shirt for the trail, and have started looking at purchasing more hiking shoes and trail runners even though I'm not planning a LD hike until Sept. In my heart and soul wilderness is always a necessity, the mountains are always calling, red rocked desert canyons beckoning, winds are whispering through the Bristlecone and Foxtail Pines, the salmon are beginning to spawn, a gushing waterfall is reaching out to mist me off on a hot summer day, the falcons and Condors are dancing on the thermals, I'm feeling the raindrops on my face, hearing the crunching snow underfoot, the bears are gorging on berries, the marmots are busy gathering food, the elk are bugling, the golden aspens are brighter than the brightest gold coin, and another sunrise and sunset warms me.

Heck, if it works for you great but I have little desire to cede to the cultural and societal norms, to always do as expected, to never question the answers, to be caged in among the concrete, steel, glass and plastic boxes, of being a married 8(9) to 5(6)er with 2.2 kids, two cars, one likely being a SUV, mini van(with those daddy, mommy, little Jimmy, little Susie, dog, cat stick figure decals on the rear windshield), or mid luxury sedan, white picket fence(I actually like white picket fences), enslavement to a bewildering variety of electronics and modern technology having absolute necessity for it at all times or life STOPS, major car payments, huge mortgage, often staggering enslaving debt, 401 k(Umm, I actually have one), working towards retirement - the so called golden years, with endless barbecues, baseball and soccer games to attend, attempting to proudly upkeep a lawn that resembles the infield of Yankee Stadium on weekends, and enjoying the "good life" of having a couple of weeks off per yr to paint the house or jam in a hurried touristy National Park road trip while my belly begins resembling a bag.

The wilds are where I want to be.

Hmmm...... Sure you don't just need a bigger television and ,perhaps, a better cable subscription??

rickb
08-12-2015, 20:00
What other relatively well-defined adventure could one take on with little more than 4 to 6 months and $5 grand?

I am sure there are a few, but not many. International travel supported by teaching English as a second language, or becoming a ski bum come to mind, but I can't think of much else. Too late to follow the Dead.

Not sure why even more people haven't been drawn to the trails.

fiddlehead
08-12-2015, 20:53
What other relatively well-defined adventure could one take on with little more than 4 to 6 months and $5 grand?

I am sure there are a few, but not many. International travel supported by teaching English as a second language, or becoming a ski bum come to mind, but I can't think of much else. Too late to follow the Dead.

Not sure why even more people haven't been drawn to the trails.

OK, this will be thread drift but here's a few:
Be a (kayaking for me) river bum and attempt to run all the class IV and V's in Idaho, OR, WA (and maybe throw BC in there)
Travel the world without flying.
Hitchhike Europe and include hiking the HRP
Bicycle across America (or Europe, South America, or Russia)
Traverse the Himalayas (OK Bhutan might not let you in but there's plenty elsewhere)
Go see Myanmar before it changes (they already got their first KFC)
As well as AZ trail, PCT,CDT, Hayduke, and many other trails.

It's a great big world, with lots to do.
AT may be getting too crowded to really enjoy the experience anymore.

Another Kevin
08-12-2015, 21:42
They often suppose some degree of irresponsibility, neglectfulness, or extreme unique circumstances are involved in LD hiking. I can tell you for a fact most of the LD hikers I know ARE NOT independently financially wealthy! Some associate or stereotype LD hiking with being a hippie, slacker, homeless, living on the dime of society or shoulders of someone else's labor, running from something, etc rather than considering it was achieved conscientiously, with purpose, constructed as a sober choice, and by design. It was a lifestyle chosen...aimed at moving towards something, with great commitment, organization, disciplined sobriety and much forethought. It was achieved by having the courage to step outside of cultural and societal norms, to lead more self directed states of being. NO, the LD lifestyle does not just fall out of the sky into the lives of those living it. It wasn't because they were born under a special star! It's typically arrived at by conscious design....with MUCH personal accountability!

By the same token, those who have stepped out beyond the conventional lifestyle, to live the life of a long-distance hiker, assume that the rest of us made our life choices with our eyes closed. In a way, I suppose I did. But read on....

I'm afraid that what I've written - that I find the LD hikers' lack of duties in town nearly inconceivable - is still coming across as condemnation. It is not intended to be. I meant simply that given the choices I have already made, and the consequence of those choices (not to mention the consequences of choices others made for me), that I quite literally cannot imagine myself ever feeling that I had the freedom to take that path. I have few regrets, but I do admit that my life was unusually constrained at times.

I was under the thumb of strict parents, either legally or by consequence of poor initial choices in independent life, right up until I had a house and a "good career" and a mortgage. (The wife and child came later.) The same strict upbringing conditioned me to a sense of obligation. In addition to what I feel I owe my family (and the Lord willing, I mean to see my daughter established in her chosen career without a mountain of debt!) I've always taken on commitments to church and community, and keeping those promises is important to me.

I was able in my own mind to justify taking up hiking again simply as part of my daughter's education. I'd not have managed if I'd thought of it as mere recreation. And indeed, it served her in very good stead. She's quite known among her peers for self-reliance, resourcefulness, and preparedness, which is what the hiking was about.

But I couldn't have done it then just because I liked it. I truly am hard on myself to that unhealthy an extent. I've had numerous people, including some professional counselors, tell me that I must devote more attention to my own needs and wants. In any case, with my daughter grown, I find that I have more time, and I'm now consciously deciding not to take on quite so much, and to keep up the hiking for my own peace of mind. And even at that, you wouldn't believe how much I annoy my wife before every trip, asking for reassurance that I'm not neglecting her by going!

When this life draws to a close, I shall likely regret only mildly the missed opportunities to live for myself. I'll regret much more deeply the missed opportunities to live for others. I am told that I'll feel consolation at having done my best, but in my own mind I'll always question that - for no player is at the top of his game at any moment. I've not done my best.

Making the choice to thru-hike with that load of expectations? Truly, that is unimaginable to me. I recognize that what I expect of myself is entirely beyond reason, and make an effort not to expect it of others - indeed, to encourage them not to use that aspect of me as a role model. I envy those who have had the courage to escape that burden.

Dogwood
08-12-2015, 23:54
Hmmm...... Sure you don't just need a bigger television and ,perhaps, a better cable subscription??

Killed my TV(s) and canceled my cable subscription(s) several yrs ago. GREAT decision! The savings in time and money from killing my TV(s) and canceling cable subscription(s) alone have freed up valuable resources - Time and Money - allowing for the time and funding of several LD hikes.:)

In addition, extremely valuable to me, the cycle of fear and negativity, and the dumbing down associated with excessive TV brain washing was broken. In a short time I noticed I had become more creative, energetic, focused, and productive. AND, I moved into living more in a reality rather than choosing to live through the bizarre unreal staged lives of Hollywood production.

http://riskology.co/how-to-add-8-years-and-133369-to-your-life/

http://www.wakeupcloud.com/kill-your-tv/

http://riskology.co/kill-the-news/

Dogwood
08-12-2015, 23:58
THX AK for getting so personal. I respect what you've done the life you have lived. Serial LD hikers, at least this one, sought a conventional seek the American Dream path too at one time. :)

shelb
08-13-2015, 00:08
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

If I could take the time to thru-hike, this would be the reason! As it is, my job and family only allow me to do a section a year.

August W.
08-13-2015, 08:06
Killed my TV(s) and canceled my cable subscription(s) several yrs ago. GREAT decision! The savings in time and money from killing my TV(s) and canceling cable subscription(s) alone have freed up valuable resources - Time and Money - allowing for the time and funding of several LD hikes.:)

In addition, extremely valuable to me, the cycle of fear and negativity, and the dumbing down associated with excessive TV brain washing was broken. In a short time I noticed I had become more creative, energetic, focused, and productive. AND, I moved into living more in a reality rather than choosing to live through the bizarre unreal staged lives of Hollywood production.

http://riskology.co/how-to-add-8-years-and-133369-to-your-life/

http://www.wakeupcloud.com/kill-your-tv/

http://riskology.co/kill-the-news/

Yeah, I knew the answer to that question before I asked it. I considered putting a ;) after the question but figured you would likely sense the sarcasm just fine without it. And besides, if i have learned anything from television it's that being a straight, white, American male in the south I shouldn't be inserting little wink faces into my typed sentences lest I be labeled a soft-handed metrosexual or something. Heh!
Congrats on getting rid of your TV and finding the joys that result from that liberation. I have found similar results but am still ocassionally subjected to that trash-box as I live with someone who is addicted to it.
Thanks for the 3 links. I will see what they are about.
You have made me recall an old John Prine song I will have to give another listen to..... something about "Blow up your TV, throw away your paper, move to the country and build you a home. Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches, try 'n find Jesus on your own."

Dogwood
08-13-2015, 09:13
August, that was the most entertaining honest thought provoking non contentious come back to my in your face ramblings I've had the pleasure of in quite awhile. If only......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5axlwCBXC8

August W.
08-13-2015, 10:53
August, that was the most entertaining honest thought provoking non contentious come back to my in your face ramblings I've had the pleasure of in quite awhile. If only......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5axlwCBXC8

Well I enjoyed the "ramblings" and appreciate your contributions to this site.

That's a mighty fine tune you linked to! It has always brought a smile.

"Spanish Pipedream" is the name of the John Prine song I quoted. Another one of his that I see as a pretty fitting response to TV and pop culture in general is "Quit Hollering At Me". I would provide youtube links but I haven't bothered to learn how.

rocketsocks
08-13-2015, 11:41
So hikers just wanna get away from the monotonous responsibility of their daily lives...to live deliberately. Hmm, I thought I was living deliberately by working to pay for stuff like, food, warmth in the winter, shelter and clothes on my back, and providing opportunity for my offspring to be able to afford the same choices, to live deliberately...I must be doing it wrong. :rolleyes:

Dogwood
08-13-2015, 16:32
I do occasionally like to stir the shart storm or ring the door bell and then hide in the bushes watching someone attempt to stomp out the paper bag on fire full of shart.;)

WingedMonkey
08-13-2015, 19:54
I still get a chuckle how this question in a thread always become a parade of reasons folks haven't thru-hiked or failed in the effort.

;)

BirdBrain
08-13-2015, 20:10
I still get a chuckle how this question in a thread always become a parade of reasons folks haven't thru-hiked or failed in the effort.

;)

The OP says "attempt", not complete. I read "why do", not why did. I suppose it is a valid point to say the person should at least want to thru. I want to. Just can't prioritize it yet. Maybe never will.

Dogwood
08-13-2015, 23:00
I still get a chuckle how this question in a thread always become a parade of reasons folks haven't thru-hiked or failed in the effort.

;)

Oooh, I was thinking it too but you said it. Always happens....in certain crowds. :rolleyes::o

Another Kevin
08-14-2015, 00:25
Oooh, I was thinking it too but you said it. Always happens....in certain crowds. :rolleyes::o

I suppose I'm guilty as charged. At least I led off with why I would want to hike it, before I gave the weightier reasons why I don't.

Googan
08-14-2015, 01:49
I can only say why I'd like to do it. The USA is a beautiful country. I'd think a person could travel their whole life inside the United States and enjoy some of the best outdoors available. But I will say I'd just like to get to the other side and enjoy it

rocketsocks
08-14-2015, 02:18
Why do most people attempt a thru-hike?

...to get to the other side!

rickb
08-14-2015, 07:17
OK, this will be thread drift but here's a few....
It's a great big world, with lots to do.


Good list but one big difference about a thru hike is that it is a scripted advnture.

Sort of like the 4-year adventure of going away to college.

You don't know exactly what lies ahead, but once you make the commitment there is a rather well defined roadmap for what lies ahead and what to do next.

As thru hikes come ever more "paint by the numbers" I think they have draw in more people who want an adventure, and this is a relatively easy one to pick "off the shelf".

g00gle
08-14-2015, 07:45
Good list but one big difference about a thru hike is that it is a scripted advnture.

Sort of like the 4-year adventure of going away to college.

You don't know exactly what lies ahead, but once you make the commitment there is a rather well defined roadmap for what lies ahead and what to do next.

As thru hikes come ever more "paint by the numbers" I think they have draw in more people who want an adventure, and this is a relatively easy one to pick "off the shelf".

I've avoided replying in this thread because I can't really speak to the thoughts or intentions of others. But I really do have to point out here that your reply sounds a bit disparaging. Because this is written text, without inflection or nuance, I will try not to assume too much implication from your words.

However, I will say that if others out there are anything like me, life has not provided the time, means, or ability to pursue some of our dreams. And then one day there suddenly appears the chance to follow through on a dream simply because it actually does have a sort of roadmap (though, that's not the reason it's been a dream for many years.) It has a beginning, an end, and clear points of accomplishment (the first accomplishment being just setting foot on a long trail.) The fact that there are so many known variables is exactly what allows some the structured freedom <wince> to get out and do something like this - rather than passing on the opportunity simply because they are not pursuing a "pure" or "true" adventure in John Muir fashion.

I (and some others like me) don't need the A.T. simply to go on multi-day backpacking adventures or to spend time enjoying the outdoors. I need to follow my dream on the A.T. because it's one of my dreams that's actually close, affordable, and possible. Whether it's viewed as a sheep mentality (my words, not yours) or following the herd or whatever - it's the paint-by-number schema that actually made this one attainable for me.

I don't revel in the fact that I'm following in the same footsteps of others or planning the best that I can based upon the experiences of others. But I do celebrate because I have the freedom, the health, and the desire to get out and experience so many different environments in nature (and here's the kicker) all for one long, extended period of time!

Many just can't afford to walk away from family and other obligations simply to pursue a self-interest. I happen to be at a fortunate point in my life where I can. Paint-by-number roadmap or not, I'll take it! :)

Traveler
08-14-2015, 08:27
I would suggest the topic of a thru hike has been romanticized to the point that it appears, to those without a lot of experience, to be a journey into spiritual nirvana when it may be more like a journey into Frat House living. The romanticizing of the AT thru is not a lot different than other romanticized feats like epic adventures to the poles, to high places, long distance travels afoot or by any transportation possible, even warfare has been romanticized through literature, movies, and music.

Given this, its little wonder why people start a thru hike. The greater curiosity for me is how many folks found the the reality of the trail was a serious distance from a romanticized concept of the trail that played a small or major role in how they came to the decision to stop or adapt mitigation techniques that kept them isolated from some of the trail trash. The reality of Hemingway stating "There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter" pales quickly to the reality of that activity, much as listening to a youngster throwing up a 1 in the morning having imbibed too much at a shelter bash will temper even the most resilient romanticized spiritual connection.

full conditions
08-14-2015, 16:00
I would suggest the topic of a thru hike has been romanticized to the point that it appears, to those without a lot of experience, to be a journey into spiritual nirvana when it may be more like a journey into Frat House living. The romanticizing of the AT thru is not a lot different than other romanticized feats like epic adventures to the poles, to high places, long distance travels afoot or by any transportation possible, even warfare has been romanticized through literature, movies, and music.

Given this, its little wonder why people start a thru hike. The greater curiosity for me is how many folks found the the reality of the trail was a serious distance from a romanticized concept of the trail that played a small or major role in how they came to the decision to stop or adapt mitigation techniques that kept them isolated from some of the trail trash. The reality of Hemingway stating "There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter" pales quickly to the reality of that activity, much as listening to a youngster throwing up a 1 in the morning having imbibed too much at a shelter bash will temper even the most resilient romanticized spiritual connection.
LOL. I wish we had a like button. While I'm very glad I had the opportunity to thru hike the trail back when I did, I don't think I would do it again even if given the time and money - it's kinda of a grind some days - its your job. You get up, make breakfast, hike, hike, hike, make camp, get water, make dinner, go to bed, rinse and repeat - rain or shine, hot or cold. Ive been section hiking the AT and a couple other long distance trails the last few years for four to six weeks at a shot and, for me at least, its way preferable to a five month thru. If I dont dont feel like hiking on a particular day or I want to spend some time exploring some side trails, that's almost always a viable option when section hiking. For me, section hiking = more freedom.

rickb
08-14-2015, 16:41
- it's kinda of a grind some days - its your job.

Were you at least able to take off the 4th of July?

Wülfgang
08-14-2015, 16:53
I would suggest the topic of a thru hike has been romanticized to the point that it appears, to those without a lot of experience, to be a journey into spiritual nirvana when it may be more like a journey into Frat House living. The romanticizing of the AT thru is not a lot different than other romanticized feats like epic adventures to the poles, to high places, long distance travels afoot or by any transportation possible, even warfare has been romanticized through literature, movies, and music.

Given this, its little wonder why people start a thru hike. The greater curiosity for me is how many folks found the the reality of the trail was a serious distance from a romanticized concept of the trail that played a small or major role in how they came to the decision to stop or adapt mitigation techniques that kept them isolated from some of the trail trash. The reality of Hemingway stating "There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter" pales quickly to the reality of that activity, much as listening to a youngster throwing up a 1 in the morning having imbibed too much at a shelter bash will temper even the most resilient romanticized spiritual connection.

Hilarious, and a more eloquent version of my first reply in this thread----people romanticize it.

And I don't even need to have thru-hiked it to know that, because it's much like anything else in life. College, your "dream" career, marriage.....distance lends enchantment to the view.

Not to say planned adventures always fall short of expectations, but the best experiences in life are often only realized retrospectively.

Dogwood
08-15-2015, 03:30
... about a thru hike is that it is a scripted adventure.

Sort of like the 4-year adventure of going away to college.

You don't know exactly what lies ahead, but once you make the commitment there is a rather well defined roadmap for what lies ahead and what to do next.

As thru hikes come ever more "paint by the numbers" I think they have draw in more people who want an adventure, and this is a relatively easy one to pick "off the shelf".

Yup.


I would suggest the topic of a thru hike has been romanticized to the point that it appears, to those without a lot of experience, to be a journey into spiritual nirvana when it may be more like a journey into Frat House living. The romanticizing of the AT thru is not a lot different than other romanticized feats like epic adventures to the poles, to high places, long distance travels afoot or by any transportation possible, even warfare has been romanticized through literature, movies, and music.

Given this, its little wonder why people start a thru hike. The greater curiosity for me is how many folks found the the reality of the trail was a serious distance from a romanticized concept of the trail that played a small or major role in how they came to the decision to stop or adapt mitigation techniques that kept them isolated from some of the trail trash. The reality of Hemingway stating "There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter" pales quickly to the reality of that activity, much as listening to a youngster throwing up a 1 in the morning having imbibed too much at a shelter bash will temper even the most resilient romanticized spiritual connection.

Yup.

4shot
08-15-2015, 09:22
I've avoided replying in this thread because I can't really speak to the thoughts or intentions of others. But I really do have to point out here that your reply sounds a bit disparaging. Because this is written text, without inflection or nuance, I will try not to assume too much implication from your words.

:)

g00gle, you make an excellent point. The act of actually thru hiking a long trail (any of them) is enjoyable, despite what you read here. What is not enjoyable is the tedious dissection and debate of thru hiking on the internet. One should try it for themselves, form their own conclusions, and disregard the naysayers. For a site that caters to the "AT enthusiast", some don't appear to be very enthusiastic at all whenever this topic is discussed.

are there things not to like about it? Of course, it is not nirvana. But, as in most human endeavors, the good far exceeds or out weighs the bad.

MuddyWaters
08-15-2015, 09:28
. For a site that caters to the "AT enthusiast", some don't appear to be very enthusiastic at all whenever this topic is discussed.

are there things not to like about it? Of course, it is not nirvana. But, as in most human endeavors, the good far exceeds or out weighs the bad.

Seems pretty obvious to me that many dont like what AT thru-hiking has become, or some of the type people that gravitate to it.

4shot
08-15-2015, 09:51
Seems pretty obvious to me that many dont like what AT thru-hiking has become, or some of the type people that gravitate to it.

I get that, and agree to a certain extent. But some people continually harp on these things and do not bring any balance into the conversation. as far as 'what it has become" it has evolved (and agreed, maybe not always for the better in some ways). But complaining about it will not restore it to the pristine days when Earl and Grandma and the first "pioneers" walked the thing. BTW,does anyone even recall who the "fourth" AT thru hiker was?
To me, the "thru hike" thing is like the 4 minute mile. After the first two or three people did it, everyone who followed was just merely doing what had been proven could be done...whether you hiked it in 1972, 1998 or 2014. It sounds like us old guys in my part of the woods talking about how good the bird hunting used to be round here. Well, the way it is now is the way it's going to be. You can either hike (or hunt) what is out there now or you can quit and spend time talking about the 'good ol' days" either down at the farmers coop or here on the internet.

Dogwood
08-15-2015, 19:57
4shot, yup.

Dogwood
08-15-2015, 20:04
It must have been a real non stop death march for some thru-hikers by the way they describe such horrors of AT thru-hiking which really is a hike by the blazes I'll do it like them let's play follow the leader type hiking. PCT is similar. What's not being balanced out is that LD hiking can actually be ENJOYED IN THE MOMENT NOT NOT as a SELFISH it is all about me me me endeavor.

g00gle
08-15-2015, 22:26
g00gle, you make an excellent point. The act of actually thru hiking a long trail (any of them) is enjoyable, despite what you read here. What is not enjoyable is the tedious dissection and debate of thru hiking on the internet. One should try it for themselves, form their own conclusions, and disregard the naysayers. For a site that caters to the "AT enthusiast", some don't appear to be very enthusiastic at all whenever this topic is discussed.

are there things not to like about it? Of course, it is not nirvana. But, as in most human endeavors, the good far exceeds or out weighs the bad.

Oh yeah, it took me a second, but I caught on to current around here on WB. Lots of complaints, lots of criticism, lots of opinion. But also a treasure trove of information after learning to read between lines and ask the right questions. There is alot of voices and a lot of thoughts, and sometimes I get a little carried away and toss mine out, too. But mostly I try to find information, even in the complaints and nostalgia. The way I figure it, I'm going to learn a great deal about the trail as soon as I'm there. If there are things I can learn from others instead of having to learn for myself, well, I'm all for it. Lots of grumbles here on this site and lots of praises, too. People are people. However, as of today, I am light years ahead of where I would have been without joining WB, and for that I am truly grateful! :)

Traveler
08-16-2015, 07:21
Opinions are going to vary in any topic, AT walking included. That some opinions will not change regardless of circumstances is human nature and will include criticisms and critiques of gear, behavior of people, weather, safety, and all sorts of little niches in this activity. Many of these "locked down" opinions define the edges of the debate or envelope of the issue, which is true in most of life. Opinions that work for that one individual but not another is a friction point of debate, Tipi Walter for example has some very strong opinions about pack loads exceeding 50 lbs that quickly sparks debate from anyone believing over 8 pounds is far too heavy.

In the clutter of this stuff, it's easy to make an assumption that this all means "some aren't very enthusiastic" about the activity, which given the unique nature of the forum itself is a bit silly to suggest. Most everyone here has something to offer and some opinions to share, exclaiming "they should try it" is a bit specious and presumes there is little experience between posters here. The trail is the trail, the forum is the forum, they are different and both require a bit of patience and allowances to disagree.

Each of us in our own way is very enthusiastic about hiking, we are equally as enthusiastic about trail craft, gear, and all sorts of things related to it. I find I learn far more from those I don't necessarily agree with than from those I do, so "nay-sayers" become the keys to doors I may not have considered opening before or more deeply examining something I am doing, carrying, or thinking. If one is unable to appreciate this, or fathom the nuanced differences of criticism and concepts from negativity and positivity, forums like these will remain a mystery.

BirdBrain
08-16-2015, 08:53
Oh yeah, it took me a second, but I caught on to current around here on WB. Lots of complaints, lots of criticism, lots of opinion. But also a treasure trove of information after learning to read between lines and ask the right questions. There is alot of voices and a lot of thoughts, and sometimes I get a little carried away and toss mine out, too. But mostly I try to find information, even in the complaints and nostalgia. The way I figure it, I'm going to learn a great deal about the trail as soon as I'm there. If there are things I can learn from others instead of having to learn for myself, well, I'm all for it. Lots of grumbles here on this site and lots of praises, too. People are people. However, as of today, I am light years ahead of where I would have been without joining WB, and for that I am truly grateful! :)

I am certain I am part of what you see. My problem (and I am not being cute, it is my problem) is that I defend people that are used in the specific to make abstract points. I do not mind abstract discussions. I believe they are needful. There is much to learn and be prepared for.

Allow me to provide an example that has not been discussed here. My step-father died in an accident in 1992. I will not list what type of accident, because the discussion that would start. I will say it was not pretty and caused quite a debate. An authority came to me and asked if his story could be used as a teachable moment. He listed the benefits and discussed how his story would be treated. I consented. I am not sure how much was learned because of all the Monday morning quarterbacking that followed.

People forget or don't care that real people are involved in the things they discuss. I know how it feels when people discuss someone you love as if they are a failed part on a car or worse attack their character by proxy. I am certain they would feel the same if it were their loved one. I swear there are people who sit at their keyboards a say, "let's see. how can I start a fire here and not get caught? this will be fun". It is just a blog and it is not my blog. Therefore, I am completely out of line when I get inflamed. I am trying.

g00gle
08-16-2015, 12:25
I am certain I am part of what you see.

While you do tend to get your beak stuck pretty deep in some topics, you are one of the commenters whose words I carefully consider when swimming through a discussion on WB.

As for everyone who starts or replies to topics here, sometimes it's just an opinion or belief about something, and I give it fleeting notice before moving along, opinion or belief rarely provide me any benefit. Other times someone leaves a remark or response to something that either totally contradicts what I thought or shines light on something I had not even considered yet - and that's where the gold is.

The Scott Jurek debates and arguments over the sample size of statistics are... Well, when you guys and gals debate gear selection or point out that both tarp or tent campers need to select their site VERY carefully for reasons beyond LNT, well, those are the debates that give honey (no matter who's right!)

Whatever. Bird, I often enjoy your musings and certainly your OCD approach to planning (and I'm sure I'm not the only one.)

BirdBrain
08-16-2015, 12:44
@ g00gle. I would do well to limit my comments to providing information and my silly OCD tendencies. Most, including me, think they deserve laughing at.

By the way, I love your signature and the section it makes fun of.

Cobble
08-18-2015, 12:16
I thought native americans just walked around it..

unless of course they wanted some ice in their summer drink...

Lnj
08-18-2015, 13:38
Given that I have only ever hiked Blood Mtn, some may find it silly for me to even weigh in here, but I will anyway. I plan to section hike just the GA to NC part this coming May with my husband. The only reason we aren't planning to thru-hike is simply because our lives will not allow for it. We both have full time 9 to 5s and 2 teens at home, and bills and pets and responsibilities that can't be dropped for 6 months. But one day...... And this is why (and I will only speak for myself here) I WANT to do it.... Yes, of course, the obvious reasons... I love the woods. I do have a funky kind of appreciation for the beauty of trees that my husband laughs at. I LOVE the mere possibility of maybe catching a glimpse of some animal, however small and non-ferocious, in the wild, I like to tent camp, I like being away from a computer, a cell phone, a TV... noise makers of all kinds. But the REAL reason I WANT to do it.... Its hard (for me at least). I am heavy and getting older and out of shape and it will push me and scare me and likely make me mad, both at myself and most assuredly at my husband at some point, and hurt my feelings and my body while it helps me and strengthens me and reminds me of the good I have in my gut and the will power that I possess. It will open my eyes to weaknesses I don't know I have as well as a strength I don't even recognize. It will remind me of what it feels like to FEEL EVERYTHING. Our world is so congested with conveniences that make our lives easier and "softer" in one way and at the same time it is excruciatingly harder in so many others, and I think I am getting desensitized to the world I live in. I am getting soul calluses. That's my real reason, though I am likely several years away from being able to attempt it. I guess to sum it all up... I want to prove to myself that I can do it, that it is really hard, but I can do it anyway.....for whatever that is worth.