Doctari
06-23-2016, 16:30
During a ride this year, a shuttle driver in VA told a story of hikers in a "hiker friendly bar" of some SOBOS & NOBOS actually getting into a fight over what direction was "BEST", to the point of hikers are no longer welcome at this bar. I was in the very rear of the van so didn't hear all of the details, like: when, name of the bar, etc. However, this seems quite the STUPID thing to fight over IMHO.
The miles hiked are EXACTLY the same!!! The Elevation gain & loss is EXACTLY the same!!! Some things are easier or harder if you are going NOBO & some things are easier or harder if going SOBO!
Yes, it is fun to do some good natured digging at each other, as long as we all realize it's only hiking & if you have put one foot in front of the other for nearly 2200 miles, it doesn't really matter which direction you are pointed when you put your feet in front of each other. In fact, there are places along the AT where, no matter which way you are headed, your compass will say you are going the other.
SO, these hikers ruined it for everyone who follows & over what?
SOBO or NOBO, IT REALLY DOSENT MATTER!! Choose the direction that suites you & go for it! As you pass someone going the other direction, be happy for them, THEY ARE OUT THERE HIKING!! Want to hike a flip flop? COOL, go for it!!
Section hiking? Good for you! Thru hiking? Good for you! Both have their plusses & minuses & that doesn't matter either!
Try to be civil to each other out there, you never know who is watching.
Got a favorite: Hostel, waterfall, road crossing, etc, & you meet someone who doesn't like that particular "Whatever" SO WHAT!! Maybe they were at the hostel on a bad day (them or staff) or twisted an ankle at the waterfall, or ??????? Or maybe it's the reverse & you really had a (to you at least) bad experience at the hostelwaterfallroadcrossing! Let it go! It was a way to make you stronger without killing you. :-) Long distance hiking is hard sometimes & sometimes we just have a bad day regardless.
Here's to never hearing a similar story again!!
The miles hiked are EXACTLY the same!!! The Elevation gain & loss is EXACTLY the same!!! Some things are easier or harder if you are going NOBO & some things are easier or harder if going SOBO!
Yes, it is fun to do some good natured digging at each other, as long as we all realize it's only hiking & if you have put one foot in front of the other for nearly 2200 miles, it doesn't really matter which direction you are pointed when you put your feet in front of each other. In fact, there are places along the AT where, no matter which way you are headed, your compass will say you are going the other.
SO, these hikers ruined it for everyone who follows & over what?
SOBO or NOBO, IT REALLY DOSENT MATTER!! Choose the direction that suites you & go for it! As you pass someone going the other direction, be happy for them, THEY ARE OUT THERE HIKING!! Want to hike a flip flop? COOL, go for it!!
Section hiking? Good for you! Thru hiking? Good for you! Both have their plusses & minuses & that doesn't matter either!
Try to be civil to each other out there, you never know who is watching.
Got a favorite: Hostel, waterfall, road crossing, etc, & you meet someone who doesn't like that particular "Whatever" SO WHAT!! Maybe they were at the hostel on a bad day (them or staff) or twisted an ankle at the waterfall, or ??????? Or maybe it's the reverse & you really had a (to you at least) bad experience at the hostelwaterfallroadcrossing! Let it go! It was a way to make you stronger without killing you. :-) Long distance hiking is hard sometimes & sometimes we just have a bad day regardless.
Here's to never hearing a similar story again!!