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Trail Dog
03-17-2006, 04:36
Well this guy is still at it. He aint exactly on a nature walk, its all highways and roads for him but still puts one foot in front of the other just like us.

We need to figure out where he will cross the AT on his way to NY, figure somewhere in Harriman Park probally in NJ or maybe in PA. We should set up a little reverse trail Majic at the AT crossing for him.

2818 miles in total with only 553 to go.

http://www.thefatmanwalking.com/

Toolshed
03-17-2006, 12:32
I just sent an email asking him if he would be intersted in getting on the AT for 40-50 miles when he passes my area between Allentown and DWG.

Fat Man Walking
03-19-2006, 18:36
While my trail name is Fat Man Walking and I wish that I could claim the fortitude that this gentleman obviously has, I am not THAT fatman walking.

However, from one Fat Man Walking to the other, Keep on Keepin' on Brother! You are THE MAN!!!!

:banana

Tractor
03-19-2006, 18:48
Hey Fat Man Walking. I can't imagine us doing sections beside blacktop. Can you imagine all those cheeseburgers and pizza we'd have to walk past.... I'm walking around the house with my hiking poles and moving gear about like it will go stale if it sits too long. Must hike soon! Maybe I'll finish Pinhoti next. Try to get a few days off and come along. It's all relative. t

Alligator
05-09-2006, 23:05
He was due to walk into NYC today.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1937617&page=1

His site says 5:30 p.m.
http://www.thefatmanwalking.com/

Maybe he'll yo-yo:eek: .

Nean
05-10-2006, 01:08
Well, he made it.:) Said he lost about a 100 lbs.:rolleyes: I'll bet you a double cheeseburger he puts that back on, and then some, in the next few months.:o I wish him well, but after reading some about him, I dont think he could hike the AT.:(

TOW
05-10-2006, 09:54
saw him on today this morn, says he might be turning around and walking all the way back home............

KirkMcquest
05-10-2006, 10:32
I'm amazed that a man that heavy, could walk that far on hard top. His feet must be one giant callous.

Green Bean
05-10-2006, 10:42
WOnder how many shoes he went through?? ~GB

lobster
05-10-2006, 11:06
If he doesn't conquer his personal demons, 100 pounds could easily be gained in 2 months.

Just Jeff
05-10-2006, 14:28
"Vaught says he's gone through tens of pair of shoes while suffering everything from massive blisters to stress fractures."

Green Bean
05-10-2006, 21:40
I don't how much this man weighed but I saw him on the 7 o' clock news every once and awhile and he looked like he was pretty heavy set. For walking 3000 miles and only losing 100 pounds. I dont no this doesnt really sound like a lot to me. He must have been eating a lot or munching out when the camera wasnt on him. ~GB

Toolshed
05-11-2006, 10:25
He came through Lehigh Valley a coupkle of days ago and is finsihing in the next day or so. My local paper ran a story yesterday and I guess he went from 410 to 305 pounds

Pickles
05-11-2006, 12:53
There is another person with a similar story who started his journey more recently. He started in St Louis and is heading East. Last time I checked he was in Ohio. When he gets to the East Coast he is planning on flying to the West Coast and then walking home.

http://www.afatmansjourney.com/

DaSchwartz
05-12-2006, 17:17
There is another person with a similar story who started his journey more recently. He started in St Louis and is heading East. Last time I checked he was in Ohio. When he gets to the East Coast he is planning on flying to the West Coast and then walking home.

http://www.afatmansjourney.com/

And this one is a fraud and a copycat of the original fat man walking site. Steve Vaught ( www.afatmanwalking.com ) even had to get an attorney to get Gary Long to take down his original page of www.afatmanwalking2.com.

Gary Long then put up a site called www.afatmansjourney.com I don't know if Steve Vaught is going to sue to take that one down or not.

Gary Long also receives a military pension and social security disability while walking but solicits donations. He's a fraud and a copycat of the original Fat Man Walking.

The original fat man walking Steve Vaught is a true inspiration

lobster
05-13-2006, 10:22
"True inspiration" might be going too far.

Ridge
05-13-2006, 13:03
From the TV clip I saw of the "Fatman" finishing, I would have to say he hasn't gone quite far enough!

Alligator
05-13-2006, 13:12
From the TV clip I saw of the "Fatman" finishing, I would have to say he hasn't gone quite far enough!
He did a lot better than you did on your last alleged hike cyberboy. Figure out your scanner yet?

Ridge
05-13-2006, 13:28
He did a lot better than you did on your last alleged hike cyberboy. Figure out your scanner yet?


I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.

saimyoji
05-13-2006, 16:46
He did a lot better than you did on your last alleged hike cyberboy. Figure out your scanner yet?
I must have missed this drama. Care to post some links backing up your claim?
Woo-hoo...another WB flame fest. I think we need some dancing bananas...


:banana:banana:banana:banana

Alligator
05-13-2006, 19:42
I must have missed this drama. Care to post some links backing up your claim?
Woo-hoo...another WB flame fest. I think we need some dancing bananas...


:banana:banana:banana:bananaNot my claim to back up. Ridge was allegedly on the PCT last year. But Ridge had a serious compromise of his WB account so a lot of his posts are suspect. Given the false photo previously posted under his name, it is only fair to wonder what else is fictional in his resume.

Regardless, Ridge admittedly didn't finish the PCT, so it's definitely uncalled for to be busting on the Fatman.

Alligator
05-13-2006, 20:10
I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.Can you pronounce this "OCDD". Obsessive Compulsive Dog Disorder. Get help.

Frolicking Dinosaurs
05-13-2006, 23:17
::: off to get a stick and some marshmellows :::

KirkMcquest
05-14-2006, 00:50
He came through Lehigh Valley a coupkle of days ago and is finsihing in the next day or so. My local paper ran a story yesterday and I guess he went from 410 to 305 pounds

Maybe if he were to walk back again, he might lose another hundred.:-?

Toolshed
05-14-2006, 15:13
And this one is a fraud and a copycat of the original fat man walking site....Gary Long then put up a site called www.afatmansjourney.com I don't know if Steve Vaught is going to sue to take that one down or not. ....Gary Long also receives a military pension and social security disability while walking but solicits donations. He's a fraud and a copycat of the original Fat Man Walking.

Wow Dude!!! Lighten up. I just read Long's journals and he give a lot of credit to Steve Vaught.
Seems like you got your panties in a real wad over this - Why so bitter and twisted??
You do know that just because someone did something once, It can be done again.....by someone else...... What is the issue??

Maybe 1,000 will take to walking across America. If they do then I wish each of them great success

Pickles
05-18-2006, 09:56
(Quote from DaSchwartz... Gary Long also receives a military pension and social security disability while walking but solicits donations. He's a fraud and a copycat of the original Fat Man Walking.)


I'm not sure why DaSchwartz is so angry... Gary Long may not be the first fat person to walk cross country, but at least he is doing something to improve his health. Not many of us can say we have ever been the first to do anything. Lighten up!

Vapour
10-23-2006, 16:36
Update on Steve:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060917-9999-2m17vaught.html

and he's now on wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Vaught

Looks like the truth is out. He only lost 40 pounds. And has regained it all back already. How embarassing.

mrc237
10-23-2006, 17:09
And truly sad

Vapour
10-23-2006, 17:31
And truly sad
Sad, yes. But I can't feel sorry for him, he does not seem to have been completely truthful about his weight all along. Also, even the documentary producer who was with him most of the way is skeptical of Steve's claims that he walked every mile:

"Interviews, online journals and a timeline of his progress provided by the documentary film crew have raised serious questions about whether Vaught in fact walked every inch of the way."
Cite: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052502253.html

Gaiter
10-23-2006, 18:07
how does everyone feel about him now? His wife realized something was up when he was walking 150mile days, the bank foreclosed on their house, his wife divorced him, all his book deals fell through?

When I first heard this story, i was so happy, to hear about an obese person walking so far. But on the first or second day of my hike when i found out the truth about him, it made me wonder if i could do my 2-month hike. (luckly, to my family and friends supprise, i did it!!!)
what he did is really a sad story.

Vapour
10-23-2006, 21:47
how does everyone feel about him now? His wife realized something was up when he was walking 150mile days, the bank foreclosed on their house, his wife divorced him, all his book deals fell through?

When I first heard this story, i was so happy, to hear about an obese person walking so far. But on the first or second day of my hike when i found out the truth about him, it made me wonder if i could do my 2-month hike. (luckly, to my family and friends supprise, i did it!!!)
what he did is really a sad story.

The most recent article I could find is here:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060917-9999-2m17vaught.html

What I don't like is his lawsuit threats again other obese people who were so inspired (at first anyway) by his walk that they too are endeavoring to walk across America. Quote:

Quote: "Steve is relaxed as well as savvy. In the Forum Steak, Pizza and Spaghetti
House we were joined by his lawyer to discuss plagiarism strategies".
Cite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4857134.stm

He has also threatened lawsuits against Gary Long (http://www.afatmansjourney.com/) for being a "copycat", now that Gary has lost more weight than Vaught in half the time/distance on his current cross-country trek.

Not cool.

Lion King
10-23-2006, 21:48
When I read the backpacker article about how he shot and killed the first rattlesnake he saw, well...that did it for me.

Im a fatman walking...well, I was...Im down 80 pounds since Campo...maybe Oprah will call me.:banana

LoneWolf made some DRASTIC and incredibly succesful changes to his large frame from a few years ago. By seeing him now you would never know he had gotten so out of shape, but he did it just chilling on the creeper and drinking at DOTS :D ...and he is still in top notch shape, he didnt get a book deal...or did he????????????????

LW, my hero.

Vapour
10-24-2006, 18:31
When I read the backpacker article about how he shot and killed the first rattlesnake he saw, well...that did it for me.


Yeah, and he's supposedly an ex-marine?

One of the things that struck me early on was that he didn't bother to even do some googling on today's backpacking gear/skills. NOT saying that he needed 1000's of $$ worth of high-end stuff ( an outfitter gave him everything for free anyway). But take a look at this photo, entitled "Steve Vaught applies bug spray to his tent after waking up just outside of Barstow"

Photo here: http://photos.signonsandiego.com/gallery1.5/bigambitions/ECwalking240161x008

What on earth??? :confused: Did he do ANY reading about backpacking at all? First, why is he carrying a big CAN of bug spray?? Secondly, why is he spraying it on his tent? And third, it says he is doing this upon waking one morning...umm right, that's part of my backcountry morning ritual...not.

He didn't bother to learn anything, then biatched about his 85 pound pack for the entire first part of the walk.

DaSchwartz
12-15-2006, 05:01
Updated
www.thefatmanwalking.com (http://www.thefatmanwalking.com)

Really sad. But he did it all to himself. And he's close to 400 pounds again and if you read his journal, he really is suffering from depression.

The other guy walking - Gary Long
www.afatmansjourney.com (http://www.afatmansjourney.com)

is turning out better, and he has lost a lot of weight, but also has allowed himself to be commericialized.

TOW
12-15-2006, 09:05
Update on Steve:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060917-9999-2m17vaught.html

and he's now on wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Vaught

Looks like the truth is out. He only lost 40 pounds. And has regained it all back already. How embarassing.just read the link, very sad but I see Steve walking through this also...........

Frolicking Dinosaurs
12-15-2006, 09:08
TOW got sort of the same feeling I did about the journal - seems he has hit the bottom is on his way back up.