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View Full Version : Where is Wild Cowboy?



earlyriser26
04-15-2008, 11:12
Only 2 weeks away from his historic hike! I will be in VA hiking May 8 -10, but he should be past Pearisburg by then......:banana

ChinMusic
04-15-2008, 11:19
I hope this doesn't turn into another bash Wild Cowboy thread.

We know he can't do the pace he posted. I just hope he adjusts his plans and has fun.

Freeleo
04-15-2008, 11:20
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:p4HsTtqPiuoaqM:http://filmmakermagazine.com/webexclusives/uploaded_images/Midnight_Cowboy-738245.jpg

I hope he makes time for the ladies on the trail :)

earlyriser26
04-15-2008, 11:29
I just want to see him at least try. start out slow and see if you can put in a 70 mile day.

Mags
04-15-2008, 11:33
I hope WC ends up doing a hike that finds enjoyable.

CaseyB
04-15-2008, 11:34
My Dad & I are running sweep for Cowboy, starting May 3rd. I will update Whiteblaze concerning the size and scope of his speed-induced dust cloud.;)

earlyriser26
04-15-2008, 11:37
I would rather take 7 months to hike the trail and finish, than hike 40 miles in one day and quit

Freeleo
04-15-2008, 11:45
its is actually 70 miles per day unless he has changed his tune

earlyriser26
04-15-2008, 12:49
I know, but I don't think he could even do one 70 mile day. My guess is 40 and out

Appalachian Tater
04-15-2008, 13:22
Shame he was so discouraged here. My guess is he dropped the whole idea.

Hikerhead
04-15-2008, 17:49
If he did drop the whole idea, that was probably a good thing.

Lilred
04-15-2008, 19:36
I agree with Hikerhead. Sometimes, discouraging someone from doing something that could get them hurt is a good idea.....

Blue Jay
04-15-2008, 19:39
Only 2 weeks away from his historic hike! I will be in VA hiking May 8 -10, but he should be past Pearisburg by then......:banana

He started early to escape you bozos. I passed him near the West Mt. Shelter in NY. He is going soooo fast a skunk sprayed him and he out ran it.

ed bell
04-15-2008, 20:13
Shame he was so discouraged here. My guess is he dropped the whole idea.Plenty tried to help him. At least one spent quite a bit of time with private correspondence. Beyond that, how could those who tried to persuade him to moderate his goal be blamed for anything. The heavy handed dose of reality provided by some should have been a cakewalk considering his goal.

wilconow
04-15-2008, 20:24
I don't think it's a shame that people are discouraged here when they should be.

Appalachian Tater
04-15-2008, 20:26
Reality would have hit an hour off Springer. He might have ended up with a nice spring and summer on the trail. I'm not really criticizing anyone here or blaming them for him getting discouraged, I razzed him a bit myself. But it's still a shame he got discouraged and dropped the whole idea.

Slimer
04-15-2008, 20:30
So he's actually said that he will not be attempting his walk?

Frolicking Dinosaurs
04-15-2008, 20:34
For his sake, I hope he will revise his goal. I don't want to see him get injured or emotionally crushed.

Montego
04-15-2008, 21:37
I sincerely hope that Wild Cowboy hikes easy and honors his mother by seeing the things she couldn't see, rather than doing the things he couldn't do.

Blissful
04-15-2008, 22:42
I still hope he hikes the whole thing, even without the high miles. He really needs to after that news broadcast about his hike. Turn it into a positive experience. It's a great trail and a great adventure.

Hikerhead
04-15-2008, 23:03
I still hope he hikes the whole thing, even without the high miles. He really needs to after that news broadcast about his hike. Turn it into a positive experience. It's a great trail and a great adventure.

I agree.

slow
04-16-2008, 02:06
Just SAD that on the first threads MOST ALL bashed him.Now they care for his saftey and to enjoy.:(

Lilred
04-16-2008, 08:31
Funny, I don't recall 'most all' bashing him. I do recall many people letting him know his plan was unrealistic and his training for his plan was inadequate. If you call that bashing, well ok then.

Panzer1
04-16-2008, 08:41
I hope this doesn't turn into another bash Wild Cowboy thread.

Christ, not this stupid thread again....:eek:

Panzer

Frolicking Dinosaurs
04-16-2008, 09:19
Slow, WildCowboy made some pretty outrageous statements about what his plans and goals would be (hike the entire AT in 30 days)- and he was adamant that he was superhuman and could do the impossible. He was challenged by a lot of people and in a lot of different ways - some not so nice.

This site has a lot of experienced backpackers - some who are in peak shape. That such individuals tell a poster that hiking the AT at the rate of 70 miles per day is not possible is not mean - it is the truth. A person attempting to do this would soon learn it could not be done and would likely be injured in the process.

Appalachian Tater
04-16-2008, 09:39
The only thing certain is that someone who believes it to be impossible will never do it.

taildragger
04-16-2008, 10:01
The only thing certain is that someone who believes it to be impossible will never do it.


Some people are willing to try as hard as they can to prove it wrong, and in the end, prove it right.

BTW, where is that image of what he looked like? I met someone near Phoenix who was hauling arse on the trail, whilst wearing a cowboy hat, and seeming a little nutty, thought it might be him.

clured
04-16-2008, 10:20
I'm all for the pursuit of excellence, but at a certain point it becomes irresponsible not to administer a little dose of healthy mockery to shatter someone's rabid delusion. If someone came on and said that he/she wanted to average 40's unsupported, I'd be very supportive, but 70 miles a day is just out of the realm of what is physiologically possible. It's like a 125-pound guy saying that he wants to benchpress 800 pounds.

envirodiver
04-16-2008, 11:33
If he were so sure of himself, he should be out there proving his doubters wrong...and then give them all a big Nana...nana...boo...boo, when he does.

Still not sure why someone would want to do that...I'm out there because I love to see, smell and feel the beauty of the trails. Hard to do any of that if you are walking at 5 mph.

Appalachian Tater
04-16-2008, 12:22
I'm all for the pursuit of excellence, but at a certain point it becomes irresponsible not to administer a little dose of healthy mockery to shatter someone's rabid delusion. If someone came on and said that he/she wanted to average 40's unsupported, I'd be very supportive, but 70 miles a day is just out of the realm of what is physiologically possible. It's like a 125-pound guy saying that he wants to benchpress 800 pounds.

His delusion would be shattered by reality, not by mockery.

jersey joe
04-16-2008, 14:19
I agree with you a bit here Tater, People were too harsh on Cowboy and his persuit, however, he should have had a thicker skin about the whole thing. People made a mockery of Columbus for being crazy too, but he battled through the criticism and avoided falling off the end of the globe.

slow
04-17-2008, 00:00
Do you see who has posted here....let's see who of MANY come clean on the first post by W.C.

ed bell
05-01-2008, 01:28
Do you see who has posted here....let's see who of MANY come clean on the first post by W.C.Agreed.

zeal
05-01-2008, 01:42
People made a mockery of Columbus for being crazy too, but he battled through the criticism and avoided falling off the end of the globe.

Columbus was crazy. He enslaved and killed countless natives and forced his religion upon them. If thats not crazy please tell me what is.

Tin Man
05-01-2008, 08:27
Columbus was crazy. He enslaved and killed countless natives and forced his religion upon them. If thats not crazy please tell me what is.

Talking politics or religion around the campfire...or here for that matter...and expecting to win any converts. :-?

zeal
05-01-2008, 08:31
this thread will be dead after today anyway so relax

jersey joe
05-01-2008, 08:32
Columbus was crazy. He enslaved and killed countless natives and forced his religion upon them. If thats not crazy please tell me what is.
I won't argue that columbus was not crazy, he may have been, but he was not crazy for thinking the world was round, he was right.

Tin Man
05-01-2008, 08:48
this thread will be dead after today anyway so relax

But there may be sightings for the next 30 days. I was going to setup a watering/photo op station at the NY/CT border. If someone has the calculation of when that should be, please let me know.

The Old Fhart
05-01-2008, 08:59
Tin Man-"If someone has the calculation of when that should be, please let me know."I have it that he will be there 19.88 days after his start time, give or take a few minutes.

Tin Man
05-01-2008, 09:09
I have it that he will be there 19.88 days after his start time, give or take a few minutes.

Thanks. I'll get my "Welcome to New England" sign ready.

taildragger
05-01-2008, 09:13
I won't argue that columbus was not crazy, he may have been, but he was not crazy for thinking the world was round, he was right.

People already knew that the world was round. He was crazy for thinking that it was only a fraction of its real size with no real good foundation for his thoughts, which were in direct conflict with the thinking of the time as well (for size, not shape)

SGT Rock
05-01-2008, 09:28
The way it was explained to me: Columbus did not argue the world was round - everyone already knew that. He argued it was smaller than it really was. His logic was he could sail across the ocean and find India 14,000 miles from where everyone knew where it really was. That is why no one backed him. Well almost no one.

So he found enough backing from others that also didn't understand the science of the time. He sailed across the ocean and found land and declared it to be India. He went home, told everyone he proved himself right, and threatened anyone that said he must have found some other land because it couldn't possibly be India.

The reason America is named after Amerigo Vespucci he basically is credited with determining it wasn't India but a new continent. If Columbus had been more open to listening to others and declared it a new continent instead of insisting he was still right - we would be Columbia instead of America.

So Columbus was a nut.

Tin Man
05-01-2008, 09:38
So Columbus was a nut - not disputing that, but how long do you think people will be talking about Wild Cowboy? :-?

mudhead
05-01-2008, 09:42
Talk to me about Wild Cowgirl. Woof! Oink!

SGT Rock
05-01-2008, 09:47
So Columbus was a nut - not disputing that, but how long do you think people will be talking about Wild Cowboy? :-?
For years. It will be the thing in 2033: "Hey, you remember that guy that wanted to thru-hike the trail in 30 days? What was his name? The guy should have waited for those Honda hydrogen powered cybernetic boots to come out - then he would have had a chance."

River Runner
05-03-2008, 00:29
Any sightings yet? He should have passed through the Franklin area before noon today. Did you catch a blur on the horizon Ron?

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/sport018.gif

slow
05-03-2008, 14:33
He's still waiting on you.:-?

River Runner
05-03-2008, 15:22
He's still waiting on you.:-?

Might be a long wait then. :rolleyes:

max patch
05-03-2008, 15:42
He caught up to georgia girl live.

Hasn't been seen since.

Frosty
05-03-2008, 17:53
Do you see who has posted here....let's see who of MANY come clean on the first post by W.C.Maybe WC is too busy to post right now. He intends to hike 71 miles a day. Averaging 3 mph, that is hiking 23 hours and 40 minutes a day just to hike. He needs those left over 20 minutes a day to make and break camp, eat, sleep, hitch to town for re-supply, etc etc. It doesn't leave a lot a lot of time to be posting on the internet.

To recap his hike so far:

It's Day Three of his hike.

On Thursday he did all of Georgia.

Yesterday he went from Bly Gap to about 10 miles past the NOC. Not bad, less than two days from Springer to the NOC.

Today, his third hiking day, he should be about done with the Smokies.

My guess is he'll be too busy to post until June 1, when he will post and say he did it, hiked the AT in 30 days, averaging 71 miles every day by hiking 3 mph for 23 hours and 40 milutes a day.

Then I suppose we who doubted him will have to admit we were wrong. Until then, leave us to our ignorance.

Panzer1
05-03-2008, 18:28
I don't know anyone who seen him yet. We'll see as time goes on if anyone we know has seen him.

Frosty might be right, that someday he will just announce that he has done the trail in 30 days, and that its our fault that we didn't see him on the trail.

Panzer

Tin Man
05-03-2008, 18:39
Speedy Gonzales could only be seen when he stopped to say something. Given Wild Cowboy's lack of communication here, I suspect he has nothing to say, besides he won't have time to stop and chat.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/TinManCT/SBzpKlz1O2I/AAAAAAAAAOY/J39kKi55YYo/s144/Speedy.jpg

SGT Rock
05-03-2008, 18:56
Well he was going to sew a GPS in his pack so he could verify he did it.

Tin Man
05-03-2008, 19:03
My money is on Speedgoat Karl

Hikerhead
05-03-2008, 19:05
We need to get that reporter who did that story on him to do a follow-up.

slow
05-03-2008, 23:25
He should be at icewater by midnight.

HikerRanky
05-05-2008, 10:28
We need to get that reporter who did that story on him to do a follow-up.

I've contacted the reporter via email to see about getting a follow up....

HikerRanky
05-05-2008, 10:33
He should be at icewater by midnight.

And of course, you can provide documentation in the form of others on the trail that have seen him?

Or you can provide the URL to the web site that is tracking the GPS Device that was sewn into his pack when he started on this world record attempt?

I truly do hope that he is out on the trail, and not still in AZ.... Even if he doesn't break the record, the fact is that he was doing this for his mother.... What a great Mother's Day gift!

A-Train
05-05-2008, 13:01
Hasn't everyone ragged on this guy enough already?

Most likely he's not out there, and you guys know that.

If he is, we'll eventually hear about it.

Give the guy a break, we already ran him off this site.

jersey joe
05-05-2008, 13:45
My money is on Speedgoat Karl
Seriously, I give this guy a 50/50 shot at breaking the record.

Tin Man
05-05-2008, 17:40
Seriously, I give this guy a 50/50 shot at breaking the record.

Sounds like he is the ultra-marathoner of ultra-marathons. Only injury will stop this guy. Stand aside when he is coming thru.

Lone Wolf
05-05-2008, 20:34
he WILL break the supported record

MOWGLI
05-05-2008, 20:48
Hasn't everyone ragged on this guy enough already?



Clearly not.

slow
05-05-2008, 21:38
I dont know if he is on trail or not.But sure hope he is and doing fine.

Panzer1
05-06-2008, 01:21
Well he was going to sew a GPS in his pack so he could verify he did it.

I could never figure out exactly how that was supposed to work. I have a Garmin 750 GPS and you could not do anything like that.

Panzer

earlyriser26
05-06-2008, 07:59
I'm heading out to Pearisburg VA on Wed. If I time it right I just might catch WC.

jersey joe
05-06-2008, 08:38
he WILL break the supported record
If I had to bet, i'd say he will too...BUT...there are too many variables to say he will for sure. Weather is a BIG X-factor as is health. Either way, I look forward to following his progress down the trail.

SGT Rock
05-06-2008, 08:47
I could never figure out exactly how that was supposed to work. I have a Garmin 750 GPS and you could not do anything like that.

Panzer
Neither did I. I think he didn't pu a lot of thought into a statement about how he could be verified and had to come up with something on the fly. The link he provided for a GPS wouldn't have worked for what he was planning.

Tin Man
05-06-2008, 10:23
Neither did I. I think he didn't pu a lot of thought into a statement about how he could be verified and had to come up with something on the fly. The link he provided for a GPS wouldn't have worked for what he was planning.

If you are referring to GPS tracking units, they are out there and they work...

http://www.pimall.com/nais/quicktrakpro.html

SGT Rock
05-06-2008, 10:24
I know they do. I am refering to the one he posted that he planned to use. You gotta dig in the archives to find that one.

Tin Man
05-06-2008, 10:29
Silly me, of course you know about GPS trackers --> they are almost as good as spouses knowing how to track you down. ;)

jersey joe
05-06-2008, 10:32
I'm not sure what WC was going to use for tracking, but Speed Goat Karl says he just got sponsored by "SPOT" who will be tracking his whereabouts...
http://www.spotgpspersonaltracker.com/

Tin Man
05-06-2008, 10:50
Neither did I. I think he didn't pu a lot of thought into a statement about how he could be verified and had to come up with something on the fly. The link he provided for a GPS wouldn't have worked for what he was planning.

Refresh my memory, was there ANY thought put into his statements about how he was going to do 74 miles per day?

SGT Rock
05-06-2008, 14:53
Refresh my memory, was there ANY thought put into his statements about how he was going to do 74 miles per day?
I think he had thought about 2175/30=71.2 MPD. And then a list of shelters where you could stay that approximated that schedule.

taildragger
05-06-2008, 14:55
I think he had thought about 2175/30=71.2 MPD. And then a list of shelters where you could stay that approximated that schedule.

Or he planned on taking a total of 1/2 of a day off

warraghiyagey
05-06-2008, 15:43
Or he planned on taking a total of 1/2 of a day off

A 35.75 mile NERO?:-?

Panzer1
05-12-2008, 19:28
he WILL break the supported record

If he did break the record, no one would believe him. His word is worth nothing here on WB. He trashed it himself. You have to have a certain amount of creditability to be believed.

Panzer

taildragger
05-12-2008, 19:33
If he did break the record, no one would believe him. His word is worth nothing here on WB. He trashed it himself. You have to have a certain amount of creditability to be believed.

Panzer

He's talking about the marathon runner thats going after the supported record here shortly.

Roland
05-12-2008, 19:34
If he did break the record, no one would believe him. His word is worth nothing here on WB. He trashed it himself. You have to have a certain amount of creditability to be believed.

Panzer

I don't think Lone Wolf was talking about WC. For a moment, the topic had switched to Speedgoat Karl (http://karlmeltzer.com/?cat=5).

Roland
05-12-2008, 19:35
Taildragger is faster than I am. I must really be dragging tail. ;)

SGT Rock
05-12-2008, 20:12
I heard WildCowboy already finished. 18 days ahead of schedule.

sherrill
05-12-2008, 20:17
All that wind last weekend was the blur of WC going past.... :D

Panzer1
05-13-2008, 01:53
I don't think Lone Wolf was talking about WC. For a moment, the topic had switched to Speedgoat Karl (http://karlmeltzer.com/?cat=5).

Sorry. My bad

Panzer

Tin Man
05-13-2008, 06:50
Dang! And I thought 72 miles per day right through mud season in New England was going to be some accomplishment.