View Full Version : Famous Thru-Hikers
Anyone know anyone "famous" out there who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail? I happened to be on one of my favorite band's website, The Books, and saw that one member of that band actually thru-hiked a few years back. (This band is great and I would suggest checking them out if you are interested in blending of acoustic/electric and found sound sampling. That's the best description I can give, but yeah, they are super-awesome. But they are not really like "FAMOUS".) Just wondering if anyone out there knows any people that are well-known that have thru-hiked. This is something I was wondering while I was attempting a thru-hike in '09. Thanks.
Al Roker and Abe Vigoda yo-yoed together.
Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
John Mackey, founder and CEO of Whole Foods.
MyFeetHurt
04-03-2010, 09:03
duh... Switchback in '06
Jack Tarlin. He used to be famous. :D
Jack Tarlin. He used to be famous. :D
I thought he and Abe Vigoda were dead? :)
kayak karl
04-03-2010, 18:01
Gene Epsy, had lunch with him once. a real down to earth guy.
I thought he and Abe Vigoda were dead? :)
Jack's alive. I just saw him a few minutes ago. Haven't seen Abe Vigoda though.
VTATHiker
04-03-2010, 18:47
Jack's alive. I just saw him a few minutes ago. Haven't seen Abe Vigoda though.
http://www.abevigoda.com/
Still tickin'!
a woman once complained about a story I has written. Her admonition. "You need to be more careful. You're more than a newspaper reporter, you're a famous television personality."
She was referring to Maine Week, a Maine version of Washington Week in Review, that I was invited to appear on every four or five weeks. I usually agreed. Afterall, I only had to drive for two hours, spend two hours in the studio, and I got paid $20. And yes, I did an almost thru hike 18 years ago.
Weary
Dave, last season's winner of Hell's Kitchen.
lloyd528
04-04-2010, 19:16
Al Roker and Abe Vigoda yo-yoed together.
For real...Al Roker? Sometimes I have a hard time reading through sarcasm.
fredmugs
04-07-2010, 13:03
Rosie O'Donnell:D
LMAO. She's probably thru hiked a few buffets.
Jester2000
04-07-2010, 13:29
I'm famous. Or maybe infamous.
This guy...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/3874686928_afaac3abb9.jpg
Bill Irwin is the most famous I know of outside the Trail community. He wrote "Blind Courage".
Plus Marta, of course.
Bill Irwin is the most famous I know of outside the Trail community. He wrote "Blind Courage".
Plus Marta, of course.
Plus Jan Liteshoe and Blissful, of course. [both accomplished writers and thru-hikers]
Bill Irwin is the most famous I know of outside the Trail community. He wrote "Blind Courage".
Plus Marta, of course.
Aren't you about to hop of a westbound plane, Mango?
Have a great hike!
twocents
04-08-2010, 00:14
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2009/0623/sanford-disappears-to-hike-appalachian-trail-on-naked-hiking-day
SC Gov Sanford
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2009/0623/sanford-disappears-to-hike-appalachian-trail-on-naked-hiking-day
SC Gov Sanford
The question used the word "famous," not infamous. :D
ccathcart72
04-08-2010, 13:35
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2009/0623/sanford-disappears-to-hike-appalachian-trail-on-naked-hiking-day
SC Gov Sanford
I'm from SC and I couldn't stop laughing when i read this. You can be famous in a good way or a bad way. For Sanford it is not good.
Dave, last season's winner of Hell's Kitchen.
Really? I love that show. When did he do it? Did he ever prepare a few goodies for folks in the shelters? Collect his own food? Keep a journal?
stranger
04-08-2010, 20:35
Like it or not...Bill Bryson is probably the most famous person to have hiked long distances along the AT
Long ago in New England I saw Graham Nash's note in an AT log book. As Even after many years I still remember that it said "Steven still sucks".
jersey joe
04-09-2010, 08:12
Like it or not...Bill Bryson is probably the most famous person to have hiked long distances along the AT
Absolutely. And most people probably don't realize that he didn't thru hike the whole trail (or even know what a thru hike actually is).
berkshirebirder
04-09-2010, 09:16
Skreeeeeeeeeeeee (sound of can of worms being opened)...
I enjoyed Bryson's book. The description of his visit to an outfitter was hilarious. The hiking part, especially Bryson's "friend," seemed mostly fictional to me.
Anyone know if the movie version with Robert Redford is going to be released this year?
Jester2000
04-09-2010, 15:00
Skreeeeeeeeeeeee (sound of can of worms being opened)...
I enjoyed Bryson's book. The description of his visit to an outfitter was hilarious. The hiking part, especially Bryson's "friend," seemed mostly fictional to me.
Anyone know if the movie version with Robert Redford is going to be released this year?
It's going to be released the first of Octember.
BAG "o" TRICKS
04-29-2010, 16:25
I thought he and Abe Vigoda were dead? :)
Nope, only smell that way :eek:
I thought he and Abe Vigoda were dead? :)
Abe Vigoda was old as dirt on barney miller.
I thought he and Abe Vigoda were dead? :)
http://tinyurl.com/29a8hnr
Chaco Taco
04-29-2010, 22:39
Like it or not...Bill Bryson is probably the most famous person to have hiked long distances along the AT
Wait for it........:D
Shutterbug
04-30-2010, 00:53
Aren't you about to hop of a westbound plane, Mango?
Have a great hike!
The only "famous" person I met on the AT was Admiral William "Bill" McDaniel. He was famous for being "The Mole" in the ABC Reality Show named, "The Mole." I met him in the 100 mile wilderness in 2004.
His trail name is "Admiral."
Here is a link to a picture of the Admiral -- http://picasaweb.google.com/shutterbug.dave/100MileWilderness2004#5358921178173082274
It seems to me you can be successful/famous or you can be hiker trash but you can't really be both.
earlyriser26
04-30-2010, 11:07
Abe Vigoda was old as dirt on barney miller.
Actually, he was not that old on the show. Doing candy commercials on TV today.
It's going to be released the first of Octember.
I don't think they even adapted the book into a screenplay yet.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178665/
modiyooch
05-15-2010, 19:35
I met Karl Meltzer and his support crew in the 100 mile wilderness. I even got to run about 3 steps with him before he was gone. Maybe not famous, but I certainly enjoyed following his blog "where's Karl?". He had many other supporters as well.
obama was on the AT in snp... not quite a thru hiker, though.
It's going to be released the first of Octember.
Stupid Smarch weather.
Didn't David Letterman mention something about how he would rather be on the Appalachian Trail?
Cookerhiker
05-17-2010, 11:24
Anyone know anyone "famous" out there who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail? I happened to be on one of my favorite band's website, The Books, and saw that one member of that band actually thru-hiked a few years back. (This band is great and I would suggest checking them out if you are interested in blending of acoustic/electric and found sound sampling. That's the best description I can give, but yeah, they are super-awesome. But they are not really like "FAMOUS".) Just wondering if anyone out there knows any people that are well-known that have thru-hiked. This is something I was wondering while I was attempting a thru-hike in '09. Thanks.
What about "famous" 2,000 milers who chose to hike the entire AT via section hiking? Or is that not as important to you? Is it a lesser accomplishment?
Lion King
05-17-2010, 11:34
Didn't David Letterman mention something about how he would rather be on the Appalachian Trail?
Me, Big Guy and Beat Box took a bus in and saw him, he actually made a comment about it then while we were in the audience...2001 I believe was the year
And he said something about it when he was caught cheating on his wife. I wonder where he hikes.
I can't seem celebrities/famous people thru-hiking while they are famous. They'd have to have done it before they got famous. Too much time and preparation goes into a thru-hike.
turtle fast
05-19-2010, 13:25
A year or two ago I thought Robert Redford was going to hike the AT...I doubt all of it but sections here and there. Anyone know if he was on the trail?