watch out for "chef" aka richard. in GA.

[northernstorm]

this guy steals, is homeless with a machete and two mean pitbulls. park rangers and rigerunners have warned many of us and are working on getting him out of here. he's a skinhead with a swastika tattooed on his back. he has a scar on the left side of his head. can't possibly miss him. so far he has hiked virtually nothing although he claims to be a thru hiker. he hitches rides to the next shelter because he keeps getting ran off. basically he is squatting at the shelters/campsites. beware folks. hes already been reported numerous times for stealing. my inclination is that this guy is desperate and i dont trust him one bit. motor on ahead if anyone crosses paths with him.
on a lighter note, my thru so far is everything i expected. beautiful, fun and challenging. i am 50 miles in and looking forward to crossing my first state line. i hope all is well with everyone out here!

[bigcranky]

Met him at Hawk Mountain last week. The dogs are actually pretty sweet if you know how to approach them (though he keeps insisting that the female will attack other dogs, so be aware of that.) Didn't notice any stealing, but then we tented nearby. While Chef is definitely a little odd and probably not going to be a successful thru-hiker, having several long talks with him I didn't notice anything to warrant the level of panic going around on the trail about him.

Northernstorm, enjoy your hike, have a great time. (I don't mean any of the above to specifically apply to you -- just as a general response to all the talk on the trail about this guy.)

[royalusa]

As of yesterday at 2pm, he was one mile north of Neels Gap at Bull Gap. He didn't have his tent up or his pack unpacked at the time, so I don't know if he was spending the night there or pushing on.

[Digger'02]

thanks for the updates, keep em' comming! I hope that the Chef situation will be resolved soon, I know the Ridgerunner has been talking with him.

[Pedaling Fool]

thanks for the updates, keep em' comming! I hope that the Chef situation will be resolved soon, I know the Ridgerunner has been talking with him.
Always some freak out there, so in a sense it's never a resolved issue.

[daddytwosticks]

Spent last Saturday night at Low Gap Shelter doing a short overnighter from Hogpen to Unicoi. Some of the thrus present were talking about him...no panic or concern, just gossiping about this gentleman. :)

[Buffalo Skipper]

When I first saw the title of this thread, I though you were talking about Chef Richard Blais from Atlanta (Top Chef), and I said to myself: "I didn't know he was a hiker."

Obviously, I missed the intent, but it was a funny thought for me, at least for a moment. :)

[Sickmont]

Boy, this cat sure has a lot of you folks shaking in your boots.......

[TD55]

this guy steals, is homeless with a machete and two mean pitbulls. park rangers and rigerunners have warned many of us and are working on getting him out of here. he's a skinhead with a swastika tattooed on his back. he has a scar on the left side of his head. can't possibly miss him. so far he has hiked virtually nothing although he claims to be a thru hiker. he hitches rides to the next shelter because he keeps getting ran off. basically he is squatting at the shelters/campsites. beware folks. hes already been reported numerous times for stealing. my inclination is that this guy is desperate and i dont trust him one bit. motor on ahead if anyone crosses paths with him.
on a lighter note, my thru so far is everything i expected. beautiful, fun and challenging. i am 50 miles in and looking forward to crossing my first state line. i hope all is well with everyone out here!

Are these facts you are certain about or just gossip? Not to cool to spread this kinds of things about a person unless you are absolutely sure about the statements you are making. You make him sound like a dangerous criminal but the only hiker who actually spent time with him has a different evaluation. You don't have to demonize a person just because you are paranoid.

[Jack Tarlin]

It is absolutely not cool to spread malicious gossip about people one has not even met. I had the opportunity to meet with and speak at length with this guy. The alleged "fears" and concerns that have been spoken about have been greatly exaggerated, and in my opinion, this is unfair and wrong. Oh, and NONE of the people I talked to over the past few days here in Georgia mentioned any theft or thievery, either. Let's let this fellow hike on without unkind commentary from folks who are perhaps well-meaning, but ultimately poorly informed.

[curtisvowen]

Watch out for those that spread gossip/rumors.

[vamelungeon]

If he actually has a swastika tattoo, that's all I need to know about him to know I don't like him.

[curtisvowen]

All I'm sayin is I've seen it so often, the rumors, but then it turns out that the hiker is o.k.
Hiker gets bad press....no love etc.
Yes, be alert to stupid, but unless you've got first hand info....forget about it.
Thanks for the tip though.

[Panzer1]

there's one every year.

Panzer

[curtisvowen]

Beware of those without the tatoos.

[Sierra Echo]

When I first saw the title of this thread, I though you were talking about Chef Richard Blais from Atlanta (Top Chef), and I said to myself: "I didn't know he was a hiker."

Obviously, I missed the intent, but it was a funny thought for me, at least for a moment. :)

He would have a hard time lugging around his cannisters of liquid nitrogen!

[kayak karl]

Beware of those without the tatoos.
i don't have any tatoos????, but my girl does. LOL

[Mrs Baggins]

Beware of those without the tatoos.

Whew! Then I'm safe....got tatt one, working on what tatt two should be.....:D

[Sierra Echo]

Whew! Then I'm safe....got tatt one, working on what tatt two should be.....:D

And then once you get your second its time to work on your third!

[HoneyBear]

I have a friend who hiking now who met a section hiker at one of the shelters about mid way between Hotsprings and Erwin. The hiker told him he had met a guy the previous day wearing blue jeans and wanting help setting up a recently acquired Walmart tent while claiming to be an experienced hiker. Whatever. But when the sectioner went to get water, as blue jeans watched his pack, he returned to find him gone along with a good portion of his food supply. My best advice to all. Take lots of pictures especially of anyone acting oddly. I know that probably describes most hikers but you know what I mean. If you are wrong, then you are simply capturing memories of folks you met on your journey. If you are right you can aid authorities in getting the nefarious ones off the trail.

[Raul Perez]

Why would anyone let a stranger watch their pack? That's just silly.

[Hikerhead]

Why would anyone let a stranger watch their pack? That's just silly.

I agree, take your pack with you to the water source. Your whole trip is in that pack, it's the most important thing that you have.

[Wolf - 23000]

All I'm sayin is I've seen it so often, the rumors, but then it turns out that the hiker is o.k.
Hiker gets bad press....no love etc.
Yes, be alert to stupid, but unless you've got first hand info....forget about it.
Thanks for the tip though.

Curtisvowen,

Well put. I've seen where some of the worst bad mouth hikers turn out to be the nice hikers you would ever meet to those that gave them a chance.

Wolf

[southpaw95]

Celebrate Diversity:)

[takethisbread]

i i dont care about the rumors, but the Pitbulls do it for me. personally, i think those monsters should be eliminated, but that probably not a common belief. i stay clear of those critters.

[Sickmont]

i i dont care about the rumors, but the Pitbulls do it for me. personally, i think those monsters should be eliminated, but that probably not a common belief. i stay clear of those critters.

Oh yeah, sure, keep taking in all the nonsense and fear mongering from the media, please.
Just remember, pitbulls aren't the problem. Its the jerkoff owners who treat them like crap and beat them who should be eliminated.

[max patch]

If I see a swastika tat on someone I don't care what any other hiker says - good or bad - about the individual. I know all I need to know.

[Lone Wolf]

don't judge a book by it's cover

[Lone Wolf]

If I see a swastika tat on someone I don't care what any other hiker says - good or bad - about the individual. I know all I need to know.

most folks are young and dumb when they get tattoos and regret them later

[Sickmont]

most folks are young and dumb when they get tattoos and regret them later

Boy you sure got that right. A good chunk of my friends look like doodle pads and hate it now.

[the judge]

Definitely believe that not all pits are bad, I've seen a fair share that were overly sweet and on the verge of Labrador stupid. there I go being breedist myself. as for the swat tattoo, probably got it when he was a teenager and doesn't necessarily believe all that now. there's also the possibility that it's backwards and the Indian sign for peace. as for the tattoo thing, I have 1 that was done when i was young and stupid that i incorporated as the centerpiece of another very large tattoo and the other 27 are very nice professionally done pieces that i show at conventions. Don't hate me because my skin is beautiful.

[vamelungeon]

I had a pit bull growing up and they aren't bad dogs, just some bad owners. Mine was the smartest and most affectionate dog I've ever owned.

I won't associate with anyone displaying a swastika. If they no longer agree with it, they can get it covered up or removed.

[Raul Perez]

The East views the Swastika a bit differently... Per Wikipedia:

The swastika is a historical sacred symbol in Indian religions (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Indian_religions). It rose to importance in Buddhism (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Buddhism) during the Mauryan Empire (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Mauryan_Empire) and in Hinduism (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Hinduism) with the decline of Buddhism in India (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Decline_of_Buddhism_in_India) during the Gupta Empire (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Gupta_Empire). With the spread of Buddhism (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Silk_Road_transmission_of_Buddhism), the Buddhist swastika reached Tibet and China. The symbol was also introduced to Balinese Hinduism (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Hinduism_in_Indonesia) by Hindu (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Hinduism) kings. The use of the swastika by the Bön (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/B%C3%B6n) faith of Tibet (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Tibet), as well as later syncretic (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Syncretism) religions, such as Cao Dai (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Cao_Dai) of Vietnam and Falun Gong (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Falun_Gong) of China, can also be traced to Buddhist influence.
[edit (http://www.whiteblaze.net/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=6)] Hinduism

[/URL] http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.17/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/File:Swastika_doorstep_crop.jpg)
Swastika on the doorstep of an apartment in Maharashtra (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Maharashtra), India


In Hinduism (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Hinduism), the two symbols represent the two forms of the creator god Brahma (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Brahma): facing right it represents the evolution (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Evolution_(philosophy)) of the universe (Devanagari: प्रवृत्ति, Pravritti), facing left it represents the involution (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Involution_(esoterism)) of the universe (Devanagari: निवृत्ति, Nivritti).[citation needed (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] The swastika is one of the 108 symbols of Hindu deity Vishnu (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Vishnu) and represents the Sun's rays, upon which life depends.[citation needed (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] It is also seen as pointing in all four directions (north, east, south and west) and thus signifies grounded stability.[citation needed (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] Its use as a Sun symbol can first be seen in its representation of the god Surya (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Surya).[citation needed (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] The swastika is used in all Hindu yantras (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Yantra) and religious designs,[citation needed (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]
Among the Hindus of Bengal (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Bengal), it is common to see the name "swastika" (Bengali (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Bengali_language): স্বস্তিক shostik) applied to a slightly different symbol, which has the same significance as the common swastika, and both symbols are used as auspicious signs. This symbol looks something like a stick figure of a human being.[22] (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/#cite_note-21)
[edit (http://www.whiteblaze.net/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=7)] Buddhism

Buddhism (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Buddhism) originated in the 5th century BCE (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/BCE) and spread throughout the Indian subcontinent (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Indian_subcontinent) in the 3rd century BCE (Maurya Empire (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Maurya_Empire)).
The swastika symbol (right-hand) is alleged to have been stamped on Gautama Buddha (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Gautama_Buddha)'s chest by his initiates after his death. It is known as The Heart's Seal.[citation needed (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] The swastika figures on the Pillars of Ashoka (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Pillars_of_Ashoka).
With the Silk Road transmission of Buddhism (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Silk_Road_transmission_of_Buddhism), the Buddhist swastika spread to Tibet (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Tibetan_Buddhism) and China (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Chinese_Buddhism).
Known as a "yung drung"[23] (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/#cite_note-22) in ancient Tibet, it was a graphical representation of eternity.[24] (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/#cite_note-23)
The paired swastika symbols are included, at least since the Liao Dynasty (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Liao_Dynasty), as part of the Chinese language (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Chinese_language), the symbolic sign for the character 萬 or 万 (wàn in Mandarin, man in Korean, Cantonese and Japanese, vạn in Vietnamese) meaning "all" or "eternality" (lit. myriad (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Myriad)) and as 卐, which is seldom used. The swastika marks the beginning of many Buddhist scriptures. The swastika (in either orientation) appears on the chest of some statues of Gautama Buddha (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Gautama_Buddha) and is often incised on the soles of the feet of the Buddha in statuary.
[edit (http://www.whiteblaze.net/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=8)] Jainism

[URL="http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/File:Swastik4.svg"]http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.17/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/File:Swastik4.svg)
Jain swastika


Jainism (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Jainism) gives even more prominence to the swastika than does Hinduism. It is a symbol of the seventh Jina (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Tirthankar) (Saint), the Tirthankara Suparsva. In the Svetambar (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Svetambar) (Devanagari: श्वेताम्बर) Jain tradition, it is also one of the symbols of the ashta-mangalas (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Ashta-mangalas). It is considered to be one of the 24 auspicious marks and the emblem of the seventh arhat (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Arhat) of the present age.[citation needed (http://www.whiteblaze.net/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] All Jain temples and holy books must contain the swastika and ceremonies typically begin and end with creating a swastika mark several times with rice around the altar.
Jains use rice to make a swastika (also known as "Saathiyo" or "Saathiya" in the state of Gujarat, India) in front of statues in a temple. Jains then put an offering on this swastika, usually a ripe or dried fruit, a sweet (Hindi: मिठाई, Mithai), or a coin or currency note.

[bigcranky]

As mentioned above, I spent an afternoon and evening with Chef and his dogs and a bunch of hikers at Hawk Mountain shelter. I had several conversations with him, and sat next to him in the shelter as we made and ate dinner. One of his pit bulls lay on my feet, wagging her tail. I would occasionally reach down and scratch her head, and I still have all my fingers.

While all of the above may in fact be true, (that he has a tattoo, steals, whatever), I did not witness any of it, and my conversations with him gave the impression that he is something of a lost soul, a little redneck perhaps, kinda rough around the edges. I've met a lot of hikers like him over the years.

Yes, Chef's constant requests for cigarettes got kind of annoying. Yes, his dogs' walking on the shelter table got kind of annoying. But there are plenty of yuppie hikers out there with annoying habits, too. Learn a little tolerance of other human beings, please.

[takethisbread]

Oh yeah, sure, keep taking in all the nonsense and fear mongering from the media, please.
Just remember, pitbulls aren't the problem. Its the jerkoff owners who treat them like crap and beat them who should be eliminated.

no offense because there are likely a lot of animal lovers here, but its not just the owners. Sure there are nice pitbulls, that live without incident, but there is 2000 years of breeding in those monsters, and they have the ABILITY to kill, usually children. Call me crazy, but i value the life of a child above all other things, and i tend to not see the need for these man made beasts in our world. I do not believe in killing them until they injure someone, but i dont think we need to breed these things. In the wrong hands, sometimes, they can injure or kill an innocent. Rotweillers and Pitbulls make up less than 5% of the dog population in the United States and also make up between 60-70% of the dog related fatalities. The math dont lie. Sorry i have no goodwill at all towards these beasts. The little girl down the street from me, she is 11 years old now, but was 5 or 6 when a local pitbull got loose and mangled her face up pretty good. The owner, from what i can tell, was a good owner, wasnt some hoodlum, but a professional man, who loved his animal, and it seemed friendly. This girls life has been forever changed cause it got loose. Well, sure a poodle could have gotten loose and cornered the little girl, but i couldnt have done the damage that Pitbull did.

Sorry i see no point. why not get a cocker spaniel? or something not so POTENTIALLY dangerous. If you could see this girls face, or look at her medical bills, you might see it like i do.

anyway, its totally off point, because irrespective of the dogs, the swastika's might keep me away too. Although i'm sure some will argue here that he's a nice Nazi, and that Genocidal loving Faascists get a bad reputation, and there are some fine fellows amongst there ranks:-?

[4eyedbuzzard]

If I see a swastika tat on someone I don't care what any other hiker says - good or bad - about the individual. I know all I need to know.

Yep.


The East views the Swastika a bit differently...

This ain't the east. They view white robes and hoods differently in "the East" as well.

[Skid.]

A friend of mine was shocked when I said I was section hiking, but had never taken a self-defense course. Signed up for one at my local high school, feel much more prepared now. Not karate or judo, just how to get out of a threatening situation.

[Trailweaver]

I wonder what this guy's going to think if he ever sees this thread. . .

I'm just glad I'm not out there right now to worry about the pit bulls. I think if I was, however, or if I saw the swastika, I'd have to hike on - no matter how tired I was.

[Toli]

As mentioned above, I spent an afternoon and evening with Chef and his dogs and a bunch of hikers at Hawk Mountain shelter. I had several conversations with him, and sat next to him in the shelter as we made and ate dinner. One of his pit bulls lay on my feet, wagging her tail. I would occasionally reach down and scratch her head, and I still have all my fingers.

While all of the above may in fact be true, (that he has a tattoo, steals, whatever), I did not witness any of it, and my conversations with him gave the impression that he is something of a lost soul, a little redneck perhaps, kinda rough around the edges. I've met a lot of hikers like him over the years.

Yes, Chef's constant requests for cigarettes got kind of annoying. Yes, his dogs' walking on the shelter table got kind of annoying. But there are plenty of yuppie hikers out there with annoying habits, too. Learn a little tolerance of other human beings, please.

I stopped at Hawk Mountain Shelter on a wet, windy, Cold Friday (March 4th) after coming off the Duncan Ridge Trail and Chef and his dogs were there. As I approached, the black pit barked and growled, but was quickly under Chefs command, and was also leashed with some kind of cable. His Brindel pit was under a blanket and never fussed. He was civil to everone there. We talked about how he was going to get his dogs around GSMNP and how much it costs. He told his story of being homeless and living shelter to shelter, he hoped to get a job in NC. Another group of 6/8 hikers came with another dog, off leash and Chef gave them plenty of warning to leash their dog, as the black pit was being aggressive towards it, but once again, it was leashed. Chef carried both dogs upstairs, chained them, then went out to the fire. He had a LARGE Bowie knife, never saw a machette. Both dogs pretty much slept until he came back later. Those 6/8 hikers bailed that evening and left Chef with ALOT of food, and even 2 "Sterno" stoves. We left early the next morning in cold, nasty rain, and he told me he was going to stay there another day... I don't think anyone there felt threatened at all by him, I didn't...

[vamelungeon]

The East views the Swastika a bit differently...
I am aware of all that. So far all the people I've met with swastika tats have been neo-nazi a-holes.
My father is a WWII veteran who had to spend a year and a half in Walter Reed hospital because of his wounds that he received in combat in Europe, had countless surgeries and still suffers mentally and physically because of his service. A lot of his friends in the VFW, DAV and American Legion had similar experiences or worse, and some of them helped liberate concentration camps. I've also met Holocaust survivors.
I really have no use for people who support the kind of things that were done with the swastika as their emblem. If someone has a swastika tat and wants it removed I'll volunteer my pocketknife.

[Raul Perez]

I am aware of all that. So far all the people I've met with swastika tats have been neo-nazi a-holes.
My father is a WWII veteran who had to spend a year and a half in Walter Reed hospital because of his wounds that he received in combat in Europe, had countless surgeries and still suffers mentally and physically because of his service. A lot of his friends in the VFW, DAV and American Legion had similar experiences or worse, and some of them helped liberate concentration camps. I've also met Holocaust survivors.
I really have no use for people who support the kind of things that were done with the swastika as their emblem. If someone has a swastika tat and wants it removed I'll volunteer my pocketknife.

My grandmother is a Romanian concentration camp survivor with the numbers on her arm to boot (My Grandfather re-married).

However, I will always ask the meaning of a swastika tatoo to the individual before continuing the conversation or administering a triangle choke.

[Tuckahoe]

no offense because there are likely a lot of animal lovers here, but its not just the owners. Sure there are nice pitbulls, that live without incident, but there is 2000 years of breeding in those monsters, and they have the ABILITY to kill, usually children. Call me crazy, but i value the life of a child above all other things, and i tend to not see the need for these man made beasts in our world. I do not believe in killing them until they injure someone, but i dont think we need to breed these things. In the wrong hands, sometimes, they can injure or kill an innocent. Rotweillers and Pitbulls make up less than 5% of the dog population in the United States and also make up between 60-70% of the dog related fatalities. The math dont lie. Sorry i have no goodwill at all towards these beasts. The little girl down the street from me, she is 11 years old now, but was 5 or 6 when a local pitbull got loose and mangled her face up pretty good. The owner, from what i can tell, was a good owner, wasnt some hoodlum, but a professional man, who loved his animal, and it seemed friendly. This girls life has been forever changed cause it got loose. Well, sure a poodle could have gotten loose and cornered the little girl, but i couldnt have done the damage that Pitbull did.

Sorry i see no point. why not get a cocker spaniel? or something not so POTENTIALLY dangerous. If you could see this girls face, or look at her medical bills, you might see it like i do.

anyway, its totally off point, because irrespective of the dogs, the swastika's might keep me away too. Although i'm sure some will argue here that he's a nice Nazi, and that Genocidal loving Faascists get a bad reputation, and there are some fine fellows amongst there ranks:-?

Care to back up your statistics? When I was 16 I had my hand chewed up by a cocker spaniel.

[Sly]

The East views the Swastika a bit differently... Per Wikipedia:



Not only are the meanings different, so are the styles.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q227/sonjurattler/swastika2.png

[Mags]

Folks, many people know that Swastikas are an ancient of good luck pre-dating the 1940s. (My Grandfather's division, the 45th, had a Swastika emblem that had to be changed to a Thunderbird...)

Having said that, this discussion has nada to do with the AT.

This a a general discussion forum about the AT. Please keep it that way.

If not, there are other, off-topic forums on this very website that are more appropriate.

Thanks! :)

[Skidsteer]

It always makes me smile a little bit when I see hikers complain about weird people.

[Graywolf]

WoW!!! I better be careful when I do my thru next year.. I'm a little over weight, not rich, so I will use department store brand clothing, probably a medium wieght tent, a $99 backpack (still light weight), a alcohol stove, not a fancy jet boil of canaster stove (too expensive), I have a missing front tooth and I may start the hike with no hair..According to what I read here, looks like a lot of hikers judge if you are not wearing expensive name brand clothes and gear..


Its just a shame that so many people have to judge..

[Lemni Skate]

:banana:banana:banana

[dragoro]

WoW!!! I better be careful when I do my thru next year.. I'm a little over weight, not rich, so I will use department store brand clothing, probably a medium wieght tent, a $99 backpack (still light weight), a alcohol stove, not a fancy jet boil of canaster stove (too expensive), I have a missing front tooth and I may start the hike with no hair..According to what I read here, looks like a lot of hikers judge if you are not wearing expensive name brand clothes and gear..


Its just a shame that so many people have to judge..

Cheers to that. Sometimes those that claim to be open minded are infact the most closed minded.

[CowHead]

were all strange in the woods, thats the reason we go there and hate it we when come out

[Sassafras Lass]

no offense because there are likely a lot of animal lovers here, but its not just the owners. Sure there are nice pitbulls, that live without incident, but there is 2000 years of breeding in those monsters, and they have the ABILITY to kill, usually children. Call me crazy, but i value the life of a child above all other things, and i tend to not see the need for these man made beasts in our world. I do not believe in killing them until they injure someone, but i dont think we need to breed these things. In the wrong hands, sometimes, they can injure or kill an innocent. Rotweillers and Pitbulls make up less than 5% of the dog population in the United States and also make up between 60-70% of the dog related fatalities. The math dont lie. Sorry i have no goodwill at all towards these beasts. The little girl down the street from me, she is 11 years old now, but was 5 or 6 when a local pitbull got loose and mangled her face up pretty good. The owner, from what i can tell, was a good owner, wasnt some hoodlum, but a professional man, who loved his animal, and it seemed friendly. This girls life has been forever changed cause it got loose. Well, sure a poodle could have gotten loose and cornered the little girl, but i couldnt have done the damage that Pitbull did.

Sorry i see no point. why not get a cocker spaniel? or something not so POTENTIALLY dangerous. If you could see this girls face, or look at her medical bills, you might see it like i do.

As a lifelong dog lover and having previously worked in animal control, grooming, and rescue, in addition to pet store retail, I've seen the good, bad, and ugly of dogs, REGARDLESS of breed.

The thugs who are making up for a less-than-stellar downstairs, if you get my drift? Sure, they're the ones breeding UNSTABLE dogs b/c they don't give a damn; who cares if it growls and snaps at everyone? They can control it with enough beating, and an unstable dog will be deranged enough to be a "good" pit fighter.

The original "pit bull" was a notable dog; it was Petey, the Lil' Rascals sidekick; it was a revered war hero; it was a catch n' bait dog with livestock and wildlife like hogs, etc. Today's American pit bull terrier is registered with the UKC and is a game dog with a tremendously level-headed temperament, that given its history is NOT labrador-like in its dealings with other dogs. The offshoot of the APBT is the AKC-registrable American Staffordshire terrier, the show version of the more gamey APBT.

You know who the nastiest, snappiest dogs were in my professional canine experinece? Anything under 30 lbs or so. They were coddled and excused behaviors that would get a Rottie killed in a nanosecond, and so were absolute terrors.

As far the "problem pit bulls" - sure, those are unstable dogs of untested breedings, AKA Backyard Breeders and Puppy Mills. As far as statistics? You see stories of labrador retrievers and cocker spaniels attacking people all of the time (here's a good place to start http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/OtherBreedBites/AllDogsBite.htm )

If we're going to espouse tolerance for human races, then we darn sure need to do the same for our 4-legged friends.

I agree that swastikas in many cultures meant NOTHING like the Nazi intention. We need to understand that first and foremost. If someone has a swastika for a hateful reason, then of course avoid them. If you're not sure of their reason, stop beating around the bush and ask.

[Pedaling Fool]

Kill all the cars, they kill and maim far more kids than any animal. Or maybe we just shouldn't let them breed:D

But seriously, seems like a few have met this guy. Anyone know why he's called Chef?

[LoneRidgeRunner]

I have a friend who hiking now who met a section hiker at one of the shelters about mid way between Hotsprings and Erwin. The hiker told him he had met a guy the previous day wearing blue jeans and wanting help setting up a recently acquired Walmart tent while claiming to be an experienced hiker. Whatever. But when the sectioner went to get water, as blue jeans watched his pack, he returned to find him gone along with a good portion of his food supply. My best advice to all. Take lots of pictures especially of anyone acting oddly. I know that probably describes most hikers but you know what I mean. If you are wrong, then you are simply capturing memories of folks you met on your journey. If you are right you can aid authorities in getting the nefarious ones off the trail.

That was ignorance on the part of your friend. You NEVER entrust your pack to a stranger you just met..Unless it's a long time friend you take your pack with you..

[LoneRidgeRunner]

If he actually has a swastika tattoo, that's all I need to know about him to know I don't like him.

Maybe he wouldn't like you because you DON'T have a swastika tattoo..think about it...Ooohhh you better go get a swastika tattoo before you meet him or he may have one of his Pit Bulls bite your left ear off...LOL..or he himself may bite your left ear off every one is scared out of their wits because someone a little "different" has been spotted on the trail...

[kayak karl]

But seriously, seems like a few have met this guy. Anyone know why he's called Chef?
John, your asking for facts. this thread will hit 100 on rumors alone. its not a need to know.
les see what the idiot has to say about the bitches next. (i heard they were female dogs):D

[nufsaid]

Kill all the cars, they kill and maim far more kids than any animal. Or maybe we just shouldn't let them breed:D

But seriously, seems like a few have met this guy. Anyone know why he's called Chef?

I met a guy who has a cousin that heard a rumor that he once sliced up a baby with his machete and cooked it over a camp fire. And ate it with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

[fehchet]

Hitler's swastika is set on an angle.

[LoneRidgeRunner]

I met a guy who has a cousin that heard a rumor that he once sliced up a baby with his machete and cooked it over a camp fire. And ate it with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

I have an uncle who met a guy whose girlfriend's aunt said she met a person who had a Doberman that told her that his brother's first cousin said it was actually a Cocker Spaniel that sliced that kid up and ate it.. Anyone care to add to this ridiculous rumor? good one nufsaid...

[vamelungeon]

Maybe he wouldn't like you because you DON'T have a swastika tattoo..think about it...Ooohhh you better go get a swastika tattoo before you meet him or he may have one of his Pit Bulls bite your left ear off...LOL..or he himself may bite your left ear off every one is scared out of their wits because someone a little "different" has been spotted on the trail...
Do you have a point? I didn't indicate any fear of anyone.

[CowHead]

Cheers to that. Sometimes those that claim to be open minded are infact the most closed minded.

AMEN and i bet those folks dont even smell funny:-?

[Camping Dave]

Wow, three pages and I'm the first to write the words "concealed carry." Amazing. Where are all the fearful ninnies who usually pop into threads like this to tell us about their man weapons?

[CowHead]

i have a pot tattoo from 1975 must mean i'm strange. but then cows love grass

[Wags]

this may be the worst thread i've ever read here. luckily this wasn't my first stop at whiteblaze or else i'd never come back.

[vamelungeon]

I apologize for my part in taking this thread off topic. I had intended to make one post. Sorry.

[John Cash]

Hey Whiteblaze,

My name is John, and I feel sorry for every single one of you. Honestly, have any of you ever actually hiked? I mean, I guess it's fun making fun of people because of your own insecurities, but you all take it to a whole new level. This is even worse than farting in a packed shelter.

Don't be a stranger. Just hit me with your best shot. I'm pretty much perfect. I can hike ten miles a day, and once I lived in a snow cave. What hikes do you do, other than "long walk to the 7-11 for a slurpie"? I also get many sponsors, and have the best gear (just bought a new pack; it was SO light). You are all meanies who should just take a hike. Thanks for listening.

Profile Pic Related: It's me and my rad gear

[dragoro]

Hey Whiteblaze,

My name is John, and I feel sorry for every single one of you. Honestly, have any of you ever actually hiked? I mean, I guess it's fun making fun of people because of your own insecurities, but you all take it to a whole new level. This is even worse than farting in a packed shelter.

Don't be a stranger. Just hit me with your best shot. I'm pretty much perfect. I can hike ten miles a day, and once I lived in a snow cave. What hikes do you do, other than "long walk to the 7-11 for a slurpie"? I also get many sponsors, and have the best gear (just bought a new pack; it was SO light). You are all meanies who should just take a hike. Thanks for listening.

Profile Pic Related: It's me and my rad gear


You created a new profile just to post that? If your going to go through the trouble, at least make it funny or something.

[Knut Fagan]

Hey Whiteblaze,

My name is John, and I feel sorry for every single one of you. Honestly, have any of you ever actually hiked? I mean, I guess it's fun making fun of people because of your own insecurities, but you all take it to a whole new level. This is even worse than farting in a packed shelter.

Don't be a stranger. Just hit me with your best shot. I'm pretty much perfect. I can hike ten miles a day, and once I lived in a snow cave. What hikes do you do, other than "long walk to the 7-11 for a slurpie"? I also get many sponsors, and have the best gear (just bought a new pack; it was SO light). You are all meanies who should just take a hike. Thanks for listening.

Profile Pic Related: It's me and my rad gear

John you are really a bad person. First off, you assume everyone is so bad. Let me point out your flaws. First, you said you were pretty much perfect. If that were so, you wouldn't brag about it, you would be humble and not attempt to gain attention from Whiteblaze. Second, you said we do nothing else than post on this forum. There again you are wrong. I in fact only go on Whiteblaze when i have absolutely nothing else to do. I (and I assume at least several others on here) have friends. By assuming that we are all people with no lives you once again prove your ways to us- you cannot grasp a concept that people with lives can also post on Whiteblaze. Third, if you are trying to prove to Whiteblaze that you are perfect, at least type properly. Fourth, 10 miles is not that hard to hike. It's not a sign of strength, but an ability to keep walking. Good job for using something that everyone can do. Go to the Ultra-Light Hikers Forum and get your mind changed by some actual intelligence. There you go; I just wanted to you about how wrong you really are. With all honesty, I really don't mind what you say only wrote this because it’s fun to rant.

PS. I saw that pic on Google images and it most definitely isn't you.

[superman]

Hey Whiteblaze,

My name is John, and I feel sorry for every single one of you. Honestly, have any of you ever actually hiked? I mean, I guess it's fun making fun of people because of your own insecurities, but you all take it to a whole new level. This is even worse than farting in a packed shelter.

Don't be a stranger. Just hit me with your best shot. I'm pretty much perfect. I can hike ten miles a day, and once I lived in a snow cave. What hikes do you do, other than "long walk to the 7-11 for a slurpie"? I also get many sponsors, and have the best gear (just bought a new pack; it was SO light). You are all meanies who should just take a hike. Thanks for listening.

Profile Pic Related: It's me and my rad gear


LMAO, yes you are right. They are all a bunch of wanabe hikers. They don't even have hiking gear because they've never hiked. You have convinced me that I am way too good for this site. Bye bye for ever.:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:ba nana:banana:banana:banana:welcome

[Mags]

Hitler was evil. Tatoos aren't. Sock puppets like to make inane posts.
And the cheese stands alone.