View Full Version : It's Hairy Out There!!
April Lohmann
02-22-2013, 13:54
:) Ok hikers, this one is all about the hair! Enjoy! http://walkingloon.blogspot.com
rocketsocks
02-22-2013, 14:01
:) Ok hikers, this one is all about the hair! Enjoy! http://walkingloon.blogspot.comI dig your blog...keep em comin.
I have thought about saying and there origins; "she Screamed like a Banshee" or "The Hawk is out" these are as old as man himself the celts also have some good ones...Kudos to you AL and have a great hike
Love the blog... as for me: look for the old bald woman on the trail in 2 weeks!
HikerMom58
02-22-2013, 14:21
Another good one April... ohhh.. to be able to write like you! :cool:
SCRUB HIKER
02-22-2013, 14:35
Interesting topic, even more interesting timing.
http://scrubhiker.blogspot.com/2013/02/in-pursuit-of-hirsute-part-one-in-trail.html
Chuckie V
02-22-2013, 14:52
:) Ok hikers, this one is all about the hair! Enjoy! http://walkingloon.blogspot.com
Damn girl! Please keep 'em coming! I had a similarly-themed write-up (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=130515) in an old trail-journal...
"Babies haven't any hair; old men's heads are just as bare; between the cradle and the grave lie a haircut and a shave." --- Samuel Hoffenstein
Just when I started loving life and had begun to sprout hair like a primate, or maybe just a Chia Pet, I was forced to clean up my act and shave. This I had to do in order to meet Charlie's sister Kate, her Husband Jules and their two kids, Edward and Sophie. I consented to the stipulation long before my hike began, as to not frighten the children from ever wanting to visit the United States again. I had not met any of them before and Charlie required me to be on my best behavior, to give a good impression of all us outstanding citizens who call the United States home.
The thing is, it is a substantial sacrifice for me to shave. I'll admit it: I like having facial hair. It gives me that rugged look, not unlike Grizzly Adams or Clint Eastwood. Not only that but I figure I'll save at least $12.47 on razor blades from Wal*Mart this year. Factor in the sun protection that a beard provides and voilą!---you've got a winner!
But families, especially English ones, are not as fond of "facial fungus," as they deem it, as we men of the mountain are.
Think about it. Can you name one famous English person with a beard? (The queen doesn't count, by the way)...me neither. It is a sad state of affairs and there's no sense or sensibility in it, thank you very much Ms. Austen.
As you might expect, out here on the Pacific Crest Trail nearly all of the men sport beards. In fact, quite a few of the women do too. We wear this hair with a pride (and lack of prejudice) that Ms. Austen will never know in her pompously perfect world. Hair is a normal (and formal) part of being one with nature. It not only protects you from the damaging rays of the sun, but also from the wind and the cold. Plus---and this is HUGELY advantageous---when you're looking for that hotdog you thought you dropped on the ground earlier that day, there it is, just millimeters from your mouth.
Now for those of you who know my past, you're probably thinking, 'Hey, isn't this the same guy who used to shave his legs for years on end, for cryin' out loud?' and you know what, you're right---I did. In cycling, shaving is the norm. There are many reasons for this but none so great as ego. Cyclists believe shaved legs make them look good and it's really only looking good that they're concerned about. "Narcisscyclists," I call 'em.
On the PCT, conversely, such a clean look is the ab-norm and ego has little involvement whatsoever. Laziness perhaps, but ego, no-go.
As it ended up, it turns out the kids wanted to see a real mountain man anyhow, an atavistic adventurer. Instead now all they're faced with is an average everyday-looking guy, sans beard and body odor, not unlike their dad. Still, they seem to like me like I do them and for the next twenty-four hours I can feel like a kid again, devoid of care and devoid of hair.
Chuckie V
02-22-2013, 14:53
Interesting topic, even more interesting timing.
http://scrubhiker.blogspot.com/2013/02/in-pursuit-of-hirsute-part-one-in-trail.html
Another great one! It's good to find and read some gifted hiker-writers!
rocketsocks
02-22-2013, 14:57
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dyl0j3WU6Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dyl0j3WU6Y
Chuckie V
02-22-2013, 15:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1LRD3DtFAo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1LRD3DtFAo
This has suddenly become my favorite thread! Here's to hair!
Damn girl! Please keep 'em coming! I had a similarly-themed write-up (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=130515) in an old trail-journal...
"Babies haven't any hair; old men's heads are just as bare; between the cradle and the grave lie a haircut and a shave." --- Samuel Hoffenstein
Just when I started loving life and had begun to sprout hair like a primate, or maybe just a Chia Pet, I was forced to clean up my act and shave. This I had to do in order to meet Charlie's sister Kate, her Husband Jules and their two kids, Edward and Sophie. I consented to the stipulation long before my hike began, as to not frighten the children from ever wanting to visit the United States again. I had not met any of them before and Charlie required me to be on my best behavior, to give a good impression of all us outstanding citizens who call the United States home.
The thing is, it is a substantial sacrifice for me to shave. I'll admit it: I like having facial hair. It gives me that rugged look, not unlike Grizzly Adams or Clint Eastwood. Not only that but I figure I'll save at least $12.47 on razor blades from Wal*Mart this year. Factor in the sun protection that a beard provides and voilą!---you've got a winner!
But families, especially English ones, are not as fond of "facial fungus," as they deem it, as we men of the mountain are.
Think about it. Can you name one famous English person with a beard? (The queen doesn't count, by the way)...me neither. It is a sad state of affairs and there's no sense or sensibility in it, thank you very much Ms. Austen.
As you might expect, out here on the Pacific Crest Trail nearly all of the men sport beards. In fact, quite a few of the women do too. We wear this hair with a pride (and lack of prejudice) that Ms. Austen will never know in her pompously perfect world. Hair is a normal (and formal) part of being one with nature. It not only protects you from the damaging rays of the sun, but also from the wind and the cold. Plus---and this is HUGELY advantageous---when you're looking for that hotdog you thought you dropped on the ground earlier that day, there it is, just millimeters from your mouth.
Now for those of you who know my past, you're probably thinking, 'Hey, isn't this the same guy who used to shave his legs for years on end, for cryin' out loud?' and you know what, you're right---I did. In cycling, shaving is the norm. There are many reasons for this but none so great as ego. Cyclists believe shaved legs make them look good and it's really only looking good that they're concerned about. "Narcisscyclists," I call 'em.
On the PCT, conversely, such a clean look is the ab-norm and ego has little involvement whatsoever. Laziness perhaps, but ego, no-go.
As it ended up, it turns out the kids wanted to see a real mountain man anyhow, an atavistic adventurer. Instead now all they're faced with is an average everyday-looking guy, sans beard and body odor, not unlike their dad. Still, they seem to like me like I do them and for the next twenty-four hours I can feel like a kid again, devoid of care and devoid of hair.
Yesterday I saw a reference to Strunk and White, and today to Hoffenstein. This literary dimension to whiteblaze far exceeds my expecation of mere literacy.
My favorite Hoffenstein:
Your little hands,
Your little feet,
Your little mouth—
Oh, God, how sweet!
Your little nose,
Your little ears,
Your eyes, that shed
Such little tears!
Your little voice,
So soft and kind;
Your little soul,
Your little mind!