View Full Version : AT tattoo
cathyss2000
08-20-2013, 11:26
The previous thread Big Dawg posted a pic of a AT logo tattoo got my thinking. My family is thru hiking, currrently in New Hampshire, and both said if they finish they want a tattoo. My daughter says she is getting the AT symbol, (A on top of T) on her foot, since her feet got her there. Anyone else out there got a AT tattoo? Any good ideas?
ItsGodsWater
08-20-2013, 12:15
I saw a guy last summer with a "blaze" on his shoulder, and it was about the actual size of one. I thought that was pretty cool. MEGA would be cool if you went south, or NoBo if the other way. Maybe something that incorporates your trail name.
slbirdnerd
08-20-2013, 12:48
I'm not a big tattoo person, but I think that sounds really cool, especially the AT on the foot!
One thing to keep in mind is logos have different meanings to different people. The meanings also change over time.
For example the GI Joe Adventure Team logo is very similar to the AT logo
What happens if one day a street gang or nazi hate group adopts a similar logo a few years from now?
For example an Indiana university tee shirt can get you killed in some parts of Chicago. The IU logo looks very much like the Folk Nation logo. You can take off a tee shirt.
Waterbuffalo
08-20-2013, 14:11
I got my AT tattoo similar to the AT conf. logo it represents a very cold night on Silers bald In which I was hypothermic watching the sun rise over the mountains knowing I had been in a difficult place and survived. It's not complete yet once I finish it will have a boot imprint around it.23572
I got my AT tattoo similar to the AT conf. logo it represents a very cold night on Silers bald In which I was hypothermic watching the sun rise over the mountains knowing I had been in a difficult place and survived. It's not complete yet once I finish it will have a boot imprint around it.23572
Nice!.......
Double Wide
08-20-2013, 16:41
I was thinking an AT logo embedded in the middle of a boot print would make a great tattoo. Apparently I'm not the only one!!
But no AT tattoo for me until I'm successful on my thru-hike.
max patch
08-20-2013, 16:45
I saw a guy last summer with a "blaze" on his shoulder, and it was about the actual size of one. I thought that was pretty cool. MEGA would be cool if you went south, or NoBo if the other way. Maybe something that incorporates your trail name.
Just paint one on. More realistic. Also easier and cheaper to get rid down the road.
No Directions
08-20-2013, 19:10
I never wanted a tattoo but a few months ago I saw this and have been considering it since. I would probably get two or three and alternate left-right-left like you are walking. And maybe get it on my calf.
23576
I got the AT symbol tat after my 2006 thru, it's a circle about the size of a medium cup with the symbol inside and it simply says 2000 miler with 2x under it but when i finished the trail in 2012 i had the 2 covered with a 3
I have been considering a white blaze with the AT symbol in it on my calf..and when and if I do complete a thru the date would be incorporated somewhere
Double Wide
08-21-2013, 00:21
Just remember that white ink is the hardest to keep from fading, and thus the most painful ink to get done. They have to dig deeper and more often to get white ink to look good.
Hill Ape
08-21-2013, 09:52
There are new inks, white isn't as difficult as it used to be. I have a blaze on my left ankle, and a blue AT symbol on my right. I'll add the year to that one when I thru, and a red line up my calf as a trail map, with a couple other things added that relate to events on the hike. Don't get inked lightly. I have many, my only regret was the first one, I should have put more thought into it instead of being impulsive.
My plan is to die with AT, LT, PCT and CDT tattoo's on my worn out, backpacked body.
Burn me up, dig a hole, use my ashes as fertilizer, plant a tree
I have lived now I will feed..............
evansprater
08-22-2013, 10:40
If I finish, I am getting 2178.3 on my calf.
max patch
08-22-2013, 10:52
If I finish, I am getting 2178.3 on my calf.
That'd be like getting one of chinese language tattoos that doesn't really say what you thot it said.
Firefighter503
08-26-2013, 12:35
That'd be like getting one of chinese language tattoos that doesn't really say what you thot it said.
How do you figure? The number would mean something to evansprater, and it's in a language that he knows, unlike most people and their Chinese characters.
How do you figure? The number would mean something to evansprater, and it's in a language that he knows, unlike most people and their Chinese characters.
Always worried about getting a tat in Chinese characters. If you don't read Chinese, it may not say what you think.......
max patch
08-26-2013, 15:19
If I finish, I am getting 2178.3 on my calf.
That'd be like getting one of chinese language tattoos that doesn't really say what you thot it said.
How do you figure? The number would mean something to evansprater, and it's in a language that he knows, unlike most people and their Chinese characters.
Because 2178.3 was the 2009 mileage. 2185.9 is the current length. Newspapers and websites get the number wrong all the time.
thebrewguy
08-26-2013, 20:06
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/27/a5ugejet.jpg
I've been section hiking for a few years now, and hope to thru hike in the next couple years. Got this done last year.
thebrewguy
08-26-2013, 20:07
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/27/a8u4ute8.jpg
Another angle
marshbirder
08-26-2013, 20:18
Awesome leg piece! I have a half sleeve of birds (maybe a quarter sleeve since it doesn't go all the way around?) so if I ever complete a thru, I will definitely get some ink to commemorate it. Just like Olympians getting the rings. I'm as addicted to ink as I am to the thought of hiking right now, thank goodness tattoos are expensive...at least good ones.
Schooley
08-26-2013, 22:07
thebrewguy that is an awesome piece of art...good job! simply killer.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/27/a8u4ute8.jpg
Another angle
Ok, im not a big fan of tattoos but this one is pretty impressive !! I like it !
thebrewguy, how long did this take ?
thebrewguy
08-27-2013, 14:12
Wow thanks everyone! I appreciate the compliments. I love it, and it reminds me everyday why I love the AT. I found all the images that I wanted incorporated into it and gave it all to my guy, and he put it all together into what you see. It took about 8 hours total, 4 2-hour sessions. Done at Voodoo Monkey tattoo here in Cleveland OH.
boulder06
08-27-2013, 14:59
Gotta full sleeve after my '06 hike. Took three years to finish the whole thing, but worth the pain and suffering.
We're used to it, right? We're thru-hikers.
pic/story:
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2012/08/14/hiker-remembers-tattoo/1233871
Old Hiker
08-27-2013, 16:03
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?77039-AT-Tattoos!&highlight=tattoo
One of many threads with tattoos. My entry is #9. What I'm thinking about is a small bootprint with the AT logo and the year I finish. Plug in "tattoo" for a search term and check them out. Lots of negatives as well. Nay-sayers abound. I don't particularly like tattoos, but I could live with just one small one.
icdaywee
08-27-2013, 17:05
That is a cool looking tattoo thebrewguy!
evansprater
08-28-2013, 12:56
How do you figure? The number would mean something to evansprater, and it's in a language that he knows, unlike most people and their Chinese characters.
Yeah, whatever, I'll get the official mileage from the year I finish.
MinnesotaRambler
08-28-2013, 13:37
That is super awesome.
No thank you to the trail tatts. I'll settle for my stack of certificates, rockers, patches, trail journals, and HUGE stacks of trail books and maps. If I want to reminisce I'll: look through that stuff, spend a ridiculous amount of time on WB and other hiking/outdoor sites, bringing up a trail experience in my mind, be on the trail at the beginning of thru-hiking season, attend trail events, like Trail Days, the kick off, ALDHA meetings, doing trail work, and assisting others with their hikes. I also always seem to be planning another hike or outdoor adventure.
miassis dragon
08-28-2013, 13:57
Very impressive brewguy. I like it
Where did you get the idea BrewGuy? I've seen something done similar before, on the entire calf too. Two different people come to mind. Did you thru? What yr? I wonder if one of those people were you?
Marmaduke
08-30-2013, 06:11
awesome tattoo, Brewguy! Cleveland, represent!
MamaBear
08-30-2013, 09:37
Most awesome tattoo, thebrewguy!
thebrewguy
08-31-2013, 09:44
Where did you get the idea BrewGuy? I've seen something done similar before, on the entire calf too. Two different people come to mind. Did you thru? What yr? I wonder if one of those people were you?
My own idea really. I had all the images and couldn't decide on one so I thought a big collage would be cool. I haven't thru'd yet but I'm hoping to in 2015. I've got about 500 miles in sections done. I've hiked a couple sections in the last year since I had it done, and shown it off to anyone on the trail. Including bunches of thru hikers down in the smokies this year. Maybe we met?
thebrewguy
08-31-2013, 09:45
Very impressive brewguy. I like it
awesome tattoo, Brewguy! Cleveland, represent!
Most awesome tattoo, thebrewguy!
That is a cool looking tattoo thebrewguy!
Thanks so much guys!
hikernutcasey
08-22-2014, 09:40
Here's mine
28141
centerfieldr162
08-22-2014, 10:40
Here's mine
28141
Ok.... that's badass!!
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Berserker
08-22-2014, 12:17
Ok.... that's badass!!
+1...that's a really cool and unique idea you came up with there.
I like waterbuffalo's. Something simple. Only tattoo I have is a set of Jumpwings high on the shoulder. Thought about a Long Trail tattoo; but came to the conclusion one is enough. For the AT I'd go with the diamond with the AT inside Appalachian Trail Above the AT and Maine to Georgia below. Maybe 3 to 4 inch Diamond. For the Long Trail I was thinking the circle with the arrow. The one the GMC mails out to go on a car.
I did however like that Big Ink on the Calf. In any event go to a pro and think it thru.
Many people get tattoos after significant life experiences. I'm not surprised by AT tats. :D In fact I'd get one if I ever finished the AT and have the courage to be stabbed that many times.
hikernutcasey
08-22-2014, 15:14
Ok.... that's badass!!
+1...that's a really cool and unique idea you came up with there.
Thanks! I found the design online. It was a logo someone had done for something other than a tattoo. I wanted something artistic looking and not just a block logo or anything. I had my guy re draw it to where it would work better for a tattoo. I love it.
Firefighter503
08-23-2014, 04:49
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/27/a5ugejet.jpg
I've been section hiking for a few years now, and hope to thru hike in the next couple years. Got this done last year.
Somehow I missed this last year. Love your tattoo, and have been talking about something very similar for a couple of years, but I wanted to finish the trail first. Maybe I'll go ahead and get the ink done even though I haven't hiked the whole thing yet..
Big Dawg
08-23-2014, 23:08
Didn't want to finish the trail before getting my AT tat,,, because it would've been 10+ years from now. The attached pic represents multiple tats over several years. If you want to see the progression, see my gallery.
28151 28152
Big Dawg
08-23-2014, 23:11
btw,,, nice ink hikernutcasey & thebrewguy!
WILLIAM HAYES
08-24-2014, 21:29
nice tat brewguy not a big fan of tats but like yours