Accomplished people you've met hiking

[garlic08]

On my AT hike I met both Warren Doyle and Baltimore Jack. I met both The Onion and Mr Magoo on their historic CDT yo-yos in '07. I ran into Sly in Glacier Park that same trip.

Anybody famous for not hiking? Let's see--I did open a ranch gate for Bruce Babbitt (former AZ gov and Sec'y of the Interior under Clinton, (back when I was alive)), when I was hiking across his ranch on the AZT. I said it was an honor meeting him and he told me what cattle tanks had water in them. He had a truck load of salt licks. (Later, at Lockwood Tank, I had to push through a herd of his thirsty bulls to get to water, one of the more nervous maneuvers I've ever done while hiking.)

[slbirdnerd]

I wouldn't ask but it's neat to know sometimes. Part of what I love about hiking is the same as part of what I love about my motorcycling community too--it doesn't matter.

[Mags]

I have had the pleasure of meeting many trail maintainers. Accomplished people who make the trails what they are.

Thanks!!!

[Old Hiker]

On my AT hike I met both Warren Doyle and Baltimore Jack. I met both The Onion and Mr Magoo on their historic CDT yo-yos in '07. I ran into Sly in Glacier Park that same trip.

Anybody famous for not hiking? Let's see--I did open a ranch gate for Bruce Babbitt (former AZ gov and Sec'y of the Interior under Clinton, (back when I was alive)), when I was hiking across his ranch on the AZT. I said it was an honor meeting him and he told me what cattle tanks had water in them. He had a truck load of salt licks. (Later, at Lockwood Tank, I had to push through a herd of his thirsty bulls to get to water, one of the more nervous maneuvers I've ever done while hiking.)

So sorry to hear of your demise. I must have missed it here on White Blaze. Who can we send the cards/donations to?

My most memorable accomplished person was the young lady with a soft cast on her sprained ankle who STILL was hiking faster than I was.

[tiptoe]

Mostly you just chat on the trail, and you don't know won't know you are talking to a famous person unless you recognize him/her or the person reveals his/her identity or profession. A long time ago I met Linda Ellerbee on the AT in Connecticut. She introduced herself to me, using her real name, and since I looked clueless, she announced that she was a TV Nickelodeon personality. Unfortunately for her, she had met a person who doesn't own a functioning TV and doesn't want to. Another time, at the shelter near Hanover, I met a recent retiree from the NSA and I thoughtlessly asked what he did there. The response was predictable: If I told you, I'd have to kill you. I formally withdrew the question, and went on to discuss the Orozco murals in the basement of the Dartmouth library. These are well worth a visit, but I digress.
http://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/docs/orozcobrochure.pdf

[Nooga]

I meet C. Everett Koop, former US Surgeon General, on the trail in Southern Maine.

[A.T.Lt]

Ive met many people in the midst of their thru hikes...most more than half way to the end. To me these are people that have "accomplished" something...celebrities or the like dont interest me.

[sbhikes]

I met a guy named Dakota Mike. I think he turned up in a book I read once. Also met Billy Goat and Nimblewill Nomad. None of these folks are wealthy or anything like that. Met a guy named Tahoe Mike. I hear he has his own helicopter. He's probably somebody.

[rickb]

Like a great many thru hikers back then, I was waited on and served pie by the wife of a renowned NH governor at sugar shack near Mt. Cube.

Might have seemed odd in another place, but in New Hampshire the only thing remarkable about the experience was how good the pie tasted.

[max patch]

Like a great many thru hikers back then, I was waited on and served pie by the wife of a renowned NH governor at sugar shack near Mt. Cube.

Might have seemed odd in another place, but in New Hampshire the only thing remarkable about the experience was how good the pie tasted.

I forgot to mention that. Except I didn't have pie, I had pancakes and sausage with maple syrup that came from the family farm. After the wife gave me tour of the whole maple syrup making process. Silly me, I thot they still hung pails on trees. I also got to talk to Gov Thomson while he let me spend the nite in his barn.

[MDSection12]

I've met some self-proclaimed accomplished people on the trail, but I always wonder if they're just telling stories out of boredom.

[Different Socks]

@nd thurn hiker i met on the trail was a Mass public defender.

[Different Socks]

@nd thurn hiker i met on the trail was a Mass public defender.

OOPS! 2nd thru hiker....damn these cold fat fingers!!

[lemon b]

Ward"ChiP" Leonard several times. I actually get alone with him, but the dude sure can eat. Bet he's gone from NH to Ct many times without hardly stopping since he has family in both places. Last time I saw him was three years ago between Rte 23 in Ma and the flats. I was on the way out and handed off my excess food which he made quick work off than he was off like a flash.

[Ox97GaMe]

I met the CEO of GoLite at Springer several years ago when he was attempting to set the AT record for distance without a resupply. He did a lot of talking about all the records that he supposedly had set on various trails. He left Springer with 127 lbs. He made it to Neels Gap. Winton said that he did set a record for most amount of gear shipped from Walasi-Yi Outfitters by a hiker.

Im sure that of the 3000+ thru hikers I have met over the years, some of them have been 'famous' in the non-hiking world. They introduce themselves by their trail names, so I dont know what they do in the real world.

[Astro]

On my AT hike I met both Warren Doyle and Baltimore Jack.

I assume at different times. If both at the same time, that might have been an event you could have sold tickets for.

[Siarl]

I agree with those who would rather not know or would like to remain anonymous as far as their secular gains or losses. After all, I haven't hiked the AT yet. That will be another year and a half from now if it works out that way. But I have hiked other trails within myself and sometimes those were the hardest trails of all. I've lived where I am the minority and the language spoke around me was not my natural one. That was one of the first lessons I learned in life. That was a trail for me to hike. Many times we judge those based on our own experiences and our own worldly status. It doesn't matter if you are incredibly wealthy, intelligent or not. If you look closely, you will find that either side would rather not be judged by their worldly status. On the trail, you are the others equal, both shall fall the same, and help the same.

[fredmugs]

Jenn Pharr Davis blew past me in Maine on her record setting hike. I also ran into Warren Doyle who was supporting her but didn't know it was him at the time. This August I met Scott Williamson and then Anish who was looking for Scott. Those people have certainly accomplished more than any TV personality.

A certain former high ranking official within the EPA is an active member here but I'm not naming names. We hiked through the Superfund site in PA together.

[HikerMom58]

Jenn Pharr Davis blew past me in Maine on her record setting hike. I also ran into Warren Doyle who was supporting her but didn't know it was him at the time. This August I met Scott Williamson and then Anish who was looking for Scott. Those people have certainly accomplished more than any TV personality.

A certain former high ranking official within the EPA is an active member here but I'm not naming names. We hiked through the Superfund site in PA together.

But, now I want to know who it is...

[lissersmith]

I met Andie McDowell (Groundhog Day actress) At Tricorner Knob in the GSMNP.