will Wild ruin the next couple hiking seasons?

[bamboo bob]

I saw Wild tonight. I think it will win all the prizes. Add her miserable life to all that old school gear and I doubt the film will inspire too many newbies to do the PCT. Although it got me to think about a rematch.

[Del Q]

The outdoor gear industry will certainly benefit.

[imscotty]

There was an invaluable plug for REI in one scene of this movie. Not implying it was a case of 'product placement', actually a key part of Cheryl Strayed's story.

[SCRUB HIKER]

There was an invaluable plug for REI in one scene of this movie. Not implying it was a case of 'product placement', actually a key part of Cheryl Strayed's story.

I haven't seen the movie, but that's in the book as well. It's how she gets the idea for the whole adventure ... scanning books by the checkout line at the REI in Minneapolis.

[colorado_rob]

I saw Wild tonight. I think it will win all the prizes. Add her miserable life to all that old school gear and I doubt the film will inspire too many newbies to do the PCT. Although it got me to think about a rematch.

Agree and disagree... just saw it last night, WOW! Excellent movie, Oscar-winning acting both with Reese Witherspoon & Laura Dern, my wife was in tears a few times. Walking out of the theatre two things happened: 1) All four of us were ready to go plan a PCT thru, in fact my wife, getting close to retirement talked about pushing that date sooner... (I have been planning a 2016 attempt, now she just might join me) and 2) the ladies visited the bathroom in the theatre and reported hearing other ladies talk about getting into long distance hiking ASAP.

So sure, just anecdotal, but we were all very inspired to hike the PCT by the movie, but then again, the four of us are avid hikers/climbers/mountaineers already.

w.r.t. original post, and with due respect: Why would this movie "ruin" hiking seasons? That's just like saying the existence of Whiteblaze ruins hiking along the AT, is is not? Big, wide open spaces out there, I cannot imagine the PCT ever being "crowded" let alone "ruined for hiking".

[Traveler]

The outdoor gear industry will certainly benefit.

For those concerned about millions getting the idea to do long distance hiking, this is probably more of a source than any movie.

[yerbyray]

It isn't going to ruin it anymore than the internet has.

[jawnzee]

Saw Wild. Was disappointed to see more Reece porn than PCT nature porn.

PCT was an occasional backdrop for the real story. Having already been convinced about hiking being awesome, I would not expect this movie to convince people that hiking is awesome. But I guess the movie presents the PCT as some sort of prescription for finding one's self, which is alluring.

[tiptoe]

Saw Wild as well, and thought the movie didn't really show much character development. Maybe that wasn't what the director was after, or maybe RW doesn't have that kind of emotional range as an actress. The voice-over at the end sums up how the hike saved her, but we don't really see how she got from point A to point B. I did really enjoy the encounters she had with various folks and creatures along the trail (I'm being deliberately vague so as not to spoil them for future viewers), though. Many were hilarious, and some were very touching. Yes, lots of product placement, and not just REI, but I didn't mind that, as gear is important. This movie does not glamorize backpacking, unless you are masochistically inclined. Nature? Not nature porn, and no nature epiphanies, either.

[BaxterBear]

I strongly feel the Walk in the Woods AT movie with Redford is going to do far more damage to the AT than Wild will to the PCT.

[imscotty]

I strongly feel the Walk in the Woods AT movie with Redford is going to do far more damage to the AT than Wild will to the PCT.

I agree with that BaxterBear, If WILD attracts people seeking emotional growth and introspection, I say the more the merrier. If A Walk in the Woods attracts the Katz's of the world, then I think it might be a good time to stay off the trail

[Tipi Walter]

Most so-called "backpacking movies" are bogus and erroneous. I watched Into The Wild and the poor guy never clipped on his hipbelt. Just wore his pack with the hipbelt dangling. Who is pulling technical support? No one. It seems Reese is having some hipbelt problems in this trailer at minute 1:35. Looks very weird. Pause it at 1:35 and take a look. Help me with this. Doesn't look high enough and doesn't even look strapped on tight. And her pack looks bigger than any pack I have ever worn. But the stumbling into a cold creek was humorous.

[Tipi Walter]

After closer inspection of the video trailer it seems she has abdominal distention and possibly a series of impacted turtleheads and unreleased turds, a common problem on the trail. There seems to be a bulbous mass under her shirt negating any good effect a tight hipbelt would have. More study needed.

[colorado_rob]

And her pack looks bigger than any pack I have ever worn.

??????????

[Tipi Walter]

??????????

See 1:41---the pack is massive! Must be stuffed with wads of newspapers. See also 1:54 to 1:55. Enormous.

[Coffee]

The scene where Reese tries on her fully loaded pack for the first time in the motel room in Mojave is just priceless!

[Tipi Walter]

The scene where Reese tries on her fully loaded pack for the first time in the motel room in Mojave is just priceless!

Does she clip in the hipbelt? God I hope so.

[RED-DOG]

I liked the movie about as much as I liked the book.

[imscotty]

Tipi - Her cluelessness when it comes to backpacking was part of the point. But looking at your photo I'd say your pack at least gives hers some competition Apparently Cheryl Stayed fellow PCT hikers named her Backpack 'Monster'.

Here is a short article on her equipment...

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor...g-the-PCT.html

[Tipi Walter]

Tipi - Her cluelessness when it comes to backpacking was part of the point. But looking at your photo I'd say your pack at least gives hers some competition Apparently Cheryl Stayed fellow PCT hikers named her Backpack 'Monster'.

Here is a short article on her equipment...

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor...g-the-PCT.html

Thanks a bunch for the link, imscotty. I'll copy it and read it on my next trip.


Here's a pic from the Outside article. She can't be too clueless if she uses an old frog-style North Face tent.

I've seen a few in the backcountry---






Various North Face frog tents in different locations.


North Face isn't the only company making frog tents---Here's a Mt Hardwear Muir Trail from 2001.