Thru Hiking Family of 8 - Your Thoughts?

[Puddlefish]

Eh, they'll make it as far as they make it. They'll find a pace that works for them. No different from anyone else who starts a hike.

[MacBrave]

Saw a picture of this family in a recent Trail Journals entry. Apparently this was taken on 3/19 at Mollies Ridge Shelter: http://www.trailjournals.com/journal.../21985/1151113

[Gambit McCrae]

Saw a picture of this family in a recent Trail Journals entry. Apparently this was taken on 3/19 at Mollies Ridge Shelter: http://www.trailjournals.com/journal.../21985/1151113

Well that's not good. They were at Mollies Ridge at some point yesterday MM 177. That means they are probably around 2-3 days (At their pace) from Newfound gap (Clingmans Dome Road is closed) and with a good possibility of up to 15" of snow to fall prior to Thursday morning. Not good, hopefully they are closer to Newfound Gap then that.

Weather for Spence Field:
Tonight: Areas of fog and showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then patchy fog and rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 20. West northwest wind 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Wednesday: Snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 22. West northwest wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Wednesday Night: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 18 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday: A chance of snow showers before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 35. North northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

As well Found their Instagram page, they started March 1st. Which makes sense with an avg of 8.8 miles a day.

"Kami and Ben Crawford Family of 8, thru hiking the Appalachian Trail starting March 1, 2018 "

[Venchka]

Yikes. They fill up a shelter. Folks who arrive after them will not be pleased.
Wayne

[MuddyWaters]

Yikes. They fill up a shelter. Folks who arrive after them will not be pleased.
Wayne

Some will just have to learn how to actually use those tents they are carryin.

I imagine 40 or 50 people a day or pretty much not pleased everyday about about this time in ga. Just part of it.

[Last Call]

I can't imagine dealing with the diapees.....

[Venchka]

A couple and an infant just a few months old thru hiked last year or the year before. They seemed to do just fine. Despite opinions to the contrary.
Wayne

[lonehiker]

Yikes. They fill up a shelter. Folks who arrive after them will not be pleased.
Wayne

The vids I saw, and I watched them all, showed them tenting.

[Venchka]

The vids I saw, and I watched them all, showed them tenting.

That’s what I get for thinking.
Tenting is good.
Wayne

[McBlaster]

In their first video they were spitting their toothpaste into a creek.

[KCNC]

-Gastrointestinal illness hit them at Neel's Gap - had to take an unplanned zero because half of them were unwell.

-The video posted yesterday indicated that the father "flicked" the baby in the mouth because he wouldn't quit crying, making his lip bleed.

-Had they started a month from now I'd probably be rooting them on. As it is, I feel sorry for the baby for all the reasons previously stated. It's damned cold and wet out there this time of year and he has no understanding of what's going on.

-Don't know if they took the drone with them, they found out before they left they weren't allowed and they have a disclaimer that none of the drone footage is actually from the AT.

-My wife has skimmed their videos thus far, I've watched snippets. I hope no one gets hurt.

[Lone Wolf]

foolishness. hope they don't make it

[KCNC]

I also subscribed out of sheer curiosity but you are right, it does seem like a setup for a reality show.

They're not interested in ad revenue, but if you want to send them money they'll take it.

I just don't get it. Oh well, perhaps I'm not meant to understand.

[KCNC]

Made it through one and a half videos, couldn't watch any more. Yes, the lip flicking and foot treatment of the toddler bothers me, but few of the other kids seem that jazzed to be there either. Cold, rainy/snowy weather doesn't help, but no way to avoid that; you have to be prepared for that no matter when you start, either at the start of the trail or the end (or both!).

Lots of other judgy things in my head, similar to what has already been posted. Just my 2c, but looks more like a determined dad who is going to push through anything, regardless of the circumstances or risk...and that worries me. I hope they've also budgeted for a medivac.

Actually, in one of the videos it's the Mom who is determined to complete the hike. She even admits at that point that she's not as committed to it as she originally was.

[Pastor Bryon]

Actually, in one of the videos it's the Mom who is determined to complete the hike. She even admits at that point that she's not as committed to it as she originally was.

My bad, good correction.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

[Zed]

I dove in last night and watched a several of their other videos. He apparently was a ring leader of a bunch of card counting Christian blackjack players. Supposedly took several casinos for millions. The documentary "Holy Rollers" is about it. https://goo.gl/Rnk8FT

He paid for her nursing school, which once graduated and employed she quit after 12 days because she couldn't do math. (what?)

They seem to put everything in their life out there. 600+ videos.

But as I mentioned before, I don't get it. They don't have many subscribers. They aren't monetized on YouTube. Most of their older videos get about 1500 views. They are obviously attention seeking, but they aren't very good at it.

I don't know why I'm so interested, probably because there is something I'm missing. I can't point to anything in particular, but it feels like a con.

[D2maine]

foolishness. hope they don't make it

its just walking

[FranklinBeans]

I was on their side, initially. The baby will be fine. I'm sure he runs around every time they take a break.


Dad's hitting the baby in the face though? Welp. That's abuse, and I expect social services will be wanting a chat with them shortly.

[stumpknocker]

I would want parents just like this if I were a kid!

[Mugthumper]

A couple and an infant just a few months old thru hiked last year or the year before. They seemed to do just fine. Despite opinions to the contrary.
Wayne

It seems we see parents hit the trail every year with kids in tow, but I don't think I can recall any starting the first day of March. It is just not sensible.

There is also a huge difference between carrying around an infant compared to a toddler. 2 year old children have TONS of energy. All of my kids at 2 years old had endless energy from the moment they woke up until bedtime. They are/were always running, dancing, singing, and carrying their toys back and forth to every square inch of my house. Their 2 year old looks nearly comatose every time they show him in the carrier. Look into that child's eyes and tell me that he is not absolutely miserable. I would not doubt if what we are all seeing is the early signs of hypothermia. They even stated that it was taking them I believe 3-4 hours to get warm after getting into the tent. From what I see and the way they talk about their gear, having 3 kids sharing a sleeping bag/comforter together to try and keep warm, they are not geared to be out there.

They have inadequately knowledge of their situation and surroundings and inadequately geared for being there. It is a recipe for disaster.