What's your philosophy on whiteblaze purity?

[Rift Zone]

I'll go ahead and claim the most advanced and successful long distance hikers know there is no right, wrong, or better answer to this one. It is a personal thing that is best served highly customized. So what's your custom? How do you approach that?

I'm almost kind of ashamed to admit I'm a purist. I'm looking at bypassing cool stuff because the mark in the tree had the wrong color? -that's a rough one for me to reconcile. However, hiking the AT to katahdin is the plan, and I tend to be real loyal to plans I adopt... no technicalities, if I'm gonna claim I hiked the entire thing, I will have. So that's how I end up a purist... I will follow the white blazes. Having said that, I have a get out of that free card in some places... I've hiked a third of the AT already. In those places, over ground I've already covered, taking blueblaze parallel routes to cool places is fair game. I will pretty much do so every time the grass is greener.

How about you?

[ramdino]

Purist for me, everyone else hyoh. I'll take a blue blaze to see something cool, then retrace my steps to where I left the AT


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[RockDoc]

Don't let others force you to follow their meaningless rules.

Those that traveled the Oregon Trail in the 1800's took thousands of different routes to get there. As long as they reached Oregon, nobody could say that they didn't travel the trail.

Is walking past every single blaze really important to you, or is it the whole journey? Come on. Is it about them or about you? It's about YOU and that's what matters.

[Dogwood]

Hike however you want unless you're a real s$%mbag. Honor your word. Say what you do and do what you say as clearly, honestly, and to the best of your knowledge as you can. If you make application for a 2000 mile certificate or state you completed the AT meet the condition of having made an honest effort to walk the entire Trail. Honest is defined as free of deceit and untruthfulness. Effort in this context is not just referring to 'making an effort' but a concerted, determined, and vigorous effort.

[Rift Zone]

Hike however you want unless you're a real s$%mbag. Honor your word. Say what you do and do what you say as clearly, honestly, and to the best of your knowledge as you can. If you make application for a 2000 mile certificate or state you completed the AT meet the condition of having made an honest effort to walk the entire Trail. Honest is defined as free of deceit and untruthfulness. Effort in this context is not just referring to 'making an effort' but a concerted, determined, and vigorous effort.

Does that registration require every whiteblaze? How purist is it?

[egilbe]

Does that registration require every whiteblaze? How purist is it?

Pfft, it's on the honor system. It's required that you walk 2000 miles on the AT. I've done about that in Maine and New Hampshire alone.

[Elaikases]

Pfft, it's on the honor system. It's required that you walk 2000 miles on the AT. I've done about that in Maine and New Hampshire alone.

It really struck me that while the trail is 2171 or so miles (changing every year) the badge is for 2000.

[Dogwood]

It really struck me that while the trail is 2171 or so miles (changing every year) the badge is for 2000.

I guess you didn't read the ATC's Certificate recognition for application info.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) recognizes anyone who reports completion of the entire Trail as a “2,000-miler.” The term is a matter of tradition and convenience, based upon the original estimated length of the Trail. Conservancy policy is to operate on an honor system, assuming that those who apply for 2000-miler status have hiked all of the A.T. between Katahdin and Springer Mountain, either as a thru-hiker or in sections.Instead of everyone with their own definitions, interpretations, and needless endless confrontation and debating of what it means to complete the AT the ATC's definition is a darn good standard definition. It ends much of the drama.

[Dogwood]

Does that registration require every whiteblaze? How purist is it?

Section hikers and thru-hikers who complete the entire A.T. can report their journeys to us by filling out the 2,000-miler application. Those who submit their applications will be added to our roster of 2,000-milers and will receive a certificate of recognition, an A.T. patch, and an accompanying 2,000-miler “rocker” patch. Each year the names of those who have reported hike completions in the previous 12 months are published in the Spring issue of A.T. Journeys magazine. Our comprehensive online 2,000-miler listing is updated periodically.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) recognizes anyone who reports completion of the entire Trail as a “2,000-miler.” The term is a matter of tradition and convenience, based upon the original estimated length of the Trail. Conservancy policy is to operate on an honor system, assuming that those who apply for 2000-miler status have hiked all of the A.T. between Katahdin and Springer Mountain, either as a thru-hiker or in sections. In the event of an emergency, such as a flood, a forest fire, or an impending storm, blue-blazed trails or officially required roadwalks are viable substitutes for the white-blazed route. Issues of sequence, direction, speed, length of time or whether one carries a pack are not considered. ATC assumes that those who apply have made an honest effort to walk the entire Trail, even if they did not walk past every white blaze. If you meet these standards, please complete and sign the form below.Recognition Policy

• We hold high expectations of 2,000-milers that include treating the natural environment, A.T. communities, other hikers, and our agency partners — whose land the A.T. passes through — with kindness, respect and cooperation;
• We operate on the honor system;
• We give equal recognition to thru-hikers and section hikers;
• We recognize hikers regardless of sequence, direction, speed or whether they carry a pack;
• In the event of an emergency, such as a flood, a forest fire or an impending storm, blue-blazed trails or officially required road walks are viable substitutes for the white-blazed route.

A fair definition with reasonable conditions of recognition for completing the AT whether applying for the 2000 mile certificate or not. Opinions vary though. This has been debated so many times.

I'm concerned with purity of one's word, one's heart, and mind rather than someone claiming an act with untruthfulness and deceit.

[Rift Zone]

A fair definition with reasonable conditions of recognition for completing the AT whether applying for the 2000 mile certificate or not. Opinions vary though. This has been debated so many times.

I'm concerned with purity of one's word, one's heart, and mind rather than someone claiming an act with untruthfulness and deceit.

hmm. I see. They're pretty much purist about it. Honestly, think my vote would be to relax it to a minimum of 2k on white blazes, leaving a little room for side paths on thru hikes, while section hikes should stay purist. It wouldn't change my personal approach any, I'd still be purist; but that's how I'd vote.

[LazyLightning]

I'm not judging or saying this means anything but according to the ATC a 2,000 miler is someone who makes an honest attempt to hike the entire trail, not just 2,000 miles of it. They call it that cause it sounds better then a 2,192 miler...

I followed the trail exactly but I also took every scenic blue blaze I could and retraced my steps back anytime I would have had the option to skip part. That's just what I wanted to do, I was hiking the AT so I actually wanted to see the entire trail. If there was a more scenic route I was still interested to see the route they bring the AT through instead, and a lot of times it made me wonder.

The next long stretch I do on the AT I will certainly mix things up and take every trail I can that connects back, even if not necessarily more scenic. HYOH for sure.

[fastfoxengineering]

But if you blue blaze during a thru did you really thru?

Seriously... let it go. You said it yourself. Those who talk about this crap are those who have never walked that far.



Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk

[Rift Zone]

But if you blue blaze during a thru did you really thru?

Seriously... let it go. You said it yourself. Those who talk about this crap are those who have never walked that far.



Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk

Directed at me?

If i start at springer/falls and hike to katadin in a season, yea, that's a thru in my view.

i was just curious about the philosophy, cuz I know it's a thing on the AT. -west coast is usually my base camp. The inexperienced care what others philosophies are, like as in guiding principles or something... I don't care, advanced hikers don't care, no one should care. Apparently the 2000miler patch cares, but that's a patch, who cares what it thinks? -i would never register for it, doesn't matter if I get every single white blaze.

[peakbagger]

The purists tend to thin out after a few months on the trail. In the whites the Crawford Path and the Gulfside are foul weather routes in spots that skip the actual summits and ridgeline. I expect more than few folks follow the ridgeline on a nice day

[rickb]

The purists tend to thin out after a few months on the trail. In the whites the Crawford Path and the Gulfside are foul weather routes in spots that skip the actual summits and ridgeline. I expect more than few folks follow the ridgeline on a nice day

Very cool to bag some of the peaks that the historic Crawford Path (Section of AT) skirts around (check them off your 4000 footer list!) but since you are above treeline anyway, are the views any better if you go up and over them?

Not really.

I expect there are exceptions — I am foggy on the foul weather routes and that is a whole other kettle of fish.

I am thinking that the AT used to go around Mt Height (Which was on a very short blue blaze at one time) which has a really nice view in the Carters.

[peakbagger]

Very cool to bag some of the peaks that the historic Crawford Path (Section of AT) skirts around (check them off your 4000 footer list!) but since you are above treeline anyway, are the views any better if you go up and over them?

Not really.

I expect there are exceptions — I am foggy on the foul weather routes and that is a whole other kettle of fish.

I am thinking that the AT used to go around Mt Height (Which was on a very short blue blaze at one time) which has a really nice view in the Carters.

It definitely makes a big difference for some of the summits, the Crawford Path goes around Eisenhower just below treeline in the krummholz with zero views. The blue blaze over Eisenhower is really nice as the summit of Eisenhower is probably the most classic dome shape in the whites. The AT turn off to the Crawford Path is very confusing in this area and I expect many south bounders end up going partway up the summit before they realize they are on a blue blaze (I met a southbounder this summer who had missed the turn). Monroe and little Monroe both are bypassed by the Crawford Path. The AT goes through a nice flat "lawn" that has some nice alpine flowers in early summer but the blue blaze has a bit of a knife edge in spots and has great views down to the Lakes of the Clouds that are missed entirely by the AT. On the Gulfside north of Mt Washington, the AT skips Mt Clay which sits along the headwall of the Great Gulf. The AT does traverse a similar section just south of the Mt Clay turnoff but it doesnt have the combination of a top of a ridgeline and the steep dropoff that the Mt Clay blue blaze has. The Gulfside bypass around Jefferson is a mixed blessing. It does have some krummholz but a lot is hiking across lawns and the views down to Jefferson's Knees are superior to the blue blaze. The blueblaze up over the summit does have great views west that rival Mt Washington. Jefferson sits a bit northwest of the main presidential ridgeline and the west side of the summit drops down quickly with no major mountains in view until the Green Mountains in VT. Mt Adams is also bypassed by the Gulfside. Its the second highest mountain in New England and is not trashed like the summit of Mt Washington. It also drops off steeply into Great Gulf with great views in all directions. The blue blaze is short so I expect many folks take the time to visit it.

The problem with the presidential ridge for most thru hikers are that they frequently are in rush as unless they have expensive reservations at the huts, many are trying to do it in two days. If the do the conventional Northbound they are starting at Nauman tentsite and then they are either shooting for the Dungeon at Lake of the Crowds of the unofficial Jewell site or the illegal Sphinx col spot. Some really dedicated folks head to the RMC Perch. All of these destinations means a long day and expect the temptation is stick to the ridgeline and do the blueblazes as they dont have time to do the up and back to fiil in the white blazed bypasses. Add a reserved night at Lake of the Crowds into the mix and then they have more time to play and do the blue blazes but if they leave it to chance and hope for a slot late in the day at LOC they most likely are not going to get one. Southbound has similar if not worse issues, may start at Osgood Tentsite and then have to do the steep climb up to the ridge. If they stop at Valley Way for event the Perch the next day is long one to Nauman.

I have heard some debate over the southerly loop over the Wildcats. Given that AMC was a major supporter of the AT and had a path to Crawford Hut from their Pinkham Notch location over the Wildcats long before the AT they were included but with the exception of the views down the ski slope, the views per mile are a bit lower then the rest of the Whites. The AT could have just had easily taken a turn down the Great Gulf trail and then over to 19 mile brook trail and up to Carter Notch. The same views per mile deficit could be said of the Carters but at expect they were needed to connect up with the Mahoosucs. The other option was just follow the old Pine Link (the lower section s now called the Pine Mountain trail all the way to Gorham from the top of Madison and skip the entire Carter Moriah range

[MuddyWaters]

Do what you like
Others will do what they like

Theres already plenty of yellow blazin 2000 milers

Sun still comes up each morning.

[Rift Zone]

Theres already plenty of yellow blazin 2000 milers

that's just plain dirty. lol meh. more power to them and their achievements.

[Odd Man Out]

If you take a blue blaze trail into town and a different blue blaze out of town, and in doing so miss a short section of white blazes but cover a few extra miles, I'm not going to say anything. Blue blazes don't alway mean short cut.

[fastfoxengineering]

When I hear the word purism i think of one thing.

Integrity.



Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk