WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: AT Bag Tag

  1. #1
    Registered User GolfHiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-13-2004
    Location
    Pinehurst, NC
    Age
    71
    Posts
    254

    Default AT Bag Tag

    A question I’ve wanted to ask for some time now... what is the etiquette for leaving your ATC Hang Tag on your pack well after your hike? Mine is the 2017 Yellow tag. I’m guessing this is a “there are no right or wrong answers “ kind of question, so it’s all about opinions. Does this make you cool? Not cool? Show off? Subtle accomplishment? AT pride? To be hung only when on the AT? Any trail? Any or all of the above? So WWYD?

    This is pretty low on the list of important AT matters, but still, I’d like to know your thoughts....
    "How can something this hard be so much fun".

  2. #2
    Garlic
    Join Date
    10-15-2008
    Location
    Golden CO
    Age
    66
    Posts
    5,615
    Images
    2

    Default

    I put trail decals in the rear window of my car. It's led to some fun talks at trailheads, and one note under the wiper blade urging a phone call and a hike sometime. I wave when I pass a similarly-bedecked car. I've never seen the tag you mention--they must be new since '08--but why not display it? Fly the flag.

  3. #3

    Default

    I found this statement:

    ”In addition to providing a way for hikers to celebrate their thru-hike attempts, the primary purpose of the A.T. hangtag is to promote sustainable hiking practices aligned with Leave No Trace principles.”

    At this website:

    https://appalachiantrail.org/officia...1-at-hangtags/

  4. #4
    Is it raining yet?
    Join Date
    07-15-2004
    Location
    Kensington, MD
    Age
    47
    Posts
    1,077
    Images
    62

    Default

    I think this falls under the Hike your own hike ​mantra.
    Be Prepared

  5. #5

    Default

    If you hiked the entire trail then you earned it. Leave it on your pack. I do. Leaving it there for a thru hike attempt that ended early seems a little irritating. That goes along with the people I met who were attempting a “thru in two“ as a way of saying they didn’t finish their thru hike.

    Hiking the entire trail is a tremendous accomplishment no matter how you do it. But doing it in one calendar year comes with extra bragging rights.

    And asking the ATC or allowing them to direct and define the culture seems wrong too. The perception of that hang tag and a thru hike accomplishment comes from the hiking community. There is a generational trend to water down accomplishments to allow for more winners, but that has started to change in the last few years.

  6. #6
    Registered User hobbs's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-12-2010
    Location
    fincastle Virginia
    Age
    55
    Posts
    703
    Journal Entries
    1
    Images
    8

    Default

    They started those dumb tages in 2014 didnt hardly see anyone with one n 2015 on the trail cause we all thought they were stupid.Still do.If you need some special acknowledgment cause you thru hiked wow..Special huh...
    My love for life is quit simple .i get uo in the moring and then i go to bed at night. What I do inbween is to occupy my time. Cary Grant

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-01-2014
    Location
    bronx
    Age
    61
    Posts
    512

    Default

    Nothing wrong with showing off when showing off is warranted. I would continue hanging it on my pack with pride.

  8. #8

    Default

    However you'd like to display it I think is fair game.

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-01-2014
    Location
    Anchorage, AK
    Age
    62
    Posts
    2,500

    Default

    Don't do it. They will use it against you. They will disrupt your piece of mind using it to start talking to you. They will know where you've been. They will use it as one more tool to pigeonhole your identity and intentions.

    Have a great hike.
    I'm not lost. I'm exploring.

  10. #10

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hobbs View Post
    They started those dumb tages in 2014 didnt hardly see anyone with one n 2015 on the trail cause we all thought they were stupid.Still do.If you need some special acknowledgment cause you thru hiked wow..Special huh...
    It's one thing to say you don't like them, but that was a real jerk response.

  11. #11

    Default

    Golfhiker.....let's equate the AT thru hiker tag to golf bag tags. If someone played in the US Am or a State Open Championship, I don't care how long ago, that player deems whether that bag tag belongs. It can be a great conversation starter. But it the golf bag tag is from some resort golf course? 50 of them on a bag? Tacky. One could consider completion of the AT as sort of a pinnacle in the hiking world and the hiker who finished it deserves to be proud of the achievement. Now, I suspect a keen eye could identify a thru hiker from a day hiker quickly, almost as quickly as I can discern a 100 shooter from a 70's shooter in golf....about 5 seconds. I am not a bumper sticker, badge hanging person, but I would recognize that someone proudly hanging it off their pack deserves to be proud. Who cares what the perceived rules are. Etiquette spemticate, Hang your tag proudly.

  12. #12
    Registered User GolfHiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-13-2004
    Location
    Pinehurst, NC
    Age
    71
    Posts
    254

    Default

    Hot damn, Big Old Dog, I like your thinking. I’ll go dig out my State Am. bag tag. Hobbs, you’ve got problems dude.
    Thanks all. I’ll be hanging my Tag!
    "How can something this hard be so much fun".

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-11-2015
    Location
    Blairsville ,GA
    Posts
    263

    Default

    I think if you've hiked the AT, you've earned the right to do whatever you like with the tag.

  14. #14
    Registered User colorado_rob's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-20-2012
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Age
    67
    Posts
    4,540
    Images
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by skater View Post
    I think if you've hiked the AT, you've earned the right to do whatever you like with the tag.
    My impression of these cool little tags is that they are an acknowledgement of having registered with the ATC, and that you're on a long AT, whether a thru attempt or a LASH, or whatever. I still have mine from 2017 (when I rehiked a part of the AT with my wife), been on my pack since, it's a great conversation starter. There shouldn't be any conflict or requirements or anything else about these little AT tags, this post is the first time I've heard anyone mention anything about this.

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-19-2005
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    3,715
    Images
    3

    Default

    My impression of these cool little tags is that they are an acknowledgement of having registered with the ATC, and that you're on a long AT, whether a thru attempt or a LASH, or whatever



    this is it.......

    all they are trying to do is get a sense of the number of hikers attempting a thru...

    and these numbers will help them figure out usage of resources....

  16. #16

    Default

    Just remember, HYOT.

  17. #17
    Registered User JNI64's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-23-2019
    Location
    Harpers ferry wv.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    2,087

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by GolfHiker View Post
    A question I’ve wanted to ask for some time now... what is the etiquette for leaving your ATC Hang Tag on your pack well after your hike? Mine is the 2017 Yellow tag. I’m guessing this is a “there are no right or wrong answers “ kind of question, so it’s all about opinions. Does this make you cool? Not cool? Show off? Subtle accomplishment? AT pride? To be hung only when on the AT? Any trail? Any or all of the above? So WWYD?

    This is pretty low on the list of important AT matters, but still, I’d like to know your thoughts....
    Yeah who cares about etiquette? Not us , we're dirt bag hikers we don't live by them laws.

    I think it makes you cool , showing off why not a lil, huge accomplishment, absolutely AT pride, to be hung everywhere, if I thru hiked I would wear it loud and proud just like the American flag.

  18. #18
    Registered User JNI64's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-23-2019
    Location
    Harpers ferry wv.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    2,087

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by CalebJ View Post
    It's one thing to say you don't like them, but that was a real jerk response.
    Yep I concur .....

  19. #19
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-25-2014
    Location
    Westchester County, NY
    Posts
    2,305

    Default

    I'm agnostic on the issue but I would not. Just ain't my thang, wearing patches and so forth.

    But other people like them and it's still a semi-free country so what the hey.

    However, if not getting the tag — as happened last year with the imposition of CV19 restrictions — makes somebody angry/upset enough to alter his/her plans because it won't be 'officially' recognized, then IMVHO there's something a wee bit messed up about that.

  20. #20
    Registered User gbolt's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-21-2014
    Location
    Dayton, Ohio
    Age
    64
    Posts
    697

    Default

    I have 2018 Tag. It was great on the Trail because it was wonderful to identify other Thru Hikers that I had not yet met all the way to K. More a badge of shared experience for the year. Since then, I sometimes have it still clipped and other times I haven’t. I have noticed that it is a great conversation starter and people ask more questions both about gear, hiking and the AT specifically. When I don’t have the tag, people tend to not talk as much. Plus there is the whole weight/ultralight issue (saying that somewhat tongue in cheek). There is no right or wrong issue to this, more about your personal reason to or not to hang the tag in my opinion. Great question! Thanks.
    "gbolt" on the Trail

    I am Third

    We are here to help one another along life's journey. Keep the Faith!

    YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCik...NPHW7vu3vhRBGA

++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •