Name and shame

[whykickamoocow]

There are many people who have claimed they have thru hiked in 2008, but we all know that many of those making this claim are bogus. They have deliberately blue blazed or skipped sections (usually the hardest parts). On getting the form to claim thru hiker status they just could not help themselves and filled it in. Just about everyone starts out as a purists, then they take an easy option and do a blue blaze, and they start what becomes a slippery slope towards yellow blazing. They use all types of rationales to explain their actions, they even throw up HYOH as a rationale, when that term was never intended to be used in that fashion. Around the campfire at night they would change their story depending on the company, sometimes it was yep I am a thru hiker, other times nope I am not, and then who cares, even telling us purists to get a life. Yet when meeting day hikers on the trail, they would puff up their chests, give a broad smile and answer with a firm YES if asked if they were a thru hiker. It is time to point out those naughty people. They dminish my efforts, what next, they will be filling out forms to claim a purple heart and even start walking with a limp.

[hammock engineer]

Guilty of it in 07 and proud of it. Walked across the country the way I wanted to. No way I saw every blaze. Lost the trail a bunch of times going southbound. No way I was backtracking to the last blaze than going from there. Took a blue blaze if I wanted sometimes easier sometimes harder, In the last 2 weeks before Springer we decided to hike white blaze, blue blaze, yellow blaze, bush whack, zero in a hostel, zero in the woods, slackpack, and everything else we could think of.

I figure I walked across the country taking over 6 months and 2200 miles, I can call myself whatever I want to. Did I register with the ATC and get a patch, no because I think that is a load of crap for similar reasons as you think non\purism is. Did I change it here, no because I am lazy.

I think Bob Peoples said it best. Paraphrased, there hasn't been a purist since I took over. I'm always changing the trail. What you walk on one week could be somewhere else the next.

[Skyline]

. . . I figure I walked across the country taking over 6 months and 2200 miles, I can call myself whatever I want to. Did I register with the ATC and get a patch, no because I think that is a load of crap for similar reasons as you think non\purism is. Did I change it here, no because I am lazy . . .

Let's see, you hiked your own hike and you're proud of it.

You did not do the official white-blazed AT for a considerable portion of your hike.

You did not claim to have done the official AT by signing your name on an ATC document that says you did.

THAT was exactly right and honorable.

[Chaco Taco]

The term thruhiker means that you have completed a thru hike. People that asked us if we were thruhiking, we said, we are trying. Only now would I call myself a thruhiker but would rather just be called a hiker.

[Lone Wolf]

There are many people who have claimed they have thru hiked in 2008, but we all know that many of those making this claim are bogus. They have deliberately blue blazed or skipped sections (usually the hardest parts). On getting the form to claim thru hiker status they just could not help themselves and filled it in. Just about everyone starts out as a purists, then they take an easy option and do a blue blaze, and they start what becomes a slippery slope towards yellow blazing. They use all types of rationales to explain their actions, they even throw up HYOH as a rationale, when that term was never intended to be used in that fashion. Around the campfire at night they would change their story depending on the company, sometimes it was yep I am a thru hiker, other times nope I am not, and then who cares, even telling us purists to get a life. Yet when meeting day hikers on the trail, they would puff up their chests, give a broad smile and answer with a firm YES if asked if they were a thru hiker. It is time to point out those naughty people. They dminish my efforts, what next, they will be filling out forms to claim a purple heart and even start walking with a limp.

you're way too concerned about others and what others think of you

[nufsaid]

you're way too concerned about others and what others think of you

You really said it all. The opinion of someone else only matters if you let it.

[randyg45]

you're way too concerned about others and what others think of you

Some people who are proud of their military service don't like people making claiming military experience they don't have.
Some people who are proud of their thruhike don't like people claiming hiking experience they don't have.

[Ender]

a whole bunch of pointless nonsense

Good grief. If what others say about their own hike really has that much effect on your hike, perhaps you should re-examine your life's priorities.

I mean really.

[Tin Man]

whykickanotherhiker, when on vacation sometimes you have to get off the touron bus to do your own thing and experience all the culture has to offer.

[Analogman]

Good grief. If what others say about their own hike really has that much effect on your hike, perhaps you should re-examine your life's priorities.

I mean really.

Well said.

[Jim Adams]

It IS all about the trip...not the finish. My second trip I blue blazed to Gulf Hagas...made me sorry that I didn't the first time. Get a life!

geek

[walkin' wally]

It IS all about the trip...not the finish.

geek

So true. Such is life.

[Bronk]

Umm, whykickamoocow, how come you get to decide what a thruhiker is?

Are you a thruhiker from the time you step on the trail at Springer (or Katahdin), or do you have to wait until you've completed the whole trail to tell people you're a thruhiker? What if you don't make it all the way? Is it customary to re-contact everyone you've told you were a 'thruhiker' along the way and tell them you made a mistake and you're really only a section hiker after all?

Will you go back and hike new sections when the trail is re-routed in order to maintain your purity? Surely you wouldn't count those old sections as legitimate once the blazes are removed or painted another color...

[Tin Man]

Reminds me of when I saw some white-blaze purists I saw hiking the blue-blazes towards the campsite around stratton pond in VT. After a quick chat and passing them as we were heading up the trail that morning, my brother points out they must have missed the turn and asks why I didn't correct them. I said, it is a pretty walk, let them see something besides white, they'll figure it out soon enough.

[Homer&Marje]

Crying a river should wash all those fakes away.

Something to be said for worrying about your self.

[Tabasco]

Can someone order him a copy of Mags' book? Methinks it would do him good.

[Homer&Marje]

Can someone order him a copy of Mags' book? Methinks it would do him good.

Good call. Whykickameintheasscauseistupid, you should get a copy of Mags book HMHDI.

You could hike all 2175 whiteblazed miles with it shoved conveniently wherever you want it

Someone walks over 2000 miles, I don't care where there feet landed every step. Don't diminish someone elses accomplishment and get off your high horse.

[Grinder]

mind your own business. Hike your own hike!

People like you used to bitch if you didn't ford the Kenebeck,

[Grampie]

Only those who did the walk, know the talk.

[The Weasel]

Good call. Whykickameintheasscauseistupid, you should get a copy of Mags book HMHDI.

You could hike all 2175 whiteblazed miles with it shoved conveniently wherever you want it

Someone walks over 2000 miles, I don't care where there feet landed every step. Don't diminish someone elses accomplishment and get off your high horse.

"I hiked the Appalachian Trail."

---- Bill Bryson, "A Walk In The Woods"