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  1. #1
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    Default Green Blazing...?

    So I just saw that people have named other colors of blazing to mean different things. I skimmed the list and thought reach one was funny, or cool, or just interesting. But I saw green blazing - hooking while smoking pot - and it didn't even occur to me previously that this might be very common.

    So that's my question: How often should I expect to be around smokers?

    Whether it's pot or cigarettes, it's not something I want to be around, but I'll deal with it.

  2. #2
    Leonidas
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    Just going to depend, we only had one night out of our 10 day section where we ran into green blazers actively smoking. Had another guy SOBO ask us if we had any smoke.
    AT: 695.7 mi
    Benton MacKaye Trail '20
    Pinhoti Trail '18-19'
    @leonidasonthetrail https://www.youtube.com/c/LeonidasontheTrail

  3. #3
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    Avoid shelters if it bothers you that much. Otherwise, just politely move on if encountered on the trail while hiking, but don't let it drive you away from scenic overlooks and such.

  4. #4
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    Default

    Thanks for posting your experience.

  5. #5
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    Default

    smokin' dope and drinkin' is a big part of the AT culture nowadays. plus tobacco use heavy

  6. #6

    Default

    In two months, I saw one old guy smoking in a shelter, until he got yelled at, whereupon he moved outside the shelter by five feet. I smelled cigarette smoke a half dozen times.

    There were a whole lot of people smoking or vaping weed, but never where I got annoyed by the stench. It seems like there are a lot of high efficiency pipes and product these days, and the days of giant clouds of smoke are largely gone.

  7. #7
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    Yeah I was stunned at the amount of people that picked up smoking cigarettes on the trail. Not sure but it seemed that it was the cheaper alternative to smoking weed and the nicotine gave off some kind of kick that kept people going.

  8. #8
    Registered User egilbe's Avatar
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    I'm still puzzled why hikers smoke cigarrettes. Stuff is pure poison.

  9. #9
    Wanna-be hiker trash
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by egilbe View Post
    I'm still puzzled why hikers smoke cigarrettes. Stuff is pure poison.
    They've got vitamins and fiber.
    Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by egilbe View Post
    I'm still puzzled why hikers smoke cigarrettes. Stuff is pure poison.
    Knowing how bad many things are for you, Im amazed anyone would make the choices to do the things a lot of people do.
    The only logical answer is....some people really dont care.

    Pretty much a fact that smokers have a life expectancy 10 -25 yrs shorter than non-smokers, and can expect a lot of issues late in life as well. Certainly no secret. I figure that many people just dont want to live to see grandchildren grow up..
    Last edited by MuddyWaters; 07-24-2016 at 19:54.

  11. #11
    Registered User rtfi's Avatar
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    Just hiked a week in Maine and didn't see anyone smoking tobacco or weed, and I stayed in a shelter every night. Other years, I have seen some smoking, but not too often. I think the difficulty of "re-upping" for weed smokers makes it hard to smoke too often.
    Alex: What does Connecticut have to offer us?
    Melman: Lyme Disease.
    Alex: Thank you, Melman.

  12. #12
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    David Gray noted on a his recent video of a section hike of the AT how surprised he was at the number of smoker (in general, I believe) there were on the trail.

  13. #13
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    A lot of people smoke pot but you won't see a ton of public use at shelter sites. It's usually done in an inconspicuous way motivated both by consideration for those who don't appreciate it, and/or a lack of desire to share with anyone who sees it and wants to partake in your supply.

    The tobacco thing is surprising and I say that as someone who smoked for a lot of the trail, but nicotine is quite an addictive substance. There's the social aspect, always running into someone else for another smoke break. It's an immediate if brief antidote for some of the daily grind parts of hiking. Yeah it drags you down physically a bit but I feel like it kinda gets lost among all the other physical challenges of thru hiking. Tight chest climbing a hill blends right in with blisters, chafing, bug bites, sore this and pulled that... Cost is definitely a factor too, for hikers who didn't grow up in the south tobacco is absolutely dirt cheap in the first half of the trail. Makes it really easy to get hooked.

  14. #14
    Registered User Christoph's Avatar
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    Only a few times I saw people smoking cigarettes on the trail when I was trying my best at a thru last year. Those that I did see were not throwing butts on the trail or in fire pits or around the shelter, etc. I did run into a huge mass of pot smokers though, and while most asked if I wanted to partake, I said no and pressed on. Didn't really bother me much.
    - Trail name: Thumper

  15. #15
    Registered User -Rush-'s Avatar
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    I could care less about green blazers on the trail, but cigarette smokers can go get ****ed.

  16. #16
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by egilbe View Post
    I'm still puzzled why hikers smoke cigarrettes. Stuff is pure poison.
    It's lighter than alcohol???

  17. #17

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by lilgodwin View Post
    But I saw green blazing - hooking while smoking pot - and it didn't even occur to me previously that this might be very common.

    So that's my question: How often should I expect to be around smokers?
    lots a weed smokin' goin' on, but only once was I proposition...I turned her down!

  18. #18
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    In the Middle East countries I've done most of my LD hiking, 100% of the locals out in the desert smoke.
    Usually homegrown tobacco which they claim to be less health-threatening thancigarettes from the shop, but they use weed heavily too.
    I had been a cigarette smoker for a decade long past and can well understand the pleasure of smoking, especially when sitting around the campfire relaxing, socialising, waiting for dinner etc.

  19. #19
    Registered User Engine's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Starchild View Post
    It's lighter than alcohol???
    Alcohol in moderation has been shown to be okay, maybe even has some health benefits. Tobacco has zero benefits and LOTS of downsides...
    “He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.” –Socrates

  20. #20
    Garlic
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Starchild View Post
    It's lighter than alcohol???
    That's what I heard on the trail as I saw some young hikers take up the habit. Light weight "recreation."

    Quote Originally Posted by rocketsocks View Post
    lots a weed smokin' goin' on, but only once was I proposition...I turned her down!
    I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice (or comment) on that! I don't know if you're joking, but I actually did run into "Quickie" up in Maine in '08. I asked her how she got her trail name, she said, "Got twenty bucks?" And she was smoking, by the way.
    "Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence." John Muir on expedition planning

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