[at-l] What about that Warren Doyle story?

"Billie H. Cleek" <cleek@csc.smsu.edu> wrote:

>Could someone please tell me who this Warren character is?


Billie -
You're right - Warren is a "character".  He's also the founder of ALDHA and 
has hiked the AT at least 12 times. Five of those times were with small 
groups he led up the trail, part of an "unbroken circle" of people who 
commit to hiking the whole trail together.  They do it in 4 months, with van 
support.  There's a video about one of the hikes, called "Circle of Dreams."

He's also a friend of mine - and was my mentor prior to my AT thruhike.  
Unless he's changed drastically, I'd take some of the stories about him with 
a grain of salt.  For example - used to be the only use he had for shelters 
was as a place to wait out the heat in high summer.  Warren is a free 
spirit, lives by his own rules, irritates some (many?)people - and does his 
group hikes as a spiritual/learning experience - not to make money. From 
that perspective, there's no reason for him to apply for a "group permit". 
It's extremely improbable that he'd apply for a "group permit" for any part 
of the trail, because like me, he's one of the ultimate 'anti-permit' 
curmudgeons.

It's possible - but not highly probable that he'd get overbearing in a 
shelter.  I can definitely imagine circumstances such that he could have 
gotten so angry at the group that he'd tell them off (although as far as I 
know, he's never done that before).  Like me, he views the trail as a 
learning experience - and if they didn't learn anything, then they wasted 
his time as well as theirs. But only Warren and the 'group' are qualified to 
judge that.

Keep in mind that those who thruhike the trail (ANY long trail) multiple 
times (or multiple long trails) are 'different'.  They tend to have 
different attitudes and perspectives.  Makes it real hard to judge them -  
especially if you're judging them by 'normal' standards.

On a personal note - I'd like to say "welcome" to Rock dancer.  Nice to see 
you contributing to the campfire.

Walk softly,
Jim



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