[at-l] The Ruck

[spiriteagle99@hotmail.com (Jim and/or Ginny Owen)]

A couple thoughts --

The Ruck was originally intended to be a one-on-one between those who had 
thruhiked the Trail and those who intended to thruhike the Trail.
The first Ruck was just that, the second less so.  At this point, as I said 
to Ginny last night, the Ruck has become "fashionable".  This year there 
were people who showed up for a couple hours in order to see what it was 
and/or to get "face time".  Next year it'll get worse(?) in that respect.  
But that's a minor issue.  Most of us go there for much the same reasons - 
to teach and to learn, to meet friends, to talk trail, for a social weekend.

The major issue is simply "size".  Two years ago (Jan 2000) there were about 
100 people there.  Ginny and I were just off the CDT and deep into 
"hibernation" mode (i.e. - depression).  And it literally blew our minds - 
neither of us was at all happy.  And we nearly didn't come back this year.  
If we hadn't been scheduled for some time to talk to the prospective 
thruhikers we probably wouldn't have been there.  We love you all, but too 
many people is a turn-off for us, especially when we're straight off the 
Trail.  And we're burdened by the memories of what the Ruck was supposed to 
have been - a small, intimate gathering of those with common interest - 
specifically, thruhiking the AT.

OK - so it's gotten beyond that.  As Kahley pointed out, and as we 
experienced this year - the main purpose of the Ruck is still  fulfilled - a 
piece at a time, in odd corners, at odd hours, because the one-on-one 
conversations, the small groups, still gather and talk about the important 
business - how to get from one end of the Trail to the other.  The Ruck 
still lives - even in the midst of chaos.

The location has also become an issue - and it shouldn't be.  Ironmaster's 
is too large to be what the original Ruck was envisioned to be.  And it's 
too small to accomodate all the people who want to attend.

By the second Ruck, the concept of "many" Rucks was formulated - but it 
didn't start to happen until OB stepped in and did something about it.  
Thank you, OB.  The idea that the PA Ruck should be the "only" Ruck or even 
the "main Ruck" is one that needs some re-examination.  The PA Ruck should 
be one of "MANY" Rucks.  There should be one (or more) in Georgia, in 
Arizona, in Minnnesota, in Maine, in ..... (wherever there are people who 
are interested).  Like this list - the Ruck is about friendship, about 
passing on information on a person-to-person  basis, about talking trail, 
about learning and teaching and laughing.  And eating.  It's about people.

So --- should the PA Ruck move?    NO.

Why?

First, because Earl has been promised that it would be at Ironmaster's as 
long as he lives.  Most of you didn't know that, did you?  But as long as he 
lives, there will be "a" Ruck at Ironmasters, even if I'm the only one to 
show up for it.

Second - to move to a larger facility would invite even larger crowds.  And 
while we'd love to see "everyone" - it would be a little much.  It would 
become another ALDHA Gathering.  And that's not - or at least has not been - 
the object of the exercise.  There was never any intent to "compete" with 
the Gathering or to be "THE MID-WINTER GATHERING".
It may become so, but I hope not.

Third - because we've looked for other places and not found anything more 
suitable.  There are other facilities, but as Kahley pointed out, they would 
require formal organization, registration, money up-front, etc.  We don't 
have that - and have never really wanted it.  It may yet happen, but I'm not 
interested in rushing it.  And I'm not interested in "competing" with ALDHA 
- I'd much rather support ALDHA.  The Trail community doesn't need to be 
more fragmented -

Fourth - Ironmaster's, as a location, truly fits the word "traditional".  
It's "on" the Trail, and it has provided service to hikers for many years.



For Kahley - the auction, the growth, the crowds - were not, in my view, 
mistakes.  Nor were they "bad".  They were a necessary stage in the growth 
of what I'm gonna start calling "The Rucks".  The overcrowding at 
Ironmasters partially prompted the Georgia Ruck last year.  Hopefully, that 
trend will continue.  In fact, maybe we should start thinking about a New 
Hampshire Ruck this year - and maybe a Virginia or North Carolina Ruck.  Any 
takers on that one?    :-)

The auction supported a worthy cause - maybe we need to find other worthy 
causes to support, but not necessarily in the same way, not necessarily 
through the Ruck - maybe through the list?

And I don't think it's broken - I think that, like every other child, it's 
grown beyond those who conceived it.  I think it needs to be re-examined, 
maybe guided in a different direction.  And I think it needs to talked about 
by those who are most involved - the membership of this list.  Not just 
Kahley and me and Sly - but by all those who have been there and have ideas 
about how to make it "better", and especially by those who would like to go  
- and have needs that might be fulfilled.

How many prospective thruhikers are out there?  How many have questions?  
How many need help with their pack weight?  How many have fears that those 
who have thruhiked have faced and could help you handle? (Bears, for 
example?)  We, too, have needs - we need your input for this because the 
Ruck is, or should be, your function, your weekend to get help and 
encouragement and knowledge.  And to have some fun along with it.  And to 
become a part of what some of us call the "Trail community".

But  - but -- but -- isn't that the function of the Gathering?  Yes - it is 
- and if at all possible you should go to the Gathering.  But not everyone 
can go there, not everyone gets everything they need out of the Gathering, 
not everyone even knows about the Gathering.  Not everyone is comfortable at 
as big a function as the Gathering has become.  The Ruck is an alternative - 
or an addition, not a replacement.

The Ruck was designed as a smaller, more informal, more intimate and (God 
help me) "traditional" way to help prospective thruhikers.  I'd like to see 
it survive and continue performing that function.

There's more - but I've run out of time right now so it'll have to keep.  
Y'all have a good day.

Walk softly,
Jim





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