[at-l] Southern RUCKformation

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

Abe wrote:

>Shouldnt I attend one before I coordinate one??  ;-)



Abe -
Why?  I didn't - neither did Orange Bug. :-)))

It's more fun if you don't know what you're doing, isn't it?

Seriously(???) - it's nothing more than a hiker weekend.  The original 
intent was to talk to prospective thruhikers so they'd have some idea that 
hiking the AT isn't an "impossible task".  Generally when they meet me they 
think "If he can do it, I sure can".  Some do it, some don't - but at least 
they know that thruhikers don't have to be 10 ft tall and carry 80 # packs  
:-))

The idea is to get some of their questions answered - like how to build an 
alcohol stove? or what do I "need" to carry? or  what kind of boots should I 
use? or --- any of the other 10,000 questions that sometinmes don't get 
answered before they get on the Trail.  But mostly, it's to let them know 
that while thruhikers may be crazy, they're not super-hikers, either.  And 
believe me - AT thruhikers are NOT "super-hikers".

Back to the Ruck - basic requirements are a place to talk, a place to sleep 
and someplace (somehow) to eat.  If you get a bunch of hikers together, 
they'll find ways to entertain themselves.  Slides are nice - but not 
necessary, photo albums are great, workshops are generally overdone (too 
many - but some people think they're necessary), gear talk/demos/Tuckerizing 
is good.  I'm sure you'd have some other ideas, too.

Go for it --

Walk softly,
Jim

PS - I've been trying for 4 years to get people to start other Rucks in 
other places - North is good, Arizona would be good, Oregon would be good, 
Illinois would be good, Michigan would be good -- anyplace there are hikers 
is good.  Any volunteers?

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