[at-l] Loss of the AT thru-hiking "mystique"

[Rcli3@aol.com (Rcli3@aol.com)]

In a message dated 1/1/2002 4:16:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, lucy@uia.net 
writes:


 Now, with the social atmosphere of the trail,
oodles of places(hostels especially) to get breaks from the trail grind,
switchbacks replacing tough climbs( coming out of Stecoah Gap for
example), trail magic, slackpacking, etc, the difficulty of completing a
thru-hike has been reduced considerably. 


I believe this to be Hogwash.  This is the kinda spittle I swore I would 
never do to my kids.  "Kids nowadays have it so easy.  I had to walk seven 
miles in the snow barefooted uphill both ways in order to get an education.  
Damn bus picks you up in fronta da house."  Nobody has it as bad today as 
"they" had it yesterday.  How dare anyone have the unmitigated gull to say 
such trash.  Saying such shit as this diminishes the accomplishment I can 
feel when I thru.  The trail may be different, The challenges may be 
different but I find it hard to believe it is easier.  I have been told that 
the mental aspect of Thru-hiking is harder than the physical part.  If this 
is true than a hike today is harder then it was 30 years ago.  Is it easier 
to hike because there are plenty of places to stop and rest or is it harder 
because one must hike by them in order to complete your hike?  Not harder 
just different.  Is it harder because the hikers before you trashed a place 
so they no longer welcome hikers.  Is it harder to hike on roads that have 
been graded around a mountain or trail that goes over it?  I believe there 
are a lot more things competing for our time than there was in the past 
therefore more difficult to set aside the necessary 6 months.

Clyde

PS--I once had a man tell me a friend of his had a "real heart attack" 
implying that mine was less of a heart attack because I recovered.  It wasn't 
because I went to the Dr. at the first signs or that I done what they told me 
to do or that I walk 5 miles a day and quit smoking it was because the other 
guys trail was harder.
Hogwash

PSS--And yes OB I have issues  with this