[at-l] slackpacking revisited

[icw39@ncfreedom.net (Clark Wright)]

1.  true, but same is true of many sections of the Trail, such as in
GSMNP, SNP, the Whites, etc.  Also, those who do lots of food drops are
also tied down right tight, too.  Thus, the bit about HYOH comes back in
to play here. :)

2.  I did some "day-hiking" during my hike last summer; I think I walked
slower - usually didn't have a huge distance set out . . . did have one
"day-hike" day that I wanted to try and run most of it, just to see if I
could . . . did that near Damascus.

3.  Ironically, I never found day-hiking to be any easier - was in shape
and used to my very comfortable [but heavy] DANA pack - in fact,
borrowed a daypack several times for day hikes and actually had less
comfort!

4.  General public's perception is that anyone who hikes more than 5-10
miles in a day is nuts! :)

To me, the biggest drawback of day=hiking was that - being the boy scout
I am - I always felt a bit unprepared for helping others . . . less
equipment; less preparedness . . . but, I enjoyed all my walking so much
that the fact that some days were with a daypack and most were with my
full pack just didn't factor in that much for me . . .

thru-thinker

Desert Nomad wrote:
> 
> I feel there are several negatives involved in slackpacking. They are:
> 
> 1.   lack of freedom: need to get to a certain road crossing at a
>      certain time to get a ride or have to hike back to the hostel. No
>      option of tenting somewhere in between since you are not carrying a
>      tent or sleeping bag, etc.
> 
> 2.   missing some of nature: usually involves a faster hike with less
>      gear so a better chance to miss out on seeing animals, flowers, or
>      hearing owls, etc. at night in the tent or shelter. Note, for those
>      who have argued that speedhikers are so bad since they hike fast
>      and miss out on nature, don't argue against this point also since
>      you would be contradicting yourself.
> 
> 3.  Also, I believe that the reward of an adventure is in direct
>     proportion to the effort expended. In your mind, you know when you
>     have taken the easy way out. I personally feel much better about
>     myself when I suffer a little rather than having an easy time of
>     something.
> 
> 4.  I believe that the public's perception of the wildness and
>     difficulty of hiking the AT is in direct proportion to its support
>     of safeguarding the AT corridor.
> 
>    Don't tell me to hike my own hike either. That's a lame response, but
>    seems to be in fashion in today's political correctness. Also, don't
>    reply to me personally. Reply here. If you are too scared to reveal
>    your true thoughts to the list, don't reply at all.
> 
> --
> 
>  - Posted via http://forums.backcountry.net
> 
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