Re[2]: [at-l] The future of hiking

[Bob C." <ellen@clinic.net (Bob C.)]

"...Hmmm.  Why  not  the  opposite approach -- a few more civilized trails might
take  the  pressure  off  the  existing trails (AT, CDT, PCT, LT, etc) that we'd
prefer to keep wild," asks Terrapin.

 According  to  "Spirit  of 48," Earl Shaffer had a grand dream for the northern
 and  southern  ends  of  the  AT to loop west, and wanted a new trail along the
 Allegheny Mountain Ridge, thus creating with the AT a 5,000 mile loop.

 One  can only speculate about what degree of civilization he would prefer. Earl
 lived  most  of  his  adult  life without electricity or running water, but did
 think the AT has become too difficult.

 Unlike  OB,  I don't see much real purism being voiced on this list. Some of us
 seek a wilder trail than others, but I think most of us recognize the realities
 of a trail located within a day's drive of half the nation's population.

 Having  observed  these  matters more closely than most for 40 years, I somehow
 doubt  if  it  was a few lonely voices opposed to cell phones and AMC huts, and
 promoting  Zip  Stoves,  that are prompting support for wind towers a mile from
 the AT in Maine. YMMV.

 Weary