[at-l] On matters of "purity"

[Phil.Heffington@oc.edu (Phil Heffington)]

I appreciate Clark's list of "purity" questions, and the other comments tha=
t have been made on the subject.  I have, myself, contemplated several of t=
hose questions regarding my own definition of what I wanted my hike to be. =
 I agree that it develops with the miles.  For instance, I took the USFS 42=
 approach to Springer and, without even knowing what the term meant at the =
time, "slackpacked" the .9 mile from the parking lot up to Springer and bac=
k down before I got my pack out of the back of my cousin's car.

I was also two shelters beyond Duncannon before I learned that I had missed=
 the jog back north for a block down "main" street.

This year from July 15 - Aug. 4, from Port Clinton to Great Barrington, MA,=
 I only met about 5 hikers who had not done some intentional slackpacking. =
 In fact, I was out of Pennsylvania before I even met a hiker who was not s=
lackpacking.  Some had even yellow blazed significant portions of the trail=
, but were still calling themselves "thru" hikers.  In NY there were at lea=
st 5 who yellow blazed ahead to Graymoor Friary just to get the free meal f=
rom the monks.  Most of them then went  back and slackpacked from the Hudso=
n River to the friary the next morning.  I thought it was interesting that =
the men in the drug rehab program there called them "cheaters" for not carr=
ying their packs with them.  Not my term, mind you, but it does point out h=
ow other people are looking at the claims you make for what you have done.

My philosophy is to be honest, to hike your own hike, and to remain true to=
 yourself.  I personally (since Springer) carry my pack the whole way, and =
try to hike every foot of the trail as best I can figure it out at the time=
.  I tell people I'm a long distance section hiker when people ask the ques=
tion if I'm a thru-hiker, but I've so far managed to turn down the opportun=
ities to slackpack and yellow blaze.  I'm the first to jump into the back o=
f a pickup, however, if someone wants to give me a lift for a hundred yards=
 off the trail, and if someone is at a road/trail crossing with free goodie=
s, then stand back and clear the way for me to load up.  I'm never one to d=
eny a trail angel the opportunity to practice their ministry.

In a lighter note, when the slackpacker at Graymoor was called a "cheater" =
by one of the rehab patients he replied, "They don't give the patch to your=
 pack when you finish".  The this I smart-alecky replied, "So I guess you'r=
e going to sew in on your forehead when you get it."  In all seriousness, h=
owever, I believe you should HYOH, and then be honest about it.