[at-l] On matters of "purity"

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

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In a message dated 8/15/2002 8:28:13 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
Phil.Heffington@oc.edu writes:


> I appreciate Clark's list of "purity" questions, and the other comments that
> have been made on the subject.  I have, myself, contemplated several of
> those 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
> back 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
> slackpacking.  Some had even yellow blazed significant portions of the
> trail, but were still calling themselves "thru" hikers.  In NY there were
> at least 5 who yellow blazed ahead to Graymoor Friary just to get the free
> meal from the monks.  Most of them then went  back and slackpacked from the
> Hudson 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
> carrying their packs with them.  Not my term, mind you, but it does point
> out how 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
> question if I'm a thru-hiker, but I've so far managed to turn down the
> opportunities to slackpack and yellow blaze.  I'm the first to jump into
> the back of 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 goodies, then stand back and clear the way for me to load up.
> I'm never one to deny 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're
> going to sew in on your forehead when you get it."  In all seriousness,
> however, I believe you should HYOH, and then be honest about it.
> _______________________________________________
>

As usual, I am reading the above post two weeks or more after it was posted.
It must drive some people nuts when I answer privately.  This time though,
I'll include all who desire to read on.

The most controlling word society ever created is "PURITY."  Unless one just
blows it off, deciding to appear at least not to care, it dominates so many
thoughts and actions.  It also serves as a tremendous force in one's
aspirations.  Good and bad.

Gee, you should have been a teenager in the '40's and '50's.  That's where I
am coming from.  There was nothing I wanted more than to be "pure" in
thought, word, and deed.  Didn't matter.  As I think back, "pure" or not,
most of us were gossiped about.  Now I observe the same thing repeatedly
happening on the trail.

It isn't a question of whether so-n-so is a virgin (get that, haha!), rode in
a car alone with three boys, drank from his or her parents' liquor cabinet,
was seen smoking, made an "F."  Here it has to do with slackpacking, yellow
blazing, blue blazing, claiming to complete the trail without walking next to
every single white blaze, etc.

It's a power struggle that darkens an otherwise beautiful experience.  One
person assuming the right to judge others.  (Not talking about such stuff as
feeding wildlife, leaving fires still warm, stealing from another's bear
bag--just about how each person ends of doing Springer to wherever.)

I, after a lifetime of putting up with such stuff, have to agree with Phil's
PHILosophy as I understand it.  "Purity" is simply being honest, telling only
the truth, hiking backwards, frontwards, or up side down--but just being
honest about it.

Kinnickinic