Re[4]: [at-l] Story about 'Jagged' who summited 10/6

[daveh@xxxxxxxxxx (Dave Hicks)]

I tend to say out of the HWMNBN discussions and "purity" debates.  But
occasionally I get sucked in.  So here's my take.  As always, YMMV.

I thought I might be through hiking when I had my blood clot last year.
Hell, they said that I might lose the leg; but I have recovered and am now
back on the trail -- from time-to-time.  So, I'm not through, yet.  With any
luck I'll be section hiking from Springer to Katahdin next year.  Maybe,
that way I can avoid any arguments about what a thru-hike is, or isn't.

Sure there are some folk who "yellow blaze" major segments and claim to have
hiked the whole way.  I've also seen how some folk fill out expense/travel
vouchers, insurance claims, income tax , etc.

Then there are others who condemn anyone else who took one blue blazed trail
into a shelter and another blue blazed trail back to the trail, missing
maybe 20 yards of white blazes.

I tend to be a bit condemning of the tax cheaters, and the like, as they
hurt me, and others, by shifting cost on to us.  However, I could care less
about anyone's arbitrary and capricious definition of a 2000-miler, or a
thru-hiker -- whether that definition be the yellow blazer's, the kiss every
white blazer's, HWMNBN's, the ATC's, etc.

In some ways, both the "purist" and the "yellow blazer" are trying to
inflate the image they project of themselves, by overstating their
accomplishments relative to others' -- i.e., the "purist" by claiming "I
(and only a very-very-very few like me) did what x% of the others didn't
do," and OTOH the "yellow blazer" by claiming "I did what they did."  In
both cases there seems to be an unhealthy need to impress.

Personally, I'm not about to try to define the line of what is acceptable,
or not, for someone else.  HYOH.

However, I think Jim is right on with his insistence that HYOH is best based
on a "contract with yourself" before you begin.  (Check the archives, if you
have missed his posts.)

I have enjoyed the trail since 1958.  Maybe with luck, next year, I'll
"stake my claim" as having enjoyed a full season on the trail, Springer to
Katahdin -- w/ a "contract with myself" that will not include any "yellow
blazing" however it will permit blue-blazed loops to scenic shelters,
overlooks, waterfalls, historical artifacts, etc.

More importantly my contract with myself will not be based on trying to
"prove" anything to anyone (including myself), nor will it be to impress
someone else.  My contract will be about enjoying being in the outdoors,
walking day after day in rain, bugs, and sun, enjoying the fungi, flowers,
birds, animals, rock formations, trees, and everything else that makes up
the trail, escape and recreation.  I'm too old to waste the better part of a
year of what time I have left on this earth doing something that I am not
enjoying.

Chainsaw

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob C." <ellen@clinic.net>
To: "rick boudrie" <rickboudrie@hotmail.com>
Cc: <Slyatpct@aol.com>; <at-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2003 11:36 AM
Subject: Re[4]: [at-l] Story about 'Jagged' who summited 10/6

>>
I have angered Wingfoot from time to time by arguing that his and the ATC's
definition of a 2000-miler is arbitrary and capricious. I think of the
Appalachian Trail as a system of trails, not a single footpath. Maintaining
clubs have created scores of blue-blazed loops to scenic overlooks,
waterfalls,
historical artifacts .... A few of these loops involve shortcuts. Most
simply
lead hikers to special places that the maintaining clubs feel should be
visited.
Taking these loops without backtracking should not be viewed as a reason for
denial of 2000-mile status.
<<
SNIP