[at-l] Genuineness of Contemporary Thru-hikes

[jplynch@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Jim Lynch)]

   The ATC definition of a "2000-miler" is actually quite simple (see
the ATC web site).  The ATC does not recognize 'thru-hikers', but the
common definition seems to be someone who has achieved 2000-miler status
in one year.
   In the early days of the trail, its doubtful that such a definition
existed. I understand that before Earl hiked it, no one thought that it
could be done.  But even so, standards change.  Earl's hike was judged
by the standards that existed at the time.  At that time, some stretches
of the trail were on roads.  Would his hike pass muster today?  Who
knows (who cares?).  Most of these arguments have to do with hikers who
want to do something else and still claim they are thru-hikers (or
2000-milers).  I've said it in the past and I'll say it again: hike your
own hike and be proud to describe accurately what you did.

Slyatpct@aol.com wrote:
>
> --
> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
>
> Saunterer
>
> I'm glad you pointed this out.  If you read walking With Spring closely
> enough, there are several passages where Earl bushwacked in and out of towns,
> took old AT, not the official new relo, and perhaps even took a short yellow
> blaze near Delaware Water Gap.  I pointed this out to WF one time and he said
> he's have to ask Earl about it.  If it were true, then Gene Espy was the
> first thru-hiker.  WF's words, not mine, give me a break!  It's likely that
> Gene took some liberties and Chester and Grandma.....
>
> I'm also under the impression that even Myron Avery may have hiked trail
> "unofficial" sections of trail on his hike.  I'm not about to question early
> pioneers on their hikes, so why are comtemporary hikers so quick to question
> their peers today?
>
> Although the ATC has a specially worded guideline for 2000-miler, it's still
> open to interpretation.  I've yet to see a official definition for
> thru-hiker, so I'll use Earl's hike as the basis, but in my opinion as long
> as your out there enjoying yourself for months at a time, that's all that
> counts.
>
> Off my stump,
>
> Sly
>
> bullard@northnet.org writes:
>
> > Not even the original thru-hiker, Earl Schaffer, hiked past every blaze
> > (markers back then).  When he did it the trail was in such bad shape from
> > neglect that he often couldn't find it and just went where he figured it
> > should be.  Why all this angst over doing it in a way that even the
> > originator of thru-hiking didn't manage?
>
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--
James P. ('Jim') Lynch
jplynch@crosslink.net