[at-l] Genuine Thru Hikes---a Last Comment

[marshajones@xxxxxxxxxxxx (smokinjoe)]

admin@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Jack Tarlin
Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 6:01 PM
To: at-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [at-l] Genuine Thru Hikes---a Last Comment

   I've been away since Saturday; I've neither the time nor the desire
to
address all of the comments made so far on this issue, except I feel
compelled to reply to smokinjoe, who quite indignantly wrote "...you
still
did not cite any fact based statistics to strengthen your hypothesis..."

   Well, sure I did.  They were right in my original post.  I stated
very
clearly that of the 450-600 odd folks who report into Harper's each year
that they've completed a thru-hike, it is my considered opinion that
perhaps
fifty of them have actually made a concerted effort to hike the Trail in
its
entirety, withoput skipping, yellow, or-blue-blazing sections they found
inconvenient.  If we compare this to the 2600 hundred or so folks who
start
each year (based on estimates from Amicalola Falls, Baxter, and Neels
Gap),
this means that perhaps 2% of the people that set out to hike the entire
A.T. in one continuous journey actually do so.



Subjective nonsense Jack.  You state, "it is my considered opinion."
Perhaps your opinion is worth much to you and maybe to some others but I
simply asked you to cite some hard statistics, not just some more
running off at the mouth.  Get it?



   If Joe is wondering where I get these figures, it's simple:  They are
based on years of continuous experience on the Trail, in which I met,
encountered, came to know, or hiked, with hundreds, if not thousands of
prospective thru-hikers.  When you're out that much, there's really no
doubt
as to who's really hiking and who isn't; when folks disappear from the
registers for days or weeks at a time, this is hardly a secret.  For Joe
to
say "You are simply co-opting Wingfoot's statement without any facts
whatsoever to back up what you say" is simply ridiculous:  First off, my
comments have nothing to do with Wingfoot's opinion on the matter, they
stand by themselves.  And secondly, for joe to baldly state (twice in
fact)
that my statements were not based on facts is patently false.  It is
factual
experience with untold numbers of hikers that are PRECISELY where I get
my
conclusions from, and for Joe to question this is, to be honest,
insulting.
Perhaps Joe would like to tell us about HIS Trail history and experience
that would lead us to believe that he's more qualified to speak upon
this
matter than I am.....I'm sure we'd all love to hear it.


What makes your opinion fact?  Please tell us Jack.  You say, "It is
factual experience with untold numbers of hikers that are PRECISELY
where I get my conclusions from,"  and I am asking you to enumerate
those hikers, categorize them, encapsulate them in order that we might
see these facts as being true, rather than just your "considered
opinion."  Your conclusions are flawed, just as are Wingfoot's.  Each of
you carry just about the same amount of weight with your suppositions.
If you find it "insulting" then great.  Should I give a shit about your
personal feelings?


I have never tried to make anyone believe that "HIS Trail history and
experience" would lead anyone to do 'Jack Shit'.    For your information
and others, I thruhiked South to North in 1991 and had a great
experience.  I could not care less how qualified or not that I might be
to speak upon this matter than you are.  By the way, how did you arrive
at that conclusion?



There is not too much difference between yourself and Wingfoot, Jack.
Regardless of how you try to phrase it, the both of you make a shitty
lameass attempt to maintain some sort of holier than thou attitude when
it comes to thruhiking.

Remember Jack, opinions are like assholes; everybody has one.  Sometimes
you seem to have a spare one.  So, next time you are preaching to the
choir, don't forget about the congregation..

BTW, sorry if I offended you.........very much!


Jack

GA>ME  '91


PS   Will be doing another thruhike this year.  Hope to see you!