[at-l] What to think?

[nealb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (William Neal)]

It also depends on what makes you miserable.

I HAVE TO HAVE BOOKS.  Yes my name is William and I am a bookaholic.  I also
am addicted to writing.  So I carry books and writing paper and more than
one writing instrument. I also like to shave -- especially since I cut off
my mustache was older than most of y'all.*

One young lady I met had to be warm.  So she carried warm clothes even when
the temp was warm.  On the other hand, one guy I know probably could walk in
snow in sandals while wearing shorts and short sleeve Tees.

And there was the couple who had to have Tea.  They carried special tea.  A
special tea pot.  Special English biscuits (which ain't biscuits to my
Southern mind and stomach).  Special cups.  And special jams.  And every
evening, they had their little ritual right before they went to bed.  They
gave me a big summer sausage because they could live without it better than
they could without their Tea ritual supplies.

Everybody has got to make up his or her own mind as to what is too heavy and
what is too light.  Which is why I try to keep people from getting "light"
fever, because, while it is easy to ditch stuff, it is hard to pick up stuff
if you decide you really want it or need it.*2

William, The Turtle

*	I started a mustache when I was 12.  Kept it 'til I met a lady in
school.  She wondered what I would look like without a mustache.  So I
shaved.  Now I have no mustache and no lady.  I am not sure which I miss the
most.  The trouble is that is what always happens in my relationships.  When
will I ever learn? ;-)

*2	One guy who hiked part of the AT and part of the Pacific decided to
go ultra-light.  He decided to leave one thing home that really does not
weigh all that much.  Then he met his 10.  Now he is a daddy.  Not that he
minds, but he would have liked to put it off for a few years.  Luckily for
him, she is actually a 10+.

-----Original Message-----
From: RoksnRoots@aol.com [mailto:RoksnRoots@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 12:07 PM
To: AT-L@backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [at-l] What to think?


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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
In a message dated 3/5/2003 10:39:18 AM Eastern Standard Time,
spiriteagle99@hotmail.com writes:


> We have a friend who started a southbound hike (his first) with a 100+#
> pack.  He carried peanut butter in glass jars, cans of stew, etc.  It took
> him something like 23 days to get to Monson.  He's since become an
> ultraliter and finished the AT 5 times.


        ***   I think Jim emphasizes well the true origin of ultralighting.
Necessity being the mother of tucker (good Trail name there tee hee). The
matter probably comes down to being able to stand the discomforts of less
gear easier than those of hauling miserable weight...