[at-l] Icons, the ATC & LD Hikiking

[rickboudrie@xxxxxxxxxxx (rick boudrie)]

>Weary wrote:
>>I think if more hikers knew more about the trail and MacKaye's wise
>>insights, they might have more enjoyable long distance hikes on the trail.
Jim Responded:
>I doubt that.  Knowledge of MacKaye, his world, and his ideas has no
>relationship whatever to long distance hiking.  That was a large part of
>the point of our recent discussion.
>

I got a question for you guys.  From what I have seen, the majority of those
who have shaped the ATC's vision, and those who are doing the bulk of the
work out on the Trail, are not long distance hikers.  (I am not saying
long-distance hikers aren't making worthy contributions every day, just that
they are still in the minority and are not the core of the ATC)

I am also thinking that as more and more long-distance hikers become
involved with the ATC, the organizations vision might change.  And not
neccessarily for the better. What do you think?  Long-distance hikers have a
unique perspective about the Trail, I think.

I suspect that Jim might be right that MacKaye, and his world, have no
relationship to long-distance hiking.  Or a tenuous one.  Same could be said
for Aldo Leopold and his world.  Or, Guy and Laura Waterman and thiers.
Possibly.  I am not so sure that these Icons and the ideas they represent
have no relationship with the Trail, and its stewards, however.

Personally, I think its a good thing that ATC and the trail maintaining
organizations are not top-heavy with long-distance hikers.  In part, because
of what Jim alludes to.   Basically, I just think that the Trail might be
better for everyone (including long-distance hikers) because the diversity
of its management reflects the diversity of those using it.  No disrespect
for the long-distance hikers who are making tremendous contributions,
intended.

I don't want to stereotype, but I do think it is rather natural for a
long-distance hiker to quckly become a pragmatist about a lot of things.
The Trail needs pragmatists.  It also need people with vision and zeal who
have a viseral reaction to race tracks and windmills and adventure race
competitions.   In short, I think it needs people for whom Mackaye, or more
importantly the ideas that he represents, do have a relationship to th
Trail.  Personally, I hope the ATC allways retains people like that.

Do you guys think it still does?  Do you think that will change as more
long-distance hikers become involved?

Rick B



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